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Though I had stood vigil over the death beds of too many friends I was lost when I got my diagnosis of AIDS. With health issues I had to find a way to support myself & family (the people I had worked for 20 years let me go) I am lucky that I live in a city that had both private and public response to the pandemic. Turning to social support agencies (my income was deemed too great to qualify for public assistance) Poverello Food Bank (I can only say they are angels) & Broward House, they tried.
It's a hustle. I have both good experiences and presently awful ones. I too only utilize if there's no other solution to my problem. I have 35 years of hiv in my 57 years of life. I feel abandoned right now. I went to explore options with a agency that helped me with housing years ago. They helped me for a few years and I discontinued when things were better. That was 2004. I'm sick, broke, and weak. I just opened a letter saying I was wait listed for 2 years. I'll be dead.
In 10 years with HIV, I’ve paid thousands of medical bills, including surprise ones in the four figures. I’ve received maybe a few hundred in COBRA premium assistance after losing a job. I’m not poor, but far from wealthy. I’ve figured out how to use copay assistance cards and taught my friends and that’s been the extent of “help”. Unless you’re totally indigent or savvy/fraudulent, most of these “services” are a joke. We are done a disservice by allusions fo “all the programs & services”.
OhPlease1
Oh please let me say something about the topic! It looks like they were trying to use more positive things to say about the programs than they were in discussing the programs themselves. 33 years and too many health issues to discuss Why is it that important now anyway? Ryan White is a great service and great people when and if ya need it . I’m still waiting for the cure!! I’m one of the guinea pigs and it is the same for many of us
January 28, 2020 • Midwest