Rise in Extreme HIV Poverty

posted: 19/10/2010

A new UK report shows one in six people with HIV are living in poverty. The new report on Poverty and HIV by NAT (National AIDS Trust) and Terrence Higgins Trust (THT) reveals at least one in six people diagnosed with HIV in the UK experienced severe poverty between 2006 and 2009. Furthermore, the level of poverty experienced by people living with HIV has dramatically increased over recent years. In the current climate – and without determined Government action – the poverty crisis for many people living with HIV will get even worse.

The HIV welfare charity Crusaid ran a welfare fund until it merged with THT earlier this year. This report looks back at the recent evidence of HIV poverty from all the applications for help made to Crusaid in the last three years.

Income falls two thirds in 10 years to £42 a week
People paid grants from the Crusaid Hardship Fund, now run by THT, had an average weekly income of just £42 per week – two thirds less income than the average person who claimed 10 years ago (£93). In addition, many have no income at all. Most applicants are now living in extreme poverty, living on only 20 per cent of the average income for a single person.

Nick Partridge, Chief Executive of THT commented:
“The level of poverty people with HIV are experiencing across the UK has dramatically increased over recent years. Where the Hardship Fund used to buy people a fridge, or pay for respite care, now it mainly goes on basic survival – food, clothes, a bed.”

Causes of HIV poverty

The report analyses the underlying reasons why people with HIV face poverty. Over a quarter (29 per cent) of applications to the Hardship Fund gave the immigration system as the main reason for poverty. In October 2009, the Government support for single asylum seekers was reduced from £64.30 to £35.13 a week - just £5 a day. A further 17 per cent of people said that problems relating to the benefits system were the main cause of hardship. These problems included awaiting a benefit decision, changes to the benefit system, or delays in receiving benefits they were entitled to.

Deborah Jack, Chief Executive of NAT (National AIDS Trust), commented:
“Charities are picking up the pieces of a poverty crisis in the UK, but there is only so much the sector’s limited funds can do. The Government needs to address the underlying causes of this hardship, some of which it has been responsible for creating. Granting asylum seekers the right to work after six months and ensuring people are not left in poverty while waiting for their benefits to be processed are two crucial steps that would release many people with HIV out of the poverty trap.

20 ideas for change
The report makes twenty recommendations that would address the root causes of poverty amongst people living with HIV.

Benefit delays make homeless
James, 35 years old and HIV positive, is homeless and sometimes sleeps on floors at friend’s houses and occasionally in shop doorways. He came to the UK as an asylum seeker and was granted leave to remain here. He was then no longer eligible for housing with his asylum support, so he applied for housing benefit but he did not receive any payments. An investigation revealed that backlogs in dealing with benefits claims meant that by the time James’ claim was processed he was homeless and therefore did not qualify for the benefit. James was one of 7,900 people with HIV in the UK who relied on a grant from the Crusaid Hardship Fund in the last three years to pay for basic needs.

George House Trust
In 2009-10 George House Trust assisted 712 people with 3160 grants through both Crusaid and our own HIV welfare fund. George House Trust paid out £112,000 in grants to people with HIV in NW England in that year.

Poverty and HIV - download here

THT Hardship Fund Open

posted: 13/10/2010

The Terrence Higgins Trust (THT) Hardship Fund has now opened. People with HIV who need fnancial support can now apply for up to £100. In mid June Crusaid's Hardship Fund merged with Terrence Higgins Trust and the hardship fund closed temporarily. 

The replacement Hardship Fund service from Terrence Higgiins Trust will be fully working from April 2011. In the meantime George House Trust, which is the only approved referring agency in North West England, can apply to the THT hardship fund for grants of up to a maximum of £100 per person. People can't apply direct - they either need to apply through us, or use the Terrence Higgins Direct phone service: THT Direct on 0845 1221 200

If you live in NW England please speak to one of our service advisers for more details - 0161 274 4499. We can help in various ways, including through our own welfare fund, and with benefits and money advice.

Sir Nick Partridge, chief executive of THT, said:

“For years the Hardship Fund has been an important resource, making a real difference to the lives of people with HIV, and THT is fully committed to preserving its legacy. We are working hard to get the national fund fully operational by next spring, and in the meantime we hope our interim fund will continue to help those who need it most.”
 

A report released this week by THT and the National AIDS Trust said that one in six people diagnosed with HIV make use of the fund, and that the majority of beneficiaries are living in “extreme” poverty, on just 20 per cent of the average weekly income. Read more about this here
 

HIV Hardship Fund ‘Soon’

posted: 05/07/2010

Following Crusaid’s merger last month with Terrence Higgins Trust (THT), THT have vowed to re-open the Crusaid HIV hardship fund "as soon as possible." The hardship fund provides vital financial assistance to people living with HIV.

After addressing thousands of people at Pride London's Trafalgar Square stage, Lisa Power - Corporate Head of Policy at THT - told PinkPaper "The most important thing I have to say today is that we are going to re-open the hardship fund as soon as we can, within the next few months. After that, we're going to make sure it has a long-term future. And that it helps people to help themselves.”

"We've just done a big research project with the Joseph Rowntree Foundation which shows that older gay men with HIV are in far more poverty than their peers, so we know that there's a real issue out there. As people survive longer with HIV, it's not just about the pills keeping you well, but also the quality of your life".

When asked about the criticisms surrounding THT's recent merger with Crusaid, Lisa Power rebutted complaints that they are monopolising the HIV and STI community health sector. "We merge with people who approach us, which is what Crusaid did. The issue is about making sure services survive. We represent economies of scale. We represent a whole load of stuff that is available, which smaller organisations can't do alone."
 

Source

 

Keep HIV in Focus - Crusaid-THT

posted: 16/06/2010

The chief executive of National AIDS Trust urges a continued focus on HIV welfare, following Crusaid's merger with Terrence Higgins Trust, which was announced on Monday.
Deborah Jack expressed her sadness at seeing Crusaid come to an end after 20 years and voiced her worries for the future, in an interview with the PinkPaper.
 

“My main concern is that we’ve lost a charity solely focused with HIV into an organisation which covers all aspects of sexual health. Crusaid always supported those in the greatest need.

The important thing now is making sure … people [living with HIV] are still given the focus they require. Tensions may arise …. as Crusaid staff are used to working on more specific issues around HIV. I am, however, pleased THT have made a public commitment to continue the hardship fund which provides a valuable lifeline for … people living in poverty with HIV."
 

AIDS Support Grant risks
The merger comes just after Communities Secretary Eric Pickles’ announced that the AIDS Support Grant (ASG) will no longer be ring-fenced. This means that this £25.5 million grant (almost £2 million is for NW England) does not have to be spent on social care for people living with HIV. Deborah Jack believes it is important to hold local authorities to account for how they spend this money, otherwise there could be major repercussions, highlighted in a recent report that NAT produced with Crusaid into the need for the Crusaid HIV hardship fund.
 

“In the report we found that 1 in 6 people being treated for HIV applied for help from Crusaid with an average income of just £42 per week. One of the main problems is that many charities rely on contracts from central or local government and without the [AIDS Support Grant] money it might put lots of the smaller charities supporting people on the ground into financial difficulties. A lot of charities use the money they get from the AIDS Support Grant to provide counselling and peer support for people living with HIV. If this money isn’t being spent [on HIV anymore] then these services will be cut and then people in the greatest need will not have the same emotional support, which may lead to … [people living with HIV] becoming isolated and depressed.”
 

Source PinkPaper

Crusaid Merge with THT

posted: 14/06/2010

Crusaid, Britain's largest HIV fundraising and grant making charity has just announced it has merged with the biggest HIV and sexual health charity, Terrence Higgins Trust. 

The merged organisation is now part of the THT brand and will continue to provide grants for people with HIV in need and it hopes to improve HIV fundraising. The news comes just one week after Crusaid's annual Walk for Life in London raised an estimated £250,000.
 

Jordan Hay, Chief Executive of Crusaid, said: “We initiated this merger to ensure that our hardship fund can continue to make a vital difference to the ever-increasing numbers of people diagnosed with HIV each year in the UK. THT shares our vision and values and we are excited about the opportunities to support people with HIV that this merger presents.”
 

Senior staff members from both organisations will now refresh the anti-poverty strategy to support people with HIV, based on research and experience from both organisations.
 

Sir Nick Partridge, Chief Executive of Terrence Higgins Trust, said: “I’m delighted to confirm that Crusaid and Terrence Higgins Trust have merged. The merger will preserve the Crusaid Hardship Fund in a very challenging economic climate and help ensure that people with HIV have the ongoing support they so vitally need. We are also looking forward to combining our experience and research for a renewed anti-poverty strategy in support of people living with HIV in the UK.”
 

Source 
Crusaid merger statement 
THT’s press releases