Today Assemblymembers Harry Bronson (138) and Demond Meeks (137) hosted a press conference with Trillium Health to announce a $750,000 New York State investment in emergency housing assistance to expand housing access programs for low- income individuals living with HIV in the nine-county Finger Lakes region. Echoing support for the urgent need for these funds was VOCAL-NY leader, Tracie Adams, who is also living with HIV.

While HIV is no longer a death sentence due to the ability to treat and manage the disease, housing continues to be an important determinant to successfully mitigating the risks associated with HIV, most significantly, reducing transmission and new infections. By contrast housing instability presents significant barriers to the effective treatment of HIV viral load suppression among very low-income persons, increasing public health risk. Housing is also key to reducing other associated health risks such as avoidable inpatient and emergency care, and their significant human and health care costs.

“I am proud to partner with Assemblyman Meeks and Trillium Health to ensure that every person in Rochester and the Finger Lakes region living with HIV who is experiencing homelessness or housing instability will have access to the safe, stable housing that is a critical determinant of effective HIV health outcomes,” said Assemblymember Bronson. “Safe and consistent housing is necessary to reduce ongoing transmission of HIV and is critical to address the stark and persistent HIV health inequities that prevent us from ending our New York State HIV epidemic in every community and population. I also thank VOCAL-NY for their advocacy to make this a reality for those in our community affected by this disease.”

“Stable housing is essential for all members of our community. For people living with HIV, adequate and quality housing allows for the effective management of the disease while helping to reduce transmissions and new infections. Securing this critical investment would not have been possible without the staunch support of our VOCAL-NY advocates,” said Assemblymember Demond Meeks. “I am proud to work alongside Assemblymember Harry Bronson and Trillium Health to provide for the welfare of those throughout Greater Rochester living with HIV.”

The $750,000 state investment will enable Trillium Health to complement services provided by their existing HIV housing service program, Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA), in support of:

• First month’s rent & security deposits
• Emergency utility shut off
• Back rent
• Transportation for housing searches

HOPWA is available to people living with HIV/AIDS that reside in Monroe, Wayne, Ontario, Livingston, Orleans, Seneca, Yates, Schuyler, Steuben, and Genesee counties, and assists with monthly rent subsidies, as well as providing funds to secure housing and prevent homelessness. $250,000 was also provided to The Damien Center in Albany to provide similar services in that region.

Today, over 100,000 New Yorkers are living with HIV. Outside of NYC, which has a successful housing voucher program for low-income people with HIV, there are as many as 2,500 low- income HIV positive individuals who are homeless or unstably housed. Monroe County has the highest rate of people living with HIV in central New York. These individuals are more susceptible to experiencing housing instability and homelessness, affecting their ability to effectively manage their HIV infections, limiting their participation in the workforce and making them increasingly reliant on other social safety net programs.

Marginalizing people living with HIV has been shown to perpetuate health inequities instead of supporting good health practices that benefit our entire community. This state funding will guarantee fair and equal access to lifesaving HIV housing supports in the nine-county region and serves as an important measure in preventing the spread of HIV and assisting those living with the disease to successfully manage their infection and be able to live healthy and productive lives. The goal is to expand low-income HIV housing subsidies and support state- wide in every county.

“We are extremely grateful to Assemblymember Harry Bronson and Assemblymember Demond Meeks for securing funding for emergency housing assistance, which will be used to prevent homelessness among low-income individuals living with HIV. At Trillium Health, we have long held that housing is an essential component of good health. Studies have shown that individuals who are living with HIV and have safe, stable housing are more likely to maintain viral load suppression, which keeps them healthy and prevents the spread of HIV. We are very thankful that our state representatives were able to secure much-needed funding to assist vulnerable populations and improve the overall health of our community,” said Jason Barnecut-Kearns, President and CEO - Trillium Health.

“Housing is essential to treating and preventing HIV, and this investment is the first step in acknowledging years of advocacy by people living with HIV,” said Tracie Adams, a VOCAL-NY leader living with HIV. “I know the struggle of homelessness, and when you’re so focused on finding a safe haven, keeping yourself healthy takes a back seat. This program will show the rest of New York State that investing in safe, affordable housing for people living with HIV can transition people from just surviving to actually thriving. We look forward to this program’s success and will continue fighting with Assembly Member Bronson to make this program available to all HIV-Positive New Yorkers across our state.”