The New York Times reports the state has ordered New York's city welfare agency to dramatically increase rent contributions from poor adults who are HIV-positive and reside in subsidized housing. Effective Nov. 1, they will be required to pay all but $330 of their monthly income—which comes from federal assistance—toward rent.
The roughly 2,200 people who will be affected by the increase make up about one-third of those who receive housing services through the H.I.V./AIDS Services Administration.
Nearly all of the 2,200 adults receive either Supplemental Security Income or Social Security Disability Insurance, federal programs that help disabled people. Most of them used to be homeless and now live in buildings that offer medical services.
The new formula is a disturbing sign of the times, as federal funding for HIV/AIDS is dramatically decreasing—especially money directed to New York City and New Jersey. That new funding bill is sponsored by Rep. Mary Bono (R-CA) and opposed by Democratic Sens. Charles Schumer and Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York and Robert Menendez and Frank Lautenberg of New Jersey
The bottom line: "Most of the people in the program will be paying more than half their income for rent." Patrick McGovern, executive director of the Harlem United Community AIDS Center, says the new formula means people who already poor and sick "will have to concentrate more on their daily survival needs than on getting and staying well."
Adults on Welfare With HIV Hit With Rent Increase (NYT)
Previously:
AIDS Funding Uncertain (Rod 2.0) HIV Update (Rod 2.0) Hillary on AIDS Funding (Rod 2.0)
Hey Rod.
I've been lurking for a minute but wanted to tell you that this site is phenomenal. You stay up to date with politics, pop culture and hot men! I love it.
Posted by: Jan D | 05 October 2006 at 15:22
Wow. To add insult to injury.
Posted by: Brandon T | 05 October 2006 at 15:23
and to think, mary bono has a huge gay and lesbian voter base in the palm springs area. i wonder if they are up in arms with this trash proposal that will affect many of the hiv postitive residents as the area has quite a few living there, and while not as expensive as nyc, not cheap either.
Posted by: jared | 05 October 2006 at 19:25
Does Mary Bono have gay ssupport? I always thought that she had many gay constituents but was fairly anti-gay. I think the new formula would help her area at the expense of Los Angeles or NYC.
Posted by: Alan T | 05 October 2006 at 21:37
Looking to make more POZitive friends, meet me (was homless a few years ago) on http://www.AIDSchat.org ;)
Posted by: POZ | 28 October 2006 at 10:57