Mayor Edwin M. Lee today announced backfilling Federal cuts to maintain the City’s current funding levels for HIV/AIDS prevention and health services to protect essential services to the City’s most vulnerable. The funding will maintain primary care services and critical support services for San Franciscans living with HIV/AIDS, including hospice, treatment adherence, case management and housing.

“San Francisco is a national leader in treatment, housing and compassionate care for people living with HIV/AIDS, and we are fully committed to funding critical care and prevention services for those at risk,” said Mayor Lee. “Our investment provides hope to finding a cure, getting to zero and one day bringing an end to this epidemic.”

“I’m proud that San Francisco is continuing our historic commitment to people living with HIV and those at risk of infection,” said Supervisor Scott Wiener. “I thank Mayor Lee for his leadership on funding these critical HIV/AIDS prevention programs. I will continue to work with the Mayor’s Office on any needed action to backfill any decreases to Ryan White funding, which have yet to be determined. Lives depend on the continuation of this funding.”

Mayor seeks to backfill approximately $750,000 annually to preserve funding for HIV/AIDS in his proposed FY 2016-17 and FY 2017-18 budget. The Mayor will backfill an annual Centers for Disease Control (CDC) funding shortfall of $384,000 for FY 2016-17. This funding will allow the City to continue its HIV prevention programs including HIV testing, Prevention with Positives, and programs that address HIV health disparities in vulnerable populations. The Department of Public Health’s HIV Prevention Program spends $16.8 million annually, approximately $5 million of which is funded by CDC.

FY 2016-17 Ryan White funding levels are unknown at this time. The Mayor’s Office will continue to work with the Department of Public Health to monitor any potential changes to funding. Since FY 2012-13, the City has backfilled $14.9 million worth of reductions to HIV/AIDS prevention programs and health services.

Mayor Lee is also committed to backing filling federal cuts to HOPWA (Housing Opportunities for People with HIV/AIDS), which is routed through the Mayor’s Office of Housing and Community Development. A HOPWA grant to the City is decreasing by $372,000 in FY 2016-17, and the City will cover this funding loss to ensure no reduction in service to the public. Over the course of FY 2015-16 and FY 2016-17, the City will have backfilled over $1.7 million in HOPWA cuts. These funds primarily support residential care facilities and rental subsidies for individuals with HIV/AIDS.

In the City’s FY 2015-16 budget, Mayor Lee and the Board of Supervisors have dedicated $16.8 million to support HIV/AIDS prevention and $37.6 million to support HIV/AIDS care for San Francisco residents. This includes significant ongoing backfilling based on Federal reductions in Ryan White and prevention funding, as well as $1.2 million annually to support the Getting to Zero initiative.