November 29, 2007

U.S. ASOs Critically Underfunded

According to a new study by the AIDS Taskforce of Greater Cleveland, AIDS service organizations across the United States are suffering from “signs of financial and operational vulnerability” due to such issues as massive federal budget cuts and overwhelming caseloads.

The study was detailed in an AIDS Task Force teleconference yesterday, November 28, sponsored by Funders Concerned About AIDS. The report revealed that between 2001 and 2005, most organizations in the U.S. experienced increased financial difficulties each year, with 91 percent reporting a loss for at least one year during that period. ASOs located in the southern U.S. reported the greatest financial troubles, while roughly 71 percent of ASOs were forced to eliminate or restrict programs during that period.

“It’s clear that many, many ASOs across the U.S. have done an extraordinary job in mobilizing professional and volunteer talents to provide services and prevent new infections,” says AIDS Taskforce’s Executive Director Earl Pike. “But we also have to stop thinking about what we do in the context of a ‘state of emergency,’ and start thinking about the long haul.”

Click here to view the full report.

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