AIDS Foundation of Chicago

About This Section

Overview
News
Action Center
State & Local Issues
Midwest Advocacy
Federal Issues
Sexuality Education
HIV Testing
Policy Priorities
Candidate Questionnaire
Testimony
Faces of AIDS

City of Chicago Allocates New HIV Prevention Funding to Small Agencies, Needle Exchanges

The Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) recently announced a list of agencies that will receive $1.04 million in new HIV prevention funding. Thanks to the efforts of hundreds of advocates who contacted their local elected officials, Mayor Daley and the Chicago City Council increased HIV prevention funding by $500,000 in November 2006. CDPH subsequently redistributed federal funds, making available an additional $540,000 for community-based HIV prevention activities. Comprehensive prevention services are essential to fighting the spread of new HIV infections. Thanks to community action, these efforts will be continued and expanded here in Chicago in 2007.

CDPH will grant $5.3 million to community-based organizations in 2007 for HIV prevention. These funds were distributed in two rounds of grant making — one for the originally proposed amount and one for the additional funds. Over the course of these two rounds, grants were made to 28 organizations, including seven additional small organizations not funded in the first round. Needle exchanges—one of the most effective HIV prevention activities in Chicago—received $200,000 in second-round grants, partially reversing steep funding cuts.

In 2007, 14.3% of the funds will go the north side, 21.5% to the west side, 16% to the south side, and 48.2% to citywide or other projects. AFC has compiled a complete breakdown of funds by agency, geographic area, and risk-group population.

AFC thanks Mayor Daley, the members of the City Council, and Chicago Department of Public Health for their leadership in the fight against HIV/AIDS in Chicago.

Mayor Daley, City Council Increase HIV Prevention Funding by $500,000

November 15, 2006 —The Chicago City Council voted today to increase City HIV prevention funding by $500,000 as part of the 2007 city budget. The funding increase was proposed by Mayor Richard M. Daley on November 13.

Chicago will allocate $4,229,500 in city funds for HIV prevention next year, up from $3,729,500 in 2006. In addition, Chicago will direct $500,000 in federal Community Development Block Grant funds to HIV prevention, as it has done since 2003.

“We thank Mayor Daley and the City Council for increasing HIV prevention resources in Chicago,” said Mark Ishaug, executive director of the AIDS Foundation of Chicago (AFC). “We cannot turn the tide against this epidemic without investing in proven prevention programs. We must continue to advocate loudly and strongly at all levels of government for additional prevention and care resources.” MORE

11/1/06
Budget Hearing a Success: 36 Aldermen Sponsor HIV Funding Ordinance

You did it! More than 50 AIDS advocates packed City Hall to support Alderman Tom Tunney’s (44th Ward) ordinance calling for a $1.7 million increase in HIV prevention funding. At the public budget hearing, AIDS service providers, people living with HIV/AIDS, and community members gave personal testimony on the need to invest in HIV prevention. As a result, 36 aldermen signed on as co-sponsors of the ordinance. In 2003, 36 aldermen co-sponsored a similar ordinance Tunney introduced, well over the majority needed for approval.

The budget hearing follows the October 31 visibility action in which approximately 25 advocates symbolically wrapped City Hall in a chain of condoms. See photos from the event in the Chicago Sun-Times and Chicago Tribune.

AIDS Foundation of Chicago thanks the more than 50 advocates who attended the budget hearing, as well as members of the Statewide Advocacy Network who called their aldermen and Mayor Daley to demand increased HIV prevention funding. AFC also thanks Alderman Tom Tunney for leading the fight for increased HIV prevention funding.