San Francisco city leaders and AIDS organizations are helping HIV-positive Gulf Coast hurricane evacuees at both organizational and individual levels.

Under One Roof -- an organization that raises money for Bay area AIDS service organizations -- launched the Above and Beyond Fund, which has distributed $4,750 to assist people with AIDS in the Gulf. In Louisiana, the Baton Rouge AIDS Society, on behalf of Brotherhood Inc., will receive $2,000. In Alabama, the Mobile AIDS Support Services agency will receive $2,000, and Montgomery AIDS Outreach will receive $750.

"After placing numerous calls to their colleagues in the region, our expert advisory panel recommended we immediately wire money to these three organizations on the frontline of this tragedy," said Mike Marshall, Under One Roof's executive director. Most of the AIDS service organizations need funds "to help feed, house, and provide basic services to their HIV-positive clients," said Mike Smith, the AIDS Emergency Fund's executive director and an Above and Beyond Fund advisory panel member.

"We have had difficulty reaching functioning organizations in New Orleans or southern Mississippi to support at this time, but we expect that our next disbursements will go to these devastated communities," said Marshall. For information, visit www.underoneroof.org.

AIDS Housing Alliance Director Brian Basinger criticized the drug coverage available under the Texas AIDS Drug Assistance Program and urged city leaders to invite PWAs who were evacuated to Texas to consider moving to California. In response, Sup. Tom Ammiano introduced on Sept. 20 legislation asking the city to do what it can for people displaced by the storm who made it to San Francisco. Health care access and housing are special concerns, said Ammiano.

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