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The $6.5 billion budget approved by the San Francisco Board of Supervisors on July 20allocates more than $1 million to restore funding that benefits people with HIV/AIDS and youths. The budget includes full funding of $560,000 in rent subsidies for persons with HIV/AIDS, Supervisor Bevan Dufty said, as well as $500,000 for core services related to youths.
Mission Bay resident Arye Bender, whose monthly rent is subsidized through the program, talked about the link between housing and treatment adherence. "A large part of that discipline is having stable, clean housing," he said.
"We are so thrilled at the leadership provided by the Board of Supervisors in making this happen," said San Francisco LGBT Community Center Executive Director Rebecca Rolfe. "It certainly looked for a long time like services not just for LGBT youth, but the entire city, were going to be drastically reduced." Specific concerns included meal programs for youths and links to employment services.
Dufty recognized the public testimony of many San Francisco youths during the budgeting process. "We want these young people to feel empowered," he said.
Supervisors are scheduled to take a final vote to adopt the budget during the week of July 26.
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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