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If You Are in Need of Help
Resources for Those in the HIV Community Affected by Hurricane Katrina

October 7, 2005

This information has been compiled by The Body based on information provided by the American Academy of HIV Medicine and other sources.

To find information about HIV-related services for evacuees in a particular state, just pick that state from this menu. General information can be found in the "Nationwide" section, as can information for migrant workers. Please contact bgoldman@thebody.com if you have information to add!


Nationwide

General Assistance

To apply for assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), you can:

You can also try to contact the American Red Cross for emergency needs at 1-866-438-4636 or 1-866-257-7575 in Spanish. If you persevere, they will assist you with food, shelter, clothing, transportation and medical care.

A quicker solution may be AIDS organizations across the country that are prepared to provide evacuees with all kinds of assistance. For a state-by-state listing of all AIDS organizations in the United States, click here.

Medications

If you received HIV treatment before Hurricane Katrina hit, and now require help getting your medications, there are a number of programs out there that can help.

Many of the same AIDS organizations that are helping to provide housing to HIV-positive evacuees also offer medication assistance. See the housing section for a listing of some AIDS organizations that are currently prepared to help HIV-positive survivors of Hurricane Katrina in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina and Texas. For a state-by-state listing of all AIDS organizations in the United States, click here.

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
If you are in states devastated by Hurricane Katrina and are a Medicare or Medicaid beneficiary, documentation will be waived and it will be presumed that you are eligible. For more details, click here.

AIDS Drug Assistance Program
If you normally receive medications through an AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) and have been relocated because of the hurricane, call the ADAP office in the state you now live in (click here for a state-by-state listing of ADAP offices you can call). After filling out a one-page form, you should be able to continue to get medications. If you don't remember the details of your regimen, you'll be referred to an HIV specialist.

Private Health Insurance
If you have private health insurance, you'll have to call your insurance company. Many insurance companies have made provisions for their customers from areas affected by Hurricane Katrina.

Clinical Trials
If you are a study patient who had to relocate, call the pharmaceutical company in charge of the study immediately for aid in obtaining new supplies and for advice about getting additional help. For an additional list of contact numbers, contact info@aahivm.org.

General Pharmaceutical Company Programs

Housing

The Red Cross and Salvation Army are helping evacuees with HIV to find housing. First contact the American Red Cross for emergency needs at 1-866-438-4636 or 1-866-257-7575 in Spanish. They will assist you with food, shelter, clothing, transportation and medical care.

AIDS organizations in the areas affected by the hurricane are another resource -- see the resources below for specific listings. For a state-by-state listing of all AIDS organizations in the United States, click here. If you hear of others, contact bgoldman@thebody.com.

There are also individuals on many housing Web sites offering temporary housing in cities across the United States. These sites include:

If you are a recipient of Section 8 housing and have been impacted by the hurricane, you should report to the local social service department and/or housing authority in the city where you are now staying. You will be eligible to use your benefits there; however, you will be beholden to the already existing waiting lists in these locations.

Finally, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has established the toll-free number 1-888-297-8685 for the public to get information on housing needs.

Additional Information

AAHIVM's Hurricane Katrina Weblog
Lots of information can be found here, including blogs from doctors in New Orleans. Although free, you will need to sign up to view their "HIV/AIDS Emergency Gulf Coverage" -- click here to register.

Help for Migrants
By dialing 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255), callers will be connected to a network of local crisis centers across the country committed to crisis counseling. Callers to this toll-free hotline will receive counseling from trained staff at the closest certified crisis center in the network.


Alabama

General Assistance

Click here for information about applying for help from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) or the American Red Cross.

Medications

Alabama's AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) is providing temporary emergency HIV medication assistance on a case-by-case basis for residents of Louisiana and Mississippi who have evacuated to Alabama. Once approved, clients will be eligible for eight weeks of emergency assistance. After that, a new application will be needed. The best way to get information about getting treatment through Alabama's ADAP and/or to connect with medical services is by calling AIDS Alabama's toll-free number at 1-800-592-AIDS (2437). [Reporting courtesy Project Inform]

Click here to learn more about who you can contact to ensure continued access to your HIV-related medications.

Clinics and Physicians

Many clinics and physicians are able to see displaced persons living with HIV, including those on the following list. If you hear of others, please contact bgoldman@thebody.com.

AIDS Organizations

Click here to browse The Body's listing of AIDS organizations in Alabama.

Housing

Click here to read general information on getting housing assistance, or contact the following organizations:


Arkansas

General Assistance

Click here for information about applying for help from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) or the American Red Cross.

Medications

Click here to learn more about who you can contact to ensure continued access to your HIV-related medications.

Clinics and Physicians

Many clinics and physicians are able to see displaced persons living with HIV, including those on the following list. If you hear of others, please contact bgoldman@thebody.com.

AIDS Organizations

Click here to browse The Body's listing of AIDS organizations in Arkansas.

Housing

Click here to read general information on getting housing assistance.


California

General Assistance

California's AIDS Emergency Fund and Breast Cancer Emergency Fund announced in September that they are waiving proof of residency requirements for Katrina evacuees to obtain grant assistance. Instead, they will accept referrals from St. Mary's Hospital or the American Red Cross office in San Francisco, two city registration points for evacuees. However, the funds usually require confirmation of diagnosis and income verification before issuing up to $600 for rent, utilities, medical or other basic living costs. [Reporting courtesy the Bay Area Reporter]

Click here for information about applying for help from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) or the American Red Cross.

Medications

Click here to learn more about who you can contact to ensure continued access to your HIV-related medications.

AIDS Organizations

Click here to browse The Body's listing of AIDS organizations in California.

Housing

Click here to read general information on getting housing assistance.


Florida

General Assistance

Click here for information about applying for help from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) or the American Red Cross.

Medications

Click here to learn more about who you can contact to ensure continued access to your HIV-related medications.

Clinics and Physicians

Many clinics and physicians are able to see displaced persons living with HIV, including those on the following list. If you hear of others, please contact bgoldman@thebody.com.

AIDS Organizations

Click here to browse The Body's listing of AIDS organizations in Florida.

Housing

Click here to read general information on getting housing assistance, or contact the following organizations:


Georgia

General Assistance

Click here for information about applying for help from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) or the American Red Cross.

Medications

Click here to learn more about who you can contact to ensure continued access to your HIV-related medications.

Clinics and Physicians

Many clinics and physicians are able to see displaced persons living with HIV, including those on the following list. If you hear of others, please contact bgoldman@thebody.com.

AIDS Organizations

Click here to browse The Body's listing of AIDS organizations in Georgia.

Housing

Click here to read general information on getting housing assistance, or contact the following organizations:


Illinois

General Assistance

A Sept. 6 memo from Nancy Abraham, the Illinois Department of Public Health's AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) administrator, instructed AIDS service providers and case managers in how to help HIV-positive evacuees. Acknowledging that "people may be coming out of the hurricane area with few, if any, papers," Abraham said that the state's ADAP is prepared to grant approval for services for up to 90 days. Several Chicago area AIDS agencies, including the AIDS Foundation of Chicago, have also indicated their willingness to offer case management and other resources to hurricane evacuees. [Reporting courtesy the Chicago Free Press]

Click here for information about applying for help from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) or the American Red Cross.

Medications

Click here to learn more about who you can contact to ensure continued access to your HIV-related medications.

AIDS Organizations

Click here to browse The Body's listing of AIDS organizations in Illinois.

Housing

Click here to read general information on getting housing assistance.


Iowa

General Assistance

Click here for information about applying for help from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) or the American Red Cross.

Medications

Click here to learn more about who you can contact to ensure continued access to your HIV-related medications.

Clinics and Physicians

Many clinics and physicians are able to see displaced persons living with HIV, including those on the following list. If you hear of others, please contact bgoldman@thebody.com.

AIDS Organizations

Click here to browse The Body's listing of AIDS organizations in Iowa.

Housing

Click here to read general information on getting housing assistance, or contact the following organizations:


Louisiana

General Assistance

The Louisiana State University hospital system is a major provider of HIV care, and the chief provider of AIDS Drug Assistance Program medications, in Louisiana, but several hospitals were severely damaged by Hurricane Katrina. As a result, a local AIDS organization may be a better bet for HIV-positive people in Louisiana who need access to HIV meds or other medical care. [Based on reports from Project Inform]

Click here for information about applying for help from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) or the American Red Cross.

Medications

Click here to learn more about who you can contact to ensure continued access to your HIV-related medications.

Clinics and Physicians

Many clinics and physicians are able to see displaced persons living with HIV, including those on the following list. If you hear of others, please contact bgoldman@thebody.com.

AIDS Organizations

Click here to browse The Body's listing of AIDS organizations in Louisiana.

Housing

Click here to read general information on getting housing assistance, or contact the following organizations:


Massachusetts

General Assistance

Click here for information about applying for help from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) or the American Red Cross.

Medications

Click here to learn more about who you can contact to ensure continued access to your HIV-related medications.

Clinics and Physicians

Many clinics and physicians are able to see displaced persons living with HIV, including those on the following list. If you hear of others, please contact bgoldman@thebody.com.

AIDS Organizations

Click here to browse The Body's listing of AIDS organizations in Massachusetts.

Housing

Click here to read general information on getting housing assistance.


Mississippi

General Assistance

Click here for information about applying for help from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) or the American Red Cross.

Medications

Mississippi has announced a 30-day emergency assistance program for HIV-positive people. Once the 30 days run out, the program will decide whether to renew assistance on a case-by-case basis. For more information about the program, and to locate clinics and organizations that will be able to help with medical care, call Mississippi's toll-free AIDS hotline, 1-800-489-7670. You can also call the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson at 1-601-984-5206. [Reporting courtesy Project Inform]

Click here to learn more about who you can contact to ensure continued access to your HIV-related medications.

Clinics and Physicians

Many clinics and physicians are able to see displaced persons living with HIV, including those on the following list. If you hear of others, please contact bgoldman@thebody.com.

AIDS Organizations

Click here to browse The Body's listing of AIDS organizations in Mississippi.

Housing

Click here to read general information on getting housing assistance, or contact the following organizations:


Oklahoma

General Assistance

Click here for information about applying for help from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) or the American Red Cross.

Medications

Click here to learn more about who you can contact to ensure continued access to your HIV-related medications.

Clinics and Physicians

Many clinics and physicians are able to see displaced persons living with HIV, including those on the following list. If you hear of others, please contact bgoldman@thebody.com.

AIDS Organizations

Click here to browse The Body's listing of AIDS organizations in Oklahoma.

Housing

Click here to read general information on getting housing assistance.


South Carolina

General Assistance

Click here for information about applying for help from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) or the American Red Cross.

Medications

Click here to learn more about who you can contact to ensure continued access to your HIV-related medications.

AIDS Organizations

Click here to browse The Body's listing of AIDS organizations in South Carolina.

Housing

Click here to read general information on getting housing assistance, or contact the following organizations:


Tennessee

General Assistance

Click here for information about applying for help from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) or the American Red Cross.

Medications

Click here to learn more about who you can contact to ensure continued access to your HIV-related medications.

Clinics and Physicians

Many clinics and physicians are able to see displaced persons living with HIV, including those on the following list. If you hear of others, please contact bgoldman@thebody.com.

AIDS Organizations

Click here to browse The Body's listing of AIDS organizations in Tennessee.

Housing

Click here to read general information on getting housing assistance.


Texas

General Assistance

For evacuees in Dallas, Texas, the Dallas County Health and Human Services department has announced it is offering HIV and tuberculosis treatment services. You can call 1-214-819-6001 for more information.

For evacuees in Houston, the Montrose Clinic (1-713-830-3047) and the Thomas Street Health Center (1-713-873-4000) have set up telephone hotlines that can provide information about getting access to HIV treatment and general medical care.

Click here for information about applying for help from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) or the American Red Cross.

Medications

Evacuees in Texas who were receiving HIV medications through their state's AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) can apply for help from the ADAP in Texas, which is called the Texas HIV Medication Program (THMP). Click here to get the application form, or call THMP at 1-800-255-1090. Once your application is accepted, you'll be able to receive medications for eight weeks, after which you'll need to reapply in order to continue benefits.

Click here to learn more about who you can contact to ensure continued access to your HIV-related medications.

Clinics and Physicians

Many clinics and physicians are able to see displaced persons living with HIV, including those on the following list. If you hear of others, please contact bgoldman@thebody.com.

AIDS Organizations

Click here to browse The Body's listing of AIDS organizations in Texas.

Housing

Click here to read general information on getting housing assistance, or contact the following organizations:



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