If we want to end the AIDS epidemic, NY must invest in statewide HIV housing | Opinion

I was shell-shocked when I was informed about my HIV status more than 20 years ago. My husband brought me into his doctor’s office so they could tell me his diagnosis, which meant I likely had the virus too. But it was only once I was admitted to the hospital with symptoms did it feel real. Looking back on that moment, I had no idea the strength and power I would step into as an advocate for those also living with HIV. And those early moments of fear and uncertainty are why I continue to fight for support and resources for people living with HIV across our entire state.

As a peer educator at an HIV clinic, it became clear that no matter how much support I could personally offer my community, we would continue to run into systematic barriers. For those living in New York City, there’s the HIV/AIDS Services Administration — HASA — an agency that helps prevent the spread of the virus with holistic, comprehensive services. But outside of the city, like where I live in Westchester and beyond, there are thousands of New Yorkers living with HIV who are housing insecure. For those without permanent housing, it becomes harder to sustain treatment and employment, and only leads to more people getting sick. It shouldn’t be this way.

Fortunately, there’s new hope for expanding services and housing for people living with HIV statewide. On World AIDS Day last year, Gov. Kathy Hochul committed to Ending the Epidemic and pledged to End the AIDS epidemic by 2024. It’s a good start, but if Hochul wants to go farther than previous administrations, we need specific investments earmarked for New Yorkers living with HIV. 

Housing is of the utmost importance, as it’s associated with lower rates of exposure and more access to treatment. That’s why we are asking for $10 million to be allocated to the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance to provide stable housing and a change in Article VII language that will grant equal access to housing to end the New York State AIDS epidemic.

It’s true that New York has led the way on combating the HIV/AIDS epidemic, but the virus is still very much a reality in our state, and one that is so often overlooked. It’s not enough to have support for people living in our largest city, while people living in places like Albany, Buffalo and Rochester are left to fend for themselves. If Hochul is really committed to ending the epidemic, we need investments into stable housing for every New Yorker living with HIV/AIDS outside of the five boroughs.

While living with HIV may not be the death sentence it once was, it still comes with challenges and stigma that make it hard to lead a “normal life.” When I was diagnosed, I went from taking no medications to taking 16 different ones each day. I went into treatment, stopped using the drugs, and trained to work as a peer educator. I left my husband, and moved my family away from the city to get a new start. But all of the work I did to improve my life and my kids' lives did not guarantee stability. It was only by moving back to New York and starting work at an HIV clinic that I was able to create a better environment for my family. My story is like so many others in that people living with HIV/AIDS are doing all they can to survive, and often must do it on their own.

If one thing is clear from my experience, it’s that the way we treat and support people living with HIV/AIDS in New York needs to change. We can’t rely on the same performative actions, like we saw from Gov. Andrew Cuomo, and expect things to be different. We need deliberate funding directed to The Office of Temporary and Temporary Assistance to provide housing and prevention if we want to end this epidemic. 

I, along with my comrades at VOCAL-NY, will be working with lawmakers this session to ensure they know what we’re up against. It’s time they recognize that housing is healthcare when it comes to HIV/AIDS. And it’s time they recognize that the 2022 state budget is the best way to ensure New Yorkers living with HIV/AIDS have the support they need to prevent the virus from spreading. Anything less will simply keep HIV alive and well in New York — something we can all agree must end.

Linda Beal is a leader with VOCAL-NY’s Positive Leaders Union. She has been living with HIV for over 20 years and resides in Westchester County.