AIDS Housing Funding Gets Boost in City Budget Proposal

November 6, 2007 -- In response to an escalating housing crisis affecting low-income Chicagoans with HIV/AIDS, Mayor Richard M. Daley yesterday proposed increasing HIV/AIDS rental assistance funding by $250,000 in 2008.

“I thank Mayor Daley for listening to people living with HIV,” said City Council champion for the increase, Alderman Tom Tunney (44th Ward). “Chicagoans spoke loud and clear about the need for safe, stable, affordable housing, and the Mayor responded."

Earlier this year, nearly 100 people with HIV faced severe housing instability or even homelessness because 2008 funding was inadequate to continue the housing assistance program at its current size. The Mayor’s move to increase funding for this critical program means that no one will lose assistance in 2008.

“We thank Mayor Daley, Alderman Tunney, and the City Council members for their commitment to the fight against HIV/AIDS in Chicago,” said Mark Ishaug, AIDS Foundation of Chicago (AFC) president and CEO. “By increasing AIDS housing funding this year, Mayor Daley takes us another step closer to the goal we all share, safe and stable housing for all people living with HIV.”

The proposed rental assistance funding increase is included in budget amendments approved November 5 by the City Council Committee on the Budget and Government Operations. The final budget vote is scheduled for Tuesday, November 13.

AFC previously learned that the City of Chicago proposed setting aside over 100 units funded by the Low Income Housing Trust Fund for people with HIV, with an annual price tag of more than $572,000. That decision brings the total increased financial commitment for AIDS housing in 2008 to over $750,000, including the new rental assistance funding.

Despite the new resources, a great need remains for housing assistance for people with HIV. AFC will continue to advocate for adequate resources for AIDS housing funding.

The news capped off a four-month campaign led by AFC for increased funding for AIDS housing. Nearly 50 AIDS advocates packed a City Council budget hearing on October 25 to call for increased AIDS housing resources. Franklin Gray, a member of AFC’s AIDS Housing Advisory Council, testified before the City Council on October 31, saying “I became homeless because I was so sick from AIDS. Today, I’m living in my own apartment, with rental assistance, and I’m getting ready to look for a job. If it wasn’t for AIDS housing assistance, I wouldn’t be here today to tell my story.”

City Council allies who joined in calling for the funding increase include Aldermen Bob Fioretti (2nd Ward), Toni Preckwinkle (4th Ward), Leslie Hairston (5th Ward), Walter Burnett, Jr. (27th Ward), Ike Carothers (29th Ward), Scott Waguespack (32nd Ward), Carrie Austin (34th Ward), Emma Mitts (37th Ward), Brendan Reilly (42nd Ward), Helen Shiller (46th Ward), Mary Ann Smith (48th Ward), Joe Moore (49th Ward), and the other Council members who signed the July letter to the City’s budget director requesting increased housing funding.

AFC thanks people living with HIV, members of the AIDS Housing Advisory Council, and AIDS housing providers for their dedication to expanding HIV/AIDS housing services.

AIDS Housing Action Day – Oct. 25:
Calls Needed for Funding Increase!

October 22, 2007—The campaign for $1.5 million in new Chicago funding for AIDS housing will reach a critical moment on Thursday, October 25, when the City Council reviews the Chicago Department of Public Health’s budget proposal. Tell your alderman that new AIDS housing funding must be included in the 2008 City budget! Participate in this AIDS Housing Action Day in two ways:

• PHONE ZAP! On Thursday, October 25, flood the mayor’s office and your alderman’s office with calls urging increased HIV/AIDS housing funding. Make two phone calls:
• Call the Mayor’s Office at 312-744-3300.
• Call your Alderman. If you don’t know who your alderman is, call 311 and ask the operator to connect you.

Leave this message: “Please increase HIV/AIDS housing funding by $1.5 million in the 2008 City of Chicago budget.”

• ATTEND A CITY COUNCIL BUDGET HEARING: HIV/AIDS housing funding will be discussed during a City Council hearing on the Department of Public Health’s budget. A good turnout will show Aldermen that AIDS housing matters.
• Thursday, October 25 at 10 AM City Hall, 121 N. LaSalle, 2nd Floor.
• Show your support—wear RED!
• It’s unclear when the Public Health budget will be up for discussion, so please be prepared to stay a long time. Bring something to read, snacks, and lunch or money for lunch (but please don’t eat in the Council chambers).
• If you can’t stay all day, just stop in when you can.
• To RSVP or for more information, contact John Peller, 312-334-0921, cell 312-719-6208, or jpeller@aidschicago.org.

Download the flyer here.

October 19, 2007—Chicago’s Acting Housing Commissioner Ellen Sahli announced October 15 that the Chicago Low Income Housing Trust Fund plans to set aside funding for over 100 subsidized housing units in 2008 for people with HIV/AIDS. The AIDS Foundation of Chicago (AFC) and its partners applaud this decision, which means that over 100 people with HIV will receive stable, long-term housing. The new units were a direct result of hard work by Chicago AIDS housing advocates and will help alleviate—though not eliminate—Chicago’s HIV/AIDS housing crisis.

Despite this good news, an estimated 10,000-15,000 Chicagoans with HIV still need some form of housing assistance. Every day in Chicago, people with HIV are threatened with homelessness because they can’t afford to pay their rent and meet daily living expenses on meager disability benefits of $623 per month. AFC urges Mayor Daley and the City Council to search for additional resources for AIDS housing and appropriate at least $1.5 million for AIDS housing in the 2008 budget.

Daley’s Proposed City Budget Omits AIDS Housing Increase

October 11, 2007—Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley’s proposed 2008 budget, released on October 10, does not include the $1.5 million increase AIDS advocates have requested to meet the housing needs of Chicagoans with HIV/AIDS. The AIDS Foundation of Chicago (AFC) is consulting with City Council allies, including campaign leader Alderman Tom Tunney (44th ward), to determine next steps. As was widely reported in the media, the mayor proposed $260 million in new taxes and fees to close a substantial budget deficit. AFC thanks Mayor Daley for proposing to continue in 2008 the $500,000 HIV prevention funding increase that was approved in 2007. Stay tuned to AFC’s network for more information.

1,649 Chicagoans Join Call For $1.5 Million in City Housing Funding

On October 1, AIDS Foundation of Chicago (AFC) staff delivered 1,649 petitions (left) to Mayor Richard M. Daley and Chicago aldermen on behalf of city residents in favor of a $1.5 million increase in AIDS housing services. Chicago’s 50 aldermen each received petitions signed by their constituents, showcasing broad-based, city-wide support for $1.5 million in new city funding for AIDS housing.

The petitions were collected over the last month by volunteers at HIV/AIDS service organizations, support groups, community meetings, and countless other venues throughout Chicago. Over 1,000 petitions were collected on September 15 at AIDS Run and Walk Chicago, thanks to more than 50 volunteers. AFC thanks everyone throughout the city and Chicagoland region who collected signatures, and particularly the AIDS Housing Advisory Committee and members of Dr. Gary Harper’s class at DePaul University.

The need for additional AIDS housing funding is great. Next year, AFC estimates that just 500 rental assistance will be available – a 50% drop since 2005. Chicago’s community residences are at 92% capacity, meaning beds are rarely available for those who urgently need them when leaving substance abuse treatment, the hospital, or prison or jail. Nearly every day in Chicago, low-income Chicagoans disabled by HIV are forced to chose between paying for rent or food; rent or utilities; or rent or transportation to a medical appointment.

AFC staff delivered the petitions two weeks before Mayor Daley is expected to release his 2008 proposed budget, most likely around October 15. AFC will prepare an analysis of the mayor’s budget as soon as it is available. Following its release, aldermen will consider the budget proposal during two weeks of hearings. The City Council is expected to vote on a final budget by mid-November.

If you have not turned in petitions, it’s not too late! Fax them to John Peller at 312-922-2916 as soon as possible. Stay tuned for updated from AFC’s Statewide Advocacy Network.

September 4, 2007—Testifying at recent public hearings attended by Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley, four courageous advocates spoke of their past struggles maintaining permanent housing to urge Mayor Daley to support a $1.5 million funding increase for AIDS housing services as part of the City’s 2008 budget.

At the August 30 hearing, Mayor Daley addressed the concerns directly: “We’ll meet with the advocates to take care of this,” he told them.

All four advocates—Franklin Gray, Lee Bohen, Jim McGuire, and Evany Turk—rely on AIDS housing services. Three of the four advocates could see their rental assistance end in January, when available funding drops by 25%.

Alderman Tom Tunney (44th Ward), who is leading City Council efforts for increased funding, noted, “It’s a great start that advocates were able to express their concerns directly to Mayor Daley and Budget Director Johnson,” said Tunney. “Thirty-four of my colleagues have already joined me in calling for a much needed increase for AIDS housing.”

Beyond testimony at recent budget hearings, AIDS advocates are collecting petitions to encourage Mayor Daley to include increased AIDS housing funding in his 2008 budget plan due to be unveiled in October. To learn more about the AIDS housing crisis and how you can help, participate in the AIDS housing community forum on Tuesday, September 11 at 6:00 p.m. at the Chicago Bar Association, 321 S. Plymouth 5th Floor (1 block west of State Street, between Jackson and Van Buren.).

AFC Campaigns for $1.5 million in new AIDS Housing Funding

August 15, 2007 - This week, the AIDS Foundation of Chicago (AFC) launches a citywide advocacy campaign to urge Chicago government officials to expand the availability of supportive housing services for low-income Chicagoans living with HIV/AIDS. AFC and its community partners are requesting an additional $1.5 million in city funding to address high rates of housing instability and homelessness among HIV-positive Chicagoans.

Federal AIDS housing funding for Chicago has remained flat over the past four years while the number of reported HIV/AIDS cases has increased exponentially. According to national estimates, as many as 50% of all people living with HIV/AIDS are extremely low-income and at risk of severe health problems as a result of housing instability. As many as 15,000 HIV-positive Chicagoans are believed to experience housing insecurity but only an estimated 1,460 households can currently be served through publicly-funded AIDS housing programs. For these reasons, AFC and its partners are seeking a city funding increase of $1.5 million to expand rental assistance, housing locator, and community residential services for low-income HIV/AIDS-affected households.

To launch the campaign, AFC urges Chicago organizations and residents to testify at three upcoming city budget hearings. In addition, AFC will host a community meeting on AIDS housing advocacy on Tuesday, Sept. 11. Please save the date and stay tuned for details being announced soon.

AIDS Housing is Healthcare

It’s simple: AIDS housing services literally save lives. HIV-positive people with safe and affordable housing are better able to manage their healthcare, complex treatments, and receive the rest and nutritious foods they need to stay healthy. By providing shelter and access to water, refrigeration and food, housing makes it easier for people to take their HIV medication on time and get to medical appointments.

AIDS housing resources in Chicago are limited and scarce:

• After leaving prisons, substance abuse treatment centers or hospitals, people with HIV shouldn’t have to wait months or years to find housing. Community residences (group living settings that provide intensive supportive services) need more funding to meet the demand for services.

• Critically important rental assistance for 85 low-income, disabled people with HIV/AIDS will end in January 2008 if no additional funding is identified. Without rental assistance, these individuals are likely to face severe housing instability or homelessness in the dead of winter.

• According to national estimates, 10,000-15,000 people living with HIV in Chicago need AIDS housing, but just 1,460 units are available