North Carolina HIV/AIDS Service Organization to Continue Under Different Name Following Funding Losses

The oldest HIV/AIDS service organization in Charlotte, N.C., will continue to provide services under a different name after Friday, despite earlier reports that it was on the verge of closing, the Charlotte Observer reports. Although officials with the Metrolina AIDS Project would not give many details about the changes, a federal consultant said the agency's $1.2 million in Ryan White Program funding has been put "on hold." Jose Diaz, a consultant with the federal agency that provides some of MAP's funding, said the agency is under a routine review, not an investigation, and that there is a possibility the federal funding could be restored to the agency's successor. Diaz added that counseling, testing and case management services would continue to be provided to MAP's clients living with HIV, but other agencies like Regional AIDS Interfaith Network might take over some services. He said that the "goal is to not interrupt service" and that MAP's funders, after meetings with the agency, said they will "continue to provide those funds."

Robert Oltz, associate director of MAP, said that the group earlier this week was expecting to close "because we were running out of money," and 32 employees on Monday were told they would be laid off. Oltz said the announcement is no longer valid and that MAP is "trying to work through it." He said that MAP saw a decrease of $200,000 in donations from 2007 to 2008 (Garloch, Charlotte Observer, 1/29).

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