Mayor Bloomberg Proposes Troubling Budget for People Living with AIDS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contacts:
Krishna Stone | 212.367.1016

New York, NY — GMHC is extremely disappointed that Mayor Bloomberg's Preliminary Budget for FY2012 fails to adequately fund crucial social services that affect people living with HIV and AIDS.  The cuts affect funding for HIV supportive housing, as well as case management and nutrition services for seniors and people living with AIDS.  GMHC strongly recommends that City Council,  once again, should not follow the Mayor's lead.

"Now is not the time for New York City to shirk its commitment to addressing the HIV epidemic," said Marjorie Hill, PhD, Chief Executive Officer of GMHC. "The fact that this funding is not included in the budget is irresponsible."

The budgetary decisions made by city leaders over the past years have adversely affected people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) at a time when HIV continues to ravage our city.  Thankfully, City Council has had the foresight to step in to restore much of the funding in years 2009 and 2010.

"GMHC commends City Council for its continued support and commitment to people living with HIV.  We regret that once again Mayor Bloomberg has punted the important decision to fund these vital services to an already overburdened City Council," said Hill.

The following services have been cut from FY09 - FY 11 and must now be restored:

• $1.876 million reduction in HASA-contracted supportive housing programs.
•  $491,000 or 50% cut to the Human Resources Administration (HRA) HIV food and nutrition program.
• $4.2 million cut to the HIV/AIDS Services Administration (HASA) would result in the elimination of one third of all HASA case workers or 248 HASA case manager positions.  This cut is illegal and a violation of Local Law 49 and a federal court order.
• 30 percent cut in senior services case managers.

Thirty years into the HIV epidemic New York City has 108,886 New Yorkers living with HIV/AIDS, and each year more than 3,500 learn that they are living with the disease.  Access to services has already been scaled back and failure to restore these cuts will only make the situation worse. Communities that have been the most significantly affected by the epidemic will be further devastated by the loss of services, and those at risk will be increasingly vulnerable to HIV infection.

These cuts have occurred despite the cost effectiveness of HIV prevention. A recent study shows that investing in HIV prevention quickly could avert many HIV infections.  Studies also show that preventing just one case of HIV saves $303,100 in lifetime medical costs for HIV medical care. In New York City, 3,669 people were diagnosed with HIV in 2009.  If just these cases were prevented, the city could save $1.1 billion in future costs to care for these cases and improve the health of New Yorkers most affected by HIV.

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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 men, women and families that are living with, or affected by, HIV/AIDS in New York City.  We advocate for scientific, evidence-based public health solutions for hundreds of thousands worldwide.