Legislation is currently being considered to assist individuals living with HIV and AIDS secure housing.
The bill, cosponsored by Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal and Assemblymember Harry Bronson passed through the Senate Social Services committee this week, bringing it one step closer to a vote.
Advocates say the impact of the legislation is twofold, both about providing stability for individuals living with HIV and AIDs, but also about stopping the spread of a disease that has taken 36 million lives worldwide since the 1980s, hitting the LGBTQ+ community and communities of color especially hard.
“I tested positive for HIV in 2005,” said Kevin Fox of Albany.
Fox said if it weren’t for the Albany Damien Center, he wouldn’t have been able to gain access to housing and the tools he needs to fight the disease.
The center provides resources for individuals like himself and their families.
“They don’t want to be stereotyped,” he said of people battling HIV and AIDS. “Sometimes they don’t have the resources to go to, or people who do have the resources to get them housing.”
Perry Junjulas, the Damien Center's executive director, told Spectrum News 1 that the problem is rental assistance for individuals with HIV and AIDS in New York state has remained stagnant at $480 per month since the 1980s, and only New York City has taken the initiative to provide optional subsidies through a 30% rent cap.
Junjulas himself has AIDS.
“Back in the day, we were told we were going to die,” he said. “I was told I had three months to live, and I had no reason to doubt them because everyone around me was dying every two minutes.”
He says the lack of secure housing assistance means many New Yorkers aren’t receiving the lifesaving treatments developed in the decades since, potentially leading to devastating consequences for themselves and others.
“If someone is homeless or unstably housed who is living with HIV, they truly can’t access the medications that will keep them alive and prevent them from spreading HIV to other persons,” he said.
Hoylman-Sigal says he hopes legislation cosponsored by Bronson can address these issues and provide for the rest of the state what New York City currently does for their residents.
“It’s unjust that this support is not available to the approximately 2,500 low-income New Yorkers with HIV living outside of New York City,” He told Spectrum News 1 in a statement. “I’m pleased that our bill to rectify this has passed out of the Social Services Committee and is now heading to the Finance Committee. I’m hopeful that the full Senate and Assembly will have the opportunity to vote on this bill so New York State can finally provide the same lifesaving support to all low-income New Yorkers living with HIV that we currently give to those living in New York City.”
Bronson doubled down on the urgency of passing the legislation.
“Ending the AIDS epidemic is one of my top public health priorities,” he said. “Stable, secure housing is one of the most important elements in preventing people with HIV from developing full-blown AIDS or infecting others in the community. Coupled with New York’s current state-wide housing crisis, it is time to correct this inequity before conditions worsen for those low-income people living with HIV.”
Fox says when he sees someone new come to the Damien Center, he is reminded of overcoming his own struggles, and he is hopeful the bill or similar executive or legislative action can open up doors for them to overcome theirs.
It’s very important,” he said. “That’s why we need housing for people who are HIV positive.”
The End AIDS New York Community Coalition says providing the assistance would cost $3 million in the first year then a maximum of $31 million if there was maximum uptake of the benefit in out years, something they say pales in comparison to corresponding Medicaid costs.