The San Francisco Board of
Supervisors approved backfilling $3 million in HIV funding for budget years
2013–2015. Mayor Ed Lee had already appropriated $4 million to fill in a
funding gap for the current fiscal year, and $8 million in HIV/AIDS funding for
2014–2015. The whole two-year spending plan totaled almost $16 billion.
The board needed the money to
backfill federal cuts stemming from reductions in Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment
Modernization Act and CDC funding, and cuts related to the federal
sequestration. After the board committee approved the backfill, Supervisor
Scott Wiener wrote in a recent e-mail, "I'm thrilled that we were able to
get this done for the community and to avoid devastating cuts to our innovative
and effective HIV care and prevention programs."
For the San Francisco AIDS
Foundation, cuts would have forced them to reduce their substance use and
mental health counseling services, assistance for clients to access HIV care,
and prevention programs for Latinos at risk for HIV. The foundation estimated
that approximately 16,000 HIV/AIDS-infected people live in the city.
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!