Indiana: Agency Struggles in Tough Economy

Despite a pared down budget, the HIV/AIDS agency the Damien Center hopes to expand its services. New interim Executive Director Tom Bartenbach said the center wants to add a medical clinic, create job programming, and boost funding for client services not directly related to the disease.

The center's 2009 budget is down to $1.9 million from 2008's $2.6 million. United Way funding is down 16 percent this year; large non-profit donations are down 25 percent; and unrestricted foundation gifts to Damien are down 40 percent. The center has cut staff and limited services, and it is struggling to keep its food pantry stocked.

But Bartenbach is optimistic he can convince private foundations of the importance of donating to HIV/AIDS programming. Providing support allows people with HIV/AIDS to rejoin the workforce and resume being productive in society, he said: "If the least of us are assisted, it helps everyone. If they are brought to a level of service and care, they can start to be self-sustaining."

Bartenbach, who became the center's leader in August, is a longtime HIV/AIDS advocate. He founded the Bartenbach grocery stores in Indianapolis in 1984 and ran them before selling the chain in 1993.

"When I first got into this, we had been assisting people to die in 36 months or less," said Bartenbach. "Now, we're teaching them how to live for 36 years or longer."

The Damien Center was founded in 1987, moving to its current location at 26 N. Arsenal Ave. in 2006. According to state Department of Health data, Indiana has 3,867 residents living with HIV and 4,349 with AIDS.

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