Washington, D.C.: Protesters Call for Affordable Housing

On World AIDS Day in Washington, more than 100 people gathered in front of a Department of Housing and Urban Development field office to call for more affordable housing for District residents with HIV/AIDS. "Housing is a life-or-death issue for people living with HIV and AIDS," said George Kerr, co-chair of the advocacy group DC Fights Back. Larry Bryant, a member of the organization, said, "People see [housing] as an extravagance, not a need. Infection rates are much higher amongst those who are homeless. We want to have some visible and vocal leadership from the mayor on down to address these needs." Kerr and two other demonstrators met with Belinda J. Fadlemola, an operations specialist for HUD, who said a meeting would be arranged to address their concerns, including how to move 278 people with HIV/AIDS off a waiting list and into housing.

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