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Governor Cuomo Announces Over $1 Million to Help Low-Income Individuals Living with HIV/AIDS Find Work

Written by Long Island News & PR  |  21. October 2013

Albany, NY - October 21, 2013 - Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that more than $1.1 million has been awarded to seven community organizations to help low-income individuals living with HIV/AIDS move into the workforce. The HIV/AIDS Employment Initiative helps low-income individuals living with HIV or AIDS to enter or re-enter the workforce and provides the necessary case management services to ensure that the health and supportive services needs of participants are not compromised once they are working.

“Through this initiative, the State is providing critical support to help New Yorkers dealing with HIV or AIDS live full and active lives,” Governor Cuomo said. “State funded community organizations will be helping these New Yorkers both find jobs and keep them so they can be independent and support themselves.”

The HIV/AIDS Employment Initiative, beginning its 15th year of operation, was one of the first programs created solely to respond to the employment needs of low-income individuals living with HIV/AIDS.

Providers help each participant access available job openings that provide work settings that do not negatively affect their health and ensure they retain access to health insurance. Services help program participants positively address the challenges of being in the workforce so they are able to handle these matters and stay employed.

The following organizations were awarded funding:

Organization Location Amount
AIDS Community Resources, Inc. Syracuse $166,155
AIDS Service Center of Lower Manhattan, Inc. New York $166,155
CAMBA, Inc. Brooklyn $166,155
Elmcor Youth & Adult Activities, Inc. Corona $166,155
Federation Employment and Guidance Service, Inc. (FEGS) New York $165,740
Gay Men's Health Crisis, Inc. (GMHC) New York $166,155
Housing Works, Inc. Brooklyn $164,485

“This funding provides much-needed employment and training services to some of the State’s most vulnerable residents,” said Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance Commissioner Kristin M. Proud. “While advancements in treating the HIV/AIDS virus have enabled individuals to stabilize their health and resume or begin working, the employment and training services funded by these grants will help to address other challenges that still exist, such as coordinating work, medical appointments, transportation needs, child care and housing.”

State Health Commissioner Nirav R. Shah, M.D., M.P.H. said, “Employment and housing are critical components in our fight against HIV. This funding will allow people living with the disease to enter or re-enter the workforce while receiving the continued health and supportive services they need.”

“Support from New York State's AIDS Employment Initiative has enabled Housing Works to train, employ, and support hundreds of formerly homeless New Yorkers living with HIV/AIDS,” said Andrew S. Greene, Senior Vice President for Development and Marketing at Housing Works in Brooklyn. “With renewed investment from the AIDS Employment Initiative, Housing Works will continue to provide job training and placement services for persons living with HIV/AIDS and help those individuals enter or re-enter the workforce.”

“CAMBA is excited to be part of New York State’s HIV/AIDS Employment Initiative,” said Joanne M. Oplustil, President and CEO of CAMBA. “In the 25 years since CAMBA began working with people with HIV/AIDS, medicine has made great advances – our clients are now living longer, healthier lives. This program will enable our clients to take the next critical step, enabling them to return to the workforce and become independent and self-sufficient citizens.”

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