It’s always good when something you plan starts to take shape — May 3, 2012
Back in 2011, the board for Clare Housing did strategic planning. Item #1 in the strategic goals was to increase housing by 60 units.
Right behind that – #2 was to increase our influence in the creation of policy and allocation of resources at the local, state and national levels to assure that all people living with HIV/AIDS have safe, affordable housing.
We’re not newcomers to public policy. I’ve been on the board of directors for the National AIDS Housing Coalition since 2007. But our advocacy at the State Capitol had been less noticeable until our board stepped up to take a more active role.
We formed our first public policy committee chaired by board member Anna Tockman who has years of experience in health care advocacy. We invited Minnesota AIDS Project to train volunteers for advocacy at the capitol just like they have trained their own for years. This year, a few staff and clients went to MAP’s AIDS Action Day on the Hill to talk to legislators.
We must advocate and fight for shrinking dollars in the state so we can provide the affordable housing and supportive services that we know are essential for Clare Housing’s residents.
We have good partners in our work. We’re one of 15 organizations around the state with services for those living with HIV/AIDS. We have strong leadership from Care Providers of Minnesota and the Association of Residential Resources in Minnesota (ARRM), representing us and 150 providers who support thousands of people with disabilities.
During this recent legislative session we fought to restore a 10% cut in funding for what is termed “low-needs” individuals. Although, the bill passed at only a 5% cut it sill affects the 50 people we serve in our care homes and assisted living programs.
As I said in my testimony to the House Health & Human Services committee, “This cut is unsustainable. Over the last six years, we have consistently and tenaciously innovated new programs and services to reduce costs and support increased independence for people living with HIV – particularly those with some form of cognitive impairment due to AIDS-related dementia, brain injury, mental illness or chemical dependency.” We’re also heavily involved in fighting foster care de-licensing.
The issues are complex and the legislative leadership is bent on cutting services as the only strategy to meet current and future need. I am glad we have many more Clare Housing public policy supporters weighing in on our behalf. We are in this fight for the long haul. Stay tuned.