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New York City Council restored HIV
prevention contracts that had been targeted for elimination by Mayor Michael
Bloomberg’s administration. However, the council’s discretionary funding used
for the restoration has to be renewed annually, and there are no guarantees,
say advocates. The budget for the 2013 fiscal year, which began July 1,
includes $1.3 million in restorations for contracts with 17 AIDS service
groups.
“I am very pleased,” said Marjorie
Hill, CEO of Gay Men’s Health Crisis, which received $88,000 for prevention
work and $200,000 for a program that helps HIV patients with cognitive problems
manage their finances. “I think the real challenge is that there’s not enough
money. New York state and New York City are not receiving sufficient funds to
support all of the HIV prevention and treatment work we need to do.”
The council also restored
HIV-related housing, food, and nutrition programs.
An HIV stigma campaign run by Gay
Men of African Descent was not fully restored, being cut from $200,000 down to
$150,000 through 2012. “It just says a lot about the value they attach to
that,” said GMAD Executive Director Tokes Osubu. “Stigma is not that important,
which is very unfortunate.”
In June, notice for rebids went out
for the prevention contracts that had faced elimination. The request for
proposals emphasized work targeting men who have sex with men and transgender
women - two groups that are “most severely impacted by HIV,” though they
“account for a relatively small percentage” of the city’s population, the RFP
said.
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.
TOGETHER WE REMAIN STRONG!
