AIDS Housing Resolutions Update & Action Alert

The U.S. House of Representatives adopted H. Con. Res. 137 on May 25th. This resolution expresses the sense of the Congress that the lack of adequate housing must be addressed as a barrier to effective HIV prevention, treatment and care, and that the United States should make a commitment to providing adequate funding for developing housing as a response to the AIDS pandemic. The resolution complements the International AIDS Housing Roundtable’s International Declaration on Poverty, Housing Instability and HIV/AIDS.

Now that the resolution has passed the House, NAHC is focusing its efforts on the Senate. Senator Menendez introduced the AIDS Housing Resolution (S. Con. Res. 39) in the U.S. Senate last year; at this point he is joined by 7 co-sponsors:

1. Sen. Durbin (IL)

2. Sen. Franken (MN)

3. Sen. Gillibrand (NY)

4. Sen. Lautenberg (NJ)

5. Sen. Merkley (OR)

6. Sen. Sanders (VT)

7. Sen. Schumer (NY)

(As of 08/18/2010, NAHC has been informed that Sen. Olympia Snow (R-ME) will be signing on as a co-sponsor)

*More co-sponsorship is needed in order to increase the resolution’s chances of passage. *Now is a perfect time to contact your Senator’s office since the Senate is at recess.

Action Alert:

• Call BOTH your Senators’ offices (202-224-3121) and ask for the housing staffer. You can also contact your Senators in their state offices.
• If your Senator is already a co-sponsor, thank her/him for his support for AIDS housing.
• If your Senator is NOT a co-sponsor, ask her/him to co-sponsor the AIDS Housing Resolution (S. Con. Res. 39)