California: Care Center for Low-Income People With HIV/AIDS Closes Doors

After serving low-income and homeless people with HIV/AIDS for 25 years, Vital Life Services in Oakland's Golden Gate neighborhood has closed down -- a casualty of the recession. VLS was the only place locally that served two hot meals daily to HIV/AIDS patients, offering a daycare drop-in center and a place where clients could take a shower and access the Internet. VLS also provided poor HIV/AIDS patients with case management, mental health counseling, free transportation to medical and social service appointments, and emergency housing assistance.

"There were roughly 400 clients there," said Kadir Hypolite, acting director for Alameda County's HIV/AIDS administration. "The tragedy is now all the clients will be dispersed," he added. "It's a hard resource to replace. We have various other providers that are stepping up for some of the services, but for having it all in one place, that's gone."

Previously known as the Center for AIDS Services, VLS moved into the former headquarters of Your Black Muslim Bakery in September. The nonprofit saw its federal support cut for two consecutive years, just as private donor and foundation support declined to half of what had been expected. Its largest fundraising source, Dining Out for Life, netted far less than anticipated. With debts growing and no way to pay the bills, Executive Director Peggy Bush on May 1 informed staff and clients that VLS was closing.

"We recently received notice of proposed state budget cuts that will almost surely wipe out HIV/AIDS funding and kill clients," Bush said, referring to the broader crisis facing California AIDS service providers.

Back to other news for June 2009

Search the Newsroom archive