July 27, 2007
MORE HOPE FOR HOPWA
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Nadler did PR for HOPWA in the House |
A little over a month ago the Update reported that a House of Representatives subcommittee had approved a slender increase to President Bush's funding request for the Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) program—despite Dubya's threat to veto such spending boosts. This week the full House approved the money: $300.1 million—the largest HOPWA budget ever—as part of the Fiscal Year 2008 Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Appropriations bill. However, the 268-153 vote was 22 votes shy of being veto—proof.
No matter what happens down the road, though, it was a big day for HOPWA: During the floor debate, Representative Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) gave HOPWA a shout—out, greatly raising the profile of the relatively tiny program among his fellow reps. "Nadler's sort of the patron saint of HOPWA," said Emily Bonifaci, a policy associate with the National AIDS Housing Coalition (NAHC).
"HOPWA is the only federal housing program that specifically provides cities and states with the resources to address the housing crisis facing people living with HIV/AIDS," Nadler told his House colleagues. "Americans living with HIV/AIDS are often forced to choose between expensive drug treatments and necessities such as housing."
There is cautious optimism that the funding will stand in the Senate. A Senate appropriations committee has allocated $300.1 million for HOPWA, as well, but it hasn't been approved by the full Senate—and might not be until after Senators return from August holiday. But the larger concern is the fact that the House bill passed 268-153, 22 votes short of what is needed to withstand a Bush veto.
And even if Bush backs down on his veto threat, you could call the recent budget increase cold comfort. Experts estimate that it would take $454 million to cover everyone with HIV/AIDS who is eligible for HOPWA. Although 67,000 folks are enrolled in the program, a hamstrung Ryan White Care Act and steady yearly stream of 40,000 or so infections nationwide means that HOPWA is woefully underfunded.
Housing Works' director of national advocacy Christine Campbell remained undeterred. "We're glad there was any increase, which has unfortunately not been the case over the past few years," she said. From 2004 to 2005, HOPWA funding decreased from $295 million to $282 million, and during fiscal years 2006 and 2007 HOPWA funding was stuck at $286 million.
The HOPWA boost was similar to ones given to other HUD programs. (Full budget allocations were still being compiled at press time). "The appropriations committee was clear we couldn't get the world in one year," said Linda Couch, deputy director of the National Low Income Housing Coalition. "But at least they've stopped hemorrhaging money away from housing like they've done in previous years."