House Acknowledges Housing's Role in HIV/AIDS Prevention and Healthcare

WASHINGTON, DC, May 25, 2010 -- The U.S. House of Representatives yesterday adopted H. Con. Res. 137, expressing the sense of the Congress that the lack of adequate housing must be addressed as a barrier to effective HIV prevention, treatment and care, and that the United States should make a commitment to providing adequate funding for developing housing as a response to the AIDS pandemic. This resolution complements the International Declaration on Poverty, Housing Instability and HIV/AIDS presented by the National AIDS Housing Coalition (NAHC) and its partners at the International AIDS Conference in Mexico City in 2008.

In a voice vote, the House adopted the resolution following powerful remarks by sponsor Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-8thNY), who noted that while advances have been made in addressing the epidemic, much remains to be done. In support of the resolution, Rep. Nadler cited statistics demonstrating housing's positive impact on HIV prevention and care, many of which had been presented in research disseminated through the NAHC Research Summit series. In a call for bi-partisan support, he offered the resolution to "move toward a sound and comprehensive policy for the prevention and treatment of HIV-AIDS". Click here to view Rep. Nadler's press release.

"This Congressional acknowledgment of housing as a critical component of HIV prevention and healthcare is powerful affirmation of the combined efforts of the community -- people living with HIV/AIDS, providers, researchers, policymakers and advocates", said NAHC Executive Director, Nancy Bernstine. "The resolution will be invaluable in continuing efforts to garner the resources needed to make stable housing a reality for those seeking to live productively while managing their illness."

The Friends of AIDS Foundation is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for HIV positive individuals and empowering people to make healthy choices to prevent the spread of the HIV virus. To learn more about The Friends of AIDS Foundation, please visit: http://www.friendsofaids.org/.


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