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Mayor Bloomberg Proposes Further Drastic Cuts to HIV/AIDS Services Even as Epidemic Worsens
New York, NY — On Friday January 30, Mayor Michael Bloomberg released his preliminary fiscal year 2010 budget, as well as projections for the next five years. In Bloomberg's proposal are drastic cuts to critical HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment and care systems vital to the city's health. Included in the plans are the following specific reductions to fiscal year 2010:
- 50% reduction of a nutrition program that provides food and nutrition counseling to HIV-positive individuals — $491,000 cut
- All Scatter Site II (SS2) clients will be transferred to HASA Case Management Restoration which will eliminate social services provided by SS2 programs — $1,3000,000 cut
- Cut the number of case management staff in supportive housing programs — $1,876,000 cut
- Reduce HIV tests provided to HHC patients — $200,000 cut
Starting in fiscal year 2011:
- Postpone implementation of congregate supportive-housing units, eliminating additional housing options for people living with HIV/AIDS — $2,401,000 cut
- Cut to HIV/AIDS case management and health education provided through HHC — $283,000 cut
- Cut reduce community-based provider contracts for anti-stigma and behavior modification — $597,000 cut
To access the Mayor's full financial plan, please visit click here.
"Last June, the HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment and care funding citywide was cut by 42%. GMHC lost two-thirds of our city funding," said Marjorie Hill, PhD, Chief Executive Officer at Gay Men's Health Crisis. "The Mayor's proposed cuts will not only impact HIV/AIDS service provision in our city, they will have residual and exponential costs to society as people at risk for HIV infection, and those living with HIV/AIDS, do not receive the services they need. We urge the Major and City Council to restore critical funding for HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment and care."
GMHC will host a community forum on the city and state budget cuts on Thursday, February 5th at 4 pm at 119 West 24th Street (between 6th and 7th Avenues), New York City. Co-sponsoring the forum are New York AIDS Budget Action Coalition, CHAMP, Housing Works, Village Care of New York, New York City AIDS Housing Network, and the Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies.
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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. We provide prevention and care services to more than 15,000 men, women and families that are living with, or affected by, HIV/AIDS in New York City, and advocate for scientific, evidence-based public health solutions for hundreds of thousands worldwide.
Our Mission: GMHC fights to end the AIDS epidemic and uplift the lives of all affected.
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