Laserfiche WebLink
<br />housing opportunities for persons with HIV/AIDS. In response, the AIDS <br />Services Foundation of Orange County established a Housing Department and <br />has assigned key staff to assist with housing placement and advocacy services. <br />A housing coordinator position is funded with HOPWA resources. <br /> <br />· Orange County's Housing Authorities were asked to absorb a designated and <br />mutually agreed upon number of HOPWA-funded TBRA clients into respective <br />Section 8 programs. To date only Santa Ana's Housing Authority has absorbed <br />these clients. <br /> <br />· To better serve the changing characteristics of persons with HIV/AIDS in Orange <br />County, the AIDS Services Foundation collaborated with other special needs <br />populations and increased its participation in the Consolidated Plan and the <br />Continuum of Care planning process. <br /> <br />· The State budget will have a severe impact on programs for persons living with <br />HIV/AIDS. Much of the medical treatment provided to persons living with <br />HIV/AIDS was state-funded. As these resources have been reduced, the County <br />has had to identify other funding sources that could close this funding gap. The <br />result is added pressure on HOPWA resources to close the new gaps created by <br />the State-budget. <br /> <br />2. Trends in meeting needs: The need for affordable housing continues to be a <br />barrier to the stabilization of persons with HIV/AIDS. The large number of persons <br />who have multiple diagnoses, i.e., mental health issues or substance abuse issues <br />also compounds this problem. Although there are 73 units for persons with <br />HIV/AIDS under throughout Orange County, there still remains a severe shortage. <br /> <br />Statistics indicate a rise in HIV infections countywide. Many professionals surmise <br />that this rise is attributable to advances in treatment that have given the appearance <br />that HIV/AIDS is treatable thus resulting in a more casual attitude toward safe sex. <br />An increase in infection rates will place added burden on an already overtaxed <br />system of care. <br /> <br />46 <br /> <br />9/7/05 <br /> <br />190-50 <br />