Housing Works and End AIDS NY Coalition Members Call Upon the State to Recommit to Ending the AIDS Epidemic in NY, Including Real Steps Toward Safe, Stable Housing

December 1, 2021 -- NY, NY -- World AIDS Day is a protest. We've been marching for over 30 years, and we're still fighting to house people living with HIV and AIDS to improve health outcomes. Join us as we call for HASA voucher increases, supportive housing for people living with HIV and AIDS for the rest of the state, and more.

This Wednesday, December 1st, at 3:30 PM, Housing Works and End AIDS NY allies will rally, march and speak out, demanding immediate action to house low income people in NYS with HIV. The group will meet at Christopher Park opposite the Stonewall Inn at 53 Christopher Street and embark on a short march, stopping at the AIDS Memorial to honor those we’ve lost and speak out on the need to end homelessness in order to end the AIDS epidemic. We will then proceed to The Center at 208 West 13th Street for an End AIDS NY community forum featuring community leaders and elected officials.

For over thirty years, Housing Works has fought for safe and stable housing for people living with HIV and for people at-risk for HIV transmission, including those with substance use and mental health issues, because we know housing is healthcare. This is not merely a slogan; numerous studies have proven safe, stable housing improves healthcare outcomes for people living with HIV, reduces incidence of death from AIDS-related causes, and supports effective antiretroviral treatment that keeps people healthy and makes it impossible to transmit HIV to others.

The Ending the Epidemic Coalition included safe, stable housing as key policy recommendations in the 2015 NYS Ending the Epidemic blueprint for a reason. We have not yet ended the HIV/AIDS epidemic in New York state because we have not expanded rental assistance to those outside of New York City. Homelessness is a crisis rooted in structural racism and political disregard for people who are Black, Latinx and poor, and the challenges posed by homelessness and housing instability, food insecurity, lack of employment, stigma, and other factors are what make it harder for our community to access HIV testing, prevention, and care. Housing is also an effective HIV prevention strategy, as it gives people the stability they need to reduce exposure to HIV infection and to benefit from PrEP and PEP.

The community forum event will take place at The Center, first come, first served. The purpose of World AIDS Day Community Forum is to share space together with people from the government, HIV/AIDS policy experts, service providers, and people directly impacted with HIV/AIDS as they share their experiences, and expert opinions on the AIDS Epidemic. As we enter 2022, we are still falling short from ending the AIDS Epidemic in NYS, and this community forum will highlight some of our policy & budget demands to End AIDS once and for all. We will be hearing from End The Epidemic members and community leaders as we demand the government to recommit to the NYS 2015 Blueprint to end AIDS.

About Housing Works

Housing Works is a healing community of people living with and affected by HIV/AIDS. Our mission is to end the dual crises of homelessness and AIDS through relentless advocacy, the provision of lifesaving services, and entrepreneurial businesses that sustain our efforts.