AIDS Foundation Chicago Launches Push for City Housing Funds

More than 200 Chicagoans with HIV are at risk of becoming homeless if the city does not boost its AIDS housing subsidy by $1.5 million, AIDS Foundation of Chicago (AFC) is warning.

According to John Peller, AFC's director of political action, Chicago received a one-time federal housing grant in 2004. That money has been completely spent and if a new source of funding is not identified, housing services for HIV/AIDS patients would likely have to be cut in January 2008, said Peller.

The $1.5 million would be used to expand rental assistance and housing locator and community residential services for people affected by HIV/AIDS. If new money is not found, patients in hospices and other facilities would not be able to move out on their own. That would cause waiting lists for the facilities to substantially increase. Some 10,000-15,000 people with HIV/AIDS need housing assistance, but just 1,460 housing units are available, said Peller.

Eric Nelson, development director for Better Existence with HIV, said stable housing is paramount for HIV/AIDS patients. "If someone is homeless, that means they don't have an address. [That] impacts their ability to access medical care. It impacts their ability to fill prescriptions. It even impacts how they take their medicine," he said. "As the saying goes, housing is health care."

"This fits in the mayor's vision of less homelessness in Chicago. AIDS housing is homelessness prevention," said Peller, who urged people to write the mayor and their alderperson over the issue. "The city is going to have to step up, and the mayor knows that," added Nelson.

AFC will hold a town hall meeting to discuss the issue on Sept. 11 at 6 p.m. at 321 S. Plymouth, 5th floor. For more information, visit www.aidschicago.org.

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