February 1, 2008
INTRODUCING...HASA FOR ALL
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HASA for All takes City Hall! |
The HASA for All Act would extend HIV/AIDS Services Administration (HASA) benefits, including enhanced rental assistance and other life-saving services, to all poor New Yorkers living with HIV. Currently, only people with an AIDS diagnosis (a T-cell count of 200 or lower or two opportunistic infections) are eligible for those benefits, a distinction that has prompted some to let themselves get sick in order to qualify for HASA. Advocates estimate the HASA for All Act would help some 7,000 people receive full HASA assistance.
"No matter if your T-cell count is high or low, you shouldn't have to wait to receive HASA services," said Alan Pérez, an HIV-positive Gay Men's Health Crisis (GMHC) volunteer and Housing Works client who was living in a homeless shelter before receiving HASA benefits. Pérez spoke at the pre-Council meeting press conference on the City Hall steps as did New York City AIDS Housing Network co-executive director Shirlene Cooper, Housing Works President CEO Charles King and GMHC community organizer Kristin Goodwin.
At the Council meeting, the HASA for All Act was sent to the General Welfare Committee, which is overseen by Council member Bill de Blasio. According to terri smith-coronia, Housing Works New York City public policy director, the next step in getting the legistlation passed is to urge the General Welfare Committee to hold hearings on that legislation.Quinn still in opposition
After the press conference, activists filled the balcony of City Hall, which led to some unexpectedly tense moments with Quinn. The balcony broke out in chants of "HASA for All" when Quinn walked past the HASA for All supporters on her way to thank members of Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN) for supporting a bill that would prohibit landlords from discriminating against tenants who pay for rent through governmental assistance programs (a mention of HASA was conspicuously absent when she later spoke about her bill on the floor). After the bill was introduced, more chants of "HASA for All! HASA for All!" were heard.
It's no wonder the things weren't warm and fuzzy between Quinn and the HASA for All activists. While Quinn has long been an advocate for low-income housing and people with HIV/AIDS, even after months of meetings with AIDS advocates she is still opposed to HASA for All. In response to HASA for All's introduction, Quinn's office re-released a statement from September: "I recognize the need to provide the best care possible to HIV-positive homeless New Yorkers. However, I do not believe the HASA for All initiative is the best way to support HIV-positive homeless individuals or prevent the spread of this disease. Further, I am concerned this bill could set a wide-ranging precedent that would require additional costly benefits, diverting limited resources to an unnecessary mandate instead of allowing us to target funds where they are most needed."
Mayor Michael Bloomberg's office issued a similar statement. "This proposal would impede our ability to tailor services in the most appropriate way to those who need it most. Services provided through New York City's HASA program are guided by federal and state guidelines and were specifically designed to address the needs of people with HIV or AIDS who require intensive support. We do not agree with this proposal because it could result in the diversion of resources from services that help people successfully manage the disease to other, less effective measures."
Rebutting Quinn and Bloomberg, AIDS advocates say passage of the HASA for All Act would not only remedy the cruel injustice of HASA's misguided housing policy, it would also prevent new HIV transmissions and, in the long run, save money. Recent studies confirm that housing stability promotes adherence to life-saving HIV medications, better health care, and reduced risk behavior (visit nationalaidshousing.org for more info)."HASA for All is the single most important action Council Members can take to end the AIDS epidemic in New York City," King said.
Housing Works peer educator Felicia Carroll knows how important receiving HASA benefits is. Her sister-in-law is not ill enough to receive HASA rental assistance and has been in and out of the shelter system—and lost custody of her children. "She's working towards getting her kids back," Carroll said. "Hopefully it won't take her getting sicker."
To get involved in fighting for HASA for All Act e-mail terri smith-caronia at smith-caronia@housingworks.org.