Housing for People with AIDS

Housing for People with AIDS

An estimated 850,000 to 950,000 Americans are infected with HIV.

About half of infected Americans don’t know they have HIV or do not receive the drugs that are improving the lives of others.

At least half of all new HIV infections are among people under 25, and the majority of young people are infected sexually.

24.3 % of all people with AIDS are women; 18.8 % of all people with AIDS are Latino/a; and 21.6 % of all people with AIDS are or were injecting drug users.

HIV/AIDS Statistics

Housing for People with AIDSSeniors and HIV/AIDS

11 - 15% of U.S. AIDS cases occur in people over age 50. Between 1991 and 1996, AIDS cases in people over-50

rose more than twice the rate of those younger. Health care and service providers – and seniors – don’t

realize that seniors are at the same risk as other age populations.

Most seniors are diagnosed at a later stage of infection, and often become ill with AIDS-related complications and die sooner than their younger counterparts.

HIV/AIDS educational campaigns and programs are not targeted at/to older individuals.

Seniors are unlikely to consistently use condoms during sex.

Housing for People with AIDSHIV/AIDS in CT Since 1980, over 12,000 people in CT have been

diagnosed with AIDS. Nearly half have died. Since 1995, the number of people living with AIDS in CT

has grown by nearly 4,000 In CT: 37.7% of all people with AIDS are women.

32.2% are Latino/a. 41% are or were injecting drug users.

These are nearly twice the national rates. Despite these facts, no additional state funds have

been added to the budget to address the critical needs of this growing population.

HOPWA

The Need for Housing for PLHIV/AIDS

It is estimated that 33% - 50% of all PLWHIV/AIDS are either homeless or in danger of becoming homeless. 2,855 people with HIV/AIDS had no place to live. 1,144 lived in AIDS housing programs. 1,385 more requested housing. 479 new people were admitted. 58 of those were children. 33 residents died. 1,121 were turned away. This means that a startling 84% of the 1,385 PLWHIV/AIDS who requested housing were denied because of a lack of subsidized housing.

Housing for People with AIDS

PWHIV/AIDS must have stable housing to access comprehensive healthcare and adhere to complex drug therapies.

Even though stable housing has been shown to be a necessary link to medical and supportive services, accessing housing is difficult for many reasons including:

Housing is Healthcare!!!

Housing for People with AIDS

Long waiting lists for affordable housing, including rent subsidies. In CT, this past December, nearly 40,000 people applied for less than 2,000 AVAILABLE rent subsidies. Low vacancy rates. Unrealistic FMRs. Lack of assistance in finding housing, transportation and childcare. Source of income and other forms of discrimination.

Barriers to safe, affordable and stable housing…

Housing for People with AIDSHOPWA Funding

The Bush administration's proposed HOPWA budget for 2003 is $292 million, a $15 million increase over last year

NAHC strongly recommends that HOPWA be funded at $325 million in FY03 CT receives 3 “pots” of HOPWA funds:

- Greater Hartford EMA: $996,000- Greater New Haven EMA: $706,000- Balance of State” $1,137,000

The City of Bridgeport also has a 3 – year renewal on a HOPWA Competitive Grant.

Housing for People with AIDS

State AIDS housing funds

In the Department of Social Services budget, the State of CT currently has $3,879,163 allocated to “Residences for Persons with AIDS”. The breakdown of those funds is:

$ 3,017,608 state dollars

$ 861,555 TANF/SSBG dollars

In CT, combined with HOPWA funds, there is nearly $7 million dollars in funds dedicated to housing for people with HIV/AIDS.

Housing for People with AIDS

Number of people housed: 1,141

Total Group residence Scattered Site • Men 544 • Men 346 • Men 198• Women 339 • Women 115 • Women 224• Children 262 • Children 2 • Children 260

Who has been helped by AIDS housing in CT:

Housing for People with AIDS

Lived with family or friends: Own apartment:

Hospital or other medical facility: Emergency Shelter: Homeless from the streets: Substance use treatment program:Prison: Transitional living program Psychiatric facility: Own home: Domestic Violence: Other:

Where new admissions lived immediately prior to entering AIDS housing program:

101917353524021121014

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Housing for People with AIDS

To get more involved call:

Shawn Lang, CARC, (860) 761-6699

Supportive, affordable housing is an important tool in the nation’s effort to address the multiple epidemics of homelessness, HIV/AIDS, mental illness and substance use. AIDS housing assistance helps PLWHIV/AIDS overcome key barriers to stable housing—affordability and discrimination.