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City
Council, Mayor Daley Increase 2004 HIV Prevention Funding Capping a year-long advocacy campaign, City Council voted on November 19, 2003 to approve a $600,000 increase for HIV prevention services in Chicago. The increase, funded with dollars from the city's federal Community Development Block Grant, reverses a five-year decline in city funding for HIV prevention. Concerned by the steady decrease in city funding over the past five years, AFC launched a campaign in January 2003 calling on the City Council and Mayor Daley to provide for an increase of $1 million in city funding for HIV prevention services in the 2004 fiscal year budget. Mayor Daley's proposed budget, unveiled in October, included a $100,000 increase for HIV prevention programs. Concerned by the trends in the epidemic, Aldermen Tom Tunney (44th), Ed Smith (28th), and Walter Burnett, Jr. (27th) introduced, with the support of 36 co-sponsors, the Ordinance on HIV Prevention Funding, calling for a $1 million increase. Throughout October and November, AIDS advocates organized a call-in campaign to City Council members, picketed at City Hall, leafleted outside a mayoral reception, and testified before the Budget Committee. 65 community-based organization sent a letter to the Mayor, urging him to include this critical funding in the City budget. Due to tremendous community support, Mayor Daley promised to amend his original proposed budget to increase funding for HIV prevention services on November 11, 2003. While
supporters did not secure the full $1 million requested, the $600,000
increase is important and forms a precedent that can be built upon in
coming years. Mayor Daley's Budget Director, William Abolt, told City
Council members that the city would continue to work closely with them
to identify new sources of funding in the coming year to further increase
the HIV prevention budget. Given these difficult economic times, any increase
in HIV prevention funding is welcome
news that will benefit all of Chicago. Campaign Background: Historically, city funding for HIV prevention programs has not kept pace with the growth in the epidemic. The number of cases of HIV and AIDS in Chicago have increased every year since the epidemic began, and since 1997, reported AIDS cases in Chicago have increased by 32%. In that same time period and until 2003, Chicago's funding for HIV prevention programs had decreased 8%, leaving many people at risk for HIV without access to vital education and information. Changes in City Funding for HIV/AIDS Compared to Changes in the Epidemic
*includes $600,000 in federal Commuity Block Grant Funds Currently, there are an estimated 22,000 Chicagoans living with HIV, many of whom do not know that they are infected, and the epidemic continues to exact a heavy toll on African-Americans and Latinos. Nationally and in the City of Chicago, male-to-male sexual contact remains the leading mode of transmission. African-Americans, who account for approximately 36% of the City's total population, account for 65% of recently diagnosed adult AIDS cases and 61% of recently diagnosed HIV cases. The AIDS rate in Chicago among Puerto Ricans (26 per 100,000 residents) is second only to the AIDS rate among African-Americans (41 per 100,000 residents). And 49% of recently diagnosed adult male AIDS cases are among men who have sex with men. For additional background on the need for HIV prevention services in Chicago, please read Chicago HIV/AIDS Statistics and The Value of HIV Prevention. To learn more about Prevention services, visit AFC's Prevention page. |
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