Changes to federal HIV/AIDS funding is causing setbacks for some California AIDS groups, reports local newspaper The Press-Enterprise (pe.com, 2/13).
The newspaper reports that Inland AIDS Project, an organization that provides food vouchers, transportation, case management and other services to HIV-positive individuals, has been scrambling for money over the past year as infection rates and the number of clients in need of services have grown.
The organization received about $711,000 in 2007 in federal Ryan White funding—approximately $1 million less than the previous year.
“This last year has been the most difficult year we’ve ever had,” said Joy Gould, the agency’s chief executive officer.
Changes in funding mandates provide less money for support programs. According to the article, 75 percent of money must now go toward medical, substance abuse and other services, and no more than a quarter of funds can go toward food vouchers, case management and transportation.
Another group, Palm Springs-based Desert AIDS Project, is facing a $200,000 drop in federal HIV/AIDS funds this year. “We saw a 25 percent increase in the number of patients in the last 12 months,” said David Brinkman, executive director of the organization. “We are forced to do more with less, and we're forced to go to our private donor community and ask for more. It’s a huge strain.”
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Patty Otsuji, Orange, CA, 2008-06-30 11:37:40
I have been + for 23 years and all this time I have seen alot with this epidimic. I have seen the focus for funding go here and go there, from gay men to women to blacks to hispanics. Now I am not saying that, these issues aren't important, however to me it just seems like we forget about others in that process. In the early 80's we said that this is not a gay disease, it is not a black or white disease it is a human disease.
Danny, Austin, 2008-02-19 21:18:16
That is horrible. Something needs to be done. I don't understand how the U.S. is trying to help out other countries when we can't even help our people here.
Beth Benne, RN, is HIV negative, but
the virus has impacted her life. She currently supervises a biannual HIV/AIDS awareness week as
the director of the student health center at Pierce College, a
community commuter school in Woodland Hills, California.
Woman of the Month is supported by exclusive advertising from Gilead.
Overheard in the Women's Forum
"I think that it's OK to be angry. I am sometimes—it's natural—we are HIV positive. but I always try to not let myself stay there too long. Let yourself feel you are human. You should not beat yourself up about being angry."
