We have been receiving calls from LGBTQ community centers who are fearful of losing funding due to a notification of transfer that was released yesterday. The Administration plans to divert funding for HIV/AIDS, STD, and hepatitis care, treatment, and prevention to cover the rising costs of the Unaccompanied Alien Children Program.
The transfers are from unspent funds from the current fiscal year ending October 1, 2018. The decision should not revoke any of your current grant funding - including the Ryan White program. The current bipartisan funding bill being considered in Congress flat-funds the Ryan White program for next fiscal year. There were no cuts and none are anticipated.
Regardless, CenterLink and Center Action Network are opposed to how this money is being reallocated. The funds were meant for the public health safety net, and its programs represent our commitment to tackling these epidemics. We recommend engaging your local and state governments to ensure grant funding is fully maximized.
If you have any questions, please contact myself or Terry Stone.
Tanya Witt: tanya@lgbtcenters.org, 954.388.0626
Terry Stone: tstone@lgbtcenters.org, 954.314.8394