The Athens AIDS Task Force received a $50,300 grant to continue to provide housing assistance for people afflicted with the AIDS virus.
The Ohio Department of Development presented the task force with the Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS grant for this year. The federally funded grant will pay rent, mortgage and utilities to homeowners with AIDS in Athens County.
Because much of AIDS patients' money usually is used to pay medical bills, and many of them are too sick to work or are waiting to qualify for disability, this grant provides them money to maintain adequate housing, said Sue Armentrout, a licensed social worker with the task force.
The task force helps people pay for things such as refrigerators, washers and dryers, groceries, rent and gas for transportation to and from doctor's appointments. It also can pay insurance and fund emotional support, such as Healing Weekends -a retreat that provides support from staff workers and others infected with the virus.
The funding is important because of how costly the disease can be, said Mike Hogan, the department's spokesman.
We want to make sure people can maintain their style of living
Hogan said, adding that the distribution of funding is based on which regions need assistance. This assistance will help them so they don't have to worry if they make their living expenses.
This is not the first year the task force has received the grant, though, the funding has decreased this year because of economic conditions, said Vicki Marshall, the task force's fiscal manager.
In addition to the Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS grant, the task force also usually receives The Ryan White Grant from the Ohio Department of Health, which it is currently applying for.
Despite the funding the task force receives, it is still in need of donations.
According to the Athens AIDS Task Force's 2002 IRS report, the task force brought in almost $139,000 and spent almost $150,000.
The organization's expenses include $900 in malpractice insurance and an audit of $2,300 from the Ohio Department of Health and the Ohio Department of Development that cannot be paid with federal dollars.
Armentrout said that without these donations, the task force would not be able to maintain the services it provides. 17
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by Andrew Johnson
