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NY CITY COUNCIL TO TAKE UP GROUNDBREAKING AIDS LEGISLATION
AIDS advocates plan to pack January 30 council meeting to support passage of HASA for All Act
January 28, 2008 — Gay Men's Health Crisis (GMHC), the New York City AIDS Housing Network (NYCAHN), and Housing Works applaud the forthcoming introduction of the HASA for All Act at the New York City Council meeting on Wednesday, January 30. Scores of members of these and other AIDS and housing organizations plan to attend the Council meeting to urge support for the legislation. Representatives from GMHC, NYCAHN and Housing Works will speak at a HASA for All press conference in the City Hall Rotunda at 12:30pm, one hour prior to the Wednesday Council meeting.
Cosponsored by Council Members Annabel Palma, Maria del Carmen Arroyo, Alan Gerson, Letitia James, Oliver Koppell, Miguel Martinez, Mathieu Eugene, Rosie Mendez and Hiram Monserrate, the landmark HASA for All Act would extend rental assistance and other lifesaving benefits to all low-income and homeless HIV-positive New Yorkers, regardless of their AIDS diagnosis.
Currently, NYC's HIV/AIDS Services Administration (HASA) requires that people living with HIV receive an AIDS diagnosis before they are eligible for assistance (an AIDS diagnosis is defined as a T-cell count of 200 or below, or having an opportunistic infection). 7,000 poor New Yorkers living with HIV cannot receive lifesaving benefits because they are not considered "sick enough" for HASA. Some have resorted to desperate measures — including discontinuing medication regimens — in order to drop their T-cell count and obtain an AIDS diagnosis.
Passage of the HASA for All Act would not only remedy the cruel injustice of HASA's misguided housing policy, it would also prevent new HIV transmissions and, in the long run, save money. "HASA for All is the single most important action Council Members can take to end the AIDS epidemic in New York City," said Housing Works President and CEO Charles King.
Recent studies have confirmed that housing stability promotes adherence to life-saving HIV medications, better health care, and reduced risk behavior, thereby preventing further HIV transmission. A Bloomberg School of Public Health at Johns Hopkins University study showed that housing as HIV care and prevention saves millions of dollars in the long run in health care costs and shelter provision. For more information on these studies, visit the National AIDS Housing Coalition at www.nationalaidshousing.org.
"As a formerly homeless person living with AIDS, I know how essential housing has been for me to remain healthy," said Shirlene Cooper, Co-director of NYCAHN. "All low-income people with HIV need and deserve rental assistance and the other benefits HASA eligibility provides."
"HASA for All would allow low-income, HIV-positive individuals the stability needed to maintain their health and to prevent them from progressing to AIDS in the first place," said Marjorie J. Hill, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of GMHC. "We urge the City Council to pass this critical piece of public health legislation without delay."
According to the NYC Department of Health, New York City has the highest AIDS case rate in the country, with more AIDS cases than Los Angeles, San Francisco, Miami, and Washington DC combined. HIV is the third leading cause of death below age 65 in New York City. HIV is also the city's health problem with the largest racial disparity, with 80 percent of new AIDS diagnoses and deaths among African Americans and Hispanics.
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Gay Men's Health Crisis (GMHC) is a not-for-profit, volunteer-supported
and community-based organization committed to national leadership in the
fight against AIDS. Our mission is to reduce the spread of HIV disease,
help people with HIV maintain and improve their health and independence,
and keep the prevention, treatment and cure of HIV an urgent national and
local priority. In fulfilling this mission, we will remain true to our
heritage by fighting homophobia and affirming the individual dignity of
all gay men and lesbians. We provide services and programs to over
15,000 men, women and families that are living with or affected by
HIV/AIDS in New York City. For more information, please visit www.gmhc.org.
The NYC AIDS HOUSING NETWORK (NYCAHN) is the nation's only membership organization comprised and led by low-income people living with HIV/AIDS, working in a unique coalition with nearly 70 leading AIDS service and housing providers in NYC. NYCAHN advocates for more housing, better housing, and sound public policies for our community.
HOUSING WORKS is dedicated to fighting the twin crises of AIDS and homelessness. We are the largest grassroots AIDS organization and the largest minority-controlled AIDS organization in the U.S. We provide housing, medical care, job training, case management, HIV prevention, counseling and testing, and other services to low-income and homeless New Yorkers living with HIV/AIDS.
© 2007 Gay Men's Health Crisis
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