Write a Comment
8 Comments
I would like to think that those we elect to office have the best interest of the people they serve at heart. -------------- Thomas
This is a shame and will just continue to happen in New York where you are and in other cities and states as they use the excuse of cutting programs to balance the books. Yet, the waste and fraud, in government budgets is never addressed. I don't qualify for any programs even having been unemployed for about a year. I get no help with my child support, rent etc...and when I get to the point where I do (which means total desitution) I doubt if there will even be a program that helps me. I fully expect to be on the street in 12 months. Don't let the federal government off the hook either. Obama, the house and senate Dems and Republicans are turning their back too.
Hey Regan, long time no see - On the other hand, I personally know four individuals who benefit from HASA who are perfectly healthy and living with HIV. They can work and I'm sure there are plenty of other like them. I'm not saying Governor Paterson's decision to veto the bill was correct, but they should be a better way to quality for HASA assistance. -Dave the blogger
Dear Regan; I would like to think that those we elect to office have the best interest of the people they serve at heart. I will be 57 this month and as you can imagine, I have seen and been witnessed to many decisions made by politicians that prove that way of thinking incorrect. All to often I have seen politicians spend billions to save millions in the short term. I think many are using to quote a term "fuzzy math". Many of us know what must happen in order stamp out things like homelessness, poverty, lack of proper medical attention, equal education opportunity. As long as the few control so much of the worlds wealth, many will continue to suffer and any sense of equality will continue to be a dream, not a reality. Lovingly, Paul
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR BREAKING DOWN THIS ISSUE SO THAT MANY OF MY FRIENDS CAN UNDERSTAND WHAT IT I AM GOING THROUGH. LAST YEAR I VOLUNTEERED ON THE BILL THOMPSON CAMPAIGN, AND WHILE DOING THAT, ESPADA, DIAZ, AND MONSERATTE DECIDED TO TAKE SIEGE OF ALBANY, DURING THE HEARINGS ON THIS BILL, THAT GOT STUCK BECAUSE OF THE SENATORS ACTIONS. I LOST THE APARTMENT I HAD AND HAD TO GO TO THE CITY SRO'S. I MOVED TO A NEW APARTMENT IN DECEMBER AND HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS BILL TO GET ASSISTANCE WITH MY ELECTRIC AND GAS BILLS AS WELL AS, BE ALLOWED TO KEEP MORE OF MY DISABILITY CHECK TO BUY NEW CLOTHES AND TOILETRIES. THIS IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN IN THE NEAR FUTURE. I FEAR THAT I MAY LOSE THIS APARTMENT AS WELL. I AM AS MAD AS HELL AND NEED TO RELAX. I WAS THE ONE HOLDING THE CORNER OF THE BANNER,DURING THE PROTEST ON MONDAY. THANKS AGAIN FOR THIS ARTICLE AND I WISH YOU MORE SUCCESS IN ALL YOUR ENDEAVORS.
David Patterson is an idiot and a disgrace not only to the African American community but to the human race ! Its a crying shame that guy ( I forgot his name) got busted for dealing with the call girls, because not only is he (patterson) messing this this up but he is entirely screwing up the city of New York ! I would eagerly await the people of NY to impeach his retarted ass ! He does not deserve the privilege of being Gov !
Dear RM, I love to read your articules in POZ. They always are right dead on target. You know, I used to get rent help from the AIDS housing program in SF in 90's and it saved me from living in the streets. I also went to the food bank, and was in a California dept of Rehab. for disable people. Back then too we the state of Ca. was always under budget or no money. But one year I got off the waiting list and got the dept of rehab. to pay for my nursing school. I never grew up wanting to be a nurse, but I cared for so many with AIDS and buried so many boyfriends I knew I could be a nurse. I was a 2003 nurse grad and got a job at Kaiser hospital. I know work 3 days a week 8 hours and make $125,000.00 a year income and have a new love. We married in Iowa where my Mom was married a second time. I volunteer at a STD/STI clinic in the Castro called Magnet and get to give sex advice to the youngsters. RH keep letting the bees eat your honey, because yes the world is made poz itively. You are always a great mentor for me and yes now these days I get to be a great mentor to the youngersters. The days of a HIV darkness are now gone with the break in the darkness with a shining light like you REGAN H. keep on living for the love.
shayne
The average cost to put someone with aids in these supported housing places (SRO) is 2200.00 a month. Hasa pays this. The tenant pays 30 percent of their income. So if someone is getting a little over 700 a month in disability, they pay around 200 bucks. That means the SRO rakes in over 2400.00 a month. If the Gov signed the law, people with aids could be moved out of these SRO's and Hasa would only chip in around 600 bucks for the rent every month. A huge savings. The problem, people with aids can not more out of these places, because their rent would increase so much, they would starve. So people that need supported housing, can not get in, because the people that first went to the supportive housing and are now much better, will not leave because of the added expense.
January 18, 2011