As AIDS Epidemic Explodes, Feds Find Money for Patient Housing

Posted 5:00 a.m. Nov 4, 1997 — Updated 5:00 a.m. Nov 4, 1997

RALEIGH — The HIV and AIDS epidemic may be about toexplode through Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Republics.Right now sub-Saharan Africa has the most severe risk. The World Bank isrecommending that governments act as quickly as possible withintensive prevention efforts, especially among people who have numeroussex partners or inject drugs using unsterilized needles.

AIDS is a public health issue that impacts the taxpayers. Somegovernment leaders say the disease often throws hard-working Americansinto hard times.

Bill Brett of the AIDS Service Agency (ASA) says it can be devastatingeconomically.

To help North Carolina deal with the problem, the US Department ofHousing and Urban Development has approved grants to help aids patientsfind housing through a program called Housing Opportunities for Personswith AIDS (HOPWA).

Arthur Okrent of the AIDS Care Branch of the NC Department of PublicHealth says the program helps people pay for housing.

The money will also be used to hire substance abuse counselors to helpstop the spread of aids through drug abuse. Brett says he is concernedthat recent state cuts in funding for AIDS treatment will hurt patientsmore than the housing assistance will help them.

Okrent says he agrees with Brett.

Officials at both agencies agree that as more people become infectedwith HIV and AIDS, more will need to be done to prevent those in greatestneed from being forced into homelessness.

Photographer:Lori Foushee

Suggest A Correction