The Honorable Andrew M.

Cuomo
Governor of New York State
New York State Capitol Building
Executive Chamber
Albany, New York 12224

Dear Governor Cuomo,

We the undersigned collectively represent thousands of low-income people living with and at
risk of HIV infection who applaud your commitment to ending the AIDS epidemic in New York
State. We believe this bold commitment is not only visionary, but also deeply rooted in science.
One thing the science has clearly and repeatedly shown is that impoverished persons living with
HIV who lack stable housing, adequate nutrition or the means to travel to medical appointments
are not able to benefit equally from the HIV treatment advances that have put an end to AIDS
within our reach. Research has repeatedly shown that the inability to meet housing, food and
other basic subsistence needs translates into disconnection from HIV care, failure to achieve and
maintain viral suppression, increased risk of transmitting HIV to others, and early death, while
interventions to assist with these needs dramatically reduce HIV health inequities. Rigorous
evaluations of housing assistance, for example, have linked improved housing status to increased
rates of viral suppression, reduced mortality and lowered HIV infection rates, generating savings
in public spending for avoidable health and other crisis services that more than offset the cost of
housing.
New York State has been a leader in developing effective HIV housing and supports for
extremely low-income persons with HIV. To date, however, these interventions have not been
brought to scale to meet real need. Our shared vision of ending the AIDS epidemic in our state
by 2020 will remain outside of our reach if we do not provide people living with HIV throughout
New York State equal access to these proven HIV intervention strategies.
We call upon you and your administration to create a single point of access in every locality that
will assist all extremely low-income New Yorkers with HIV/AIDS to obtain the housing,
nutrition, transportation and workforce opportunities necessary to enable them to manage their
health, live well and end the AIDS epidemic for their communities. We stand united and ready to
work with you in every way to achieve the end of AIDS in New York State.
Thank you for your vision and your leadership.
African Services Committee
After Hours Project
AIDS Center of Queens County
AIDS Community Resources of Syracuse
AIDS Services Center NYC
The Albany Damian Center
Ali Forney

Bailey House
Boom!Health
Brooklyn Community Pride Center
Callen-Lorde Community Health Center
Catholic Charities Care Coordination Services, Albany
Coalition For The Homeless
Community Access
Covenant House New York
Diaspora
The Door
Evergreen Association of Western New York, Inc.
Gay and Lesbian Independent Democrats
Gay Men of African Decent (GMAD)
Gay Mens Health Crisis (GMHC)
Girls Educational & Mentoring Services (GEMS)
Harm Reduction Coalition
Harlem United
Health Education Alternatives for Teens (HEAT)
Hetrick-Martin institute
Hispanic AIDS Forum
Housing Services Inc.
Housing Works
Iris House
Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club
Lambda Independent Democrats of Brooklyn
Latino Commission on AIDS
Legal Action Center
Lower Eastside Harm Reduction
National Black Leadership Commission on AIDS (NBLCA)
New Alternatives
New York Citys Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center
New York Harm Reduction Educators (NYHRE)
New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA)
Odyssey Housing
Partnership For The Homeless
Pride Agenda
Queerocracy
Retail Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU)
Safe Horizon
St. Ann's Corner of Harm Reduction
Stonewall Democratic Club of NYC
Together Our Unity Can Heal, INC. (TOUCH) of Hudson Valley
Treatment Action Group (TAG)
Urban League of Westchester
Village Care
Voices of Community Activists and Leader (VOCAL) New York

Washington Heights Corner Project