Resolution 131-2004
Commissioner Spehar
RESOLUTION NO. 131 -2004
A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MONROE
COUNTY, FLORIDA CONCERNING HOUSING FOR LOW-INCOME AND
HIV I AIDS DISABLED PERSONS AND FAMILIES
WHEREAS, the Board of County Commissioners recognizes the importance of long-term
housing for disabled persons. AIDS Help, Inc. has worked to ensure the availability of housing for
low-income and HIV/AIDS disabled persons and families for the past sixteen years. The Board of
County Commissioners understands the importance of stable housing to the long-term health and
welfare of HIV/AIDS infected persons living in Key West and Monroe County and further wishes to
secure, preserve and continue HIV/AIDS housing assistance programs for our citizens.
WHEREAS, funding under the Housing Opportunities for Persons With AIDS (HOPWA) for
Monroe County was cut by 29% in 2003 affecting transitional housing for HIV/AIDS persons and
families, and
WHEREAS, $300,000 in General Revenue funding designated for HIV/AIDS persons in Monroe
County through an arrangement between AIDS Help, Inc. and the South Florida AIDS Network
(SFAN) is in eminent danger of being eliminated, and
WHEREAS, the combined loss of the above mentioned housing assistance funds may cause as
many as 121 individuals and families to be at risk of becoming homeless, and
WHEREAS, all evidence based research indicates that those homeless persons with HIV/AIDS
lose access to available health care which threaten their long-term health and leads to greater life-
threatening risk of opportunistic infections, and
WHEREAS, loss of HOPWA and General Revenue housing assistance funding will place low
income, seriously ill, and disabled citizens of Monroe County at great disadvantage within a highly
competitive and scarce housing market, and
WHEREAS, the State of Florida Department of Public Health and the District 11-B, Florida
Keys HIV Community Planning Partnership have developed and approved HIV/AIDS housing
strategies within Monroe County that will be adversely affected by the loss of General Revenue funds
and cutbacks in the HOPWA program; now therefore
BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MONROE COUNTY,
FLORIDA hereby calls upon all elected representatives of the citizens of Monroe County, and
employees and representatives thereof, to work to restore, preserve, an~ contirWii HQUsing
Opportunities for People With AIDS and General Revenue, South Florida AIDS NTo! f~in~
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PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Board of County Commissioners of Monro~~nti;1=l~a, at
a regular meeting of said Board held on the 17th day of March, 2004. gn: -oJ 0
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Mayor Nelson
. Mayor Pro Tern Rice
Commissioner McCoy
Commissioner Neugent
Commissioner Spehar
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BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
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MONROE COUNTY ATTORNEY Mayor/Chairperson jresAIDS
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