Ryan White CARE Act
The Ryan White Comprehensive AIDS Resources Emergency (CARE) Act is Federal legislation that addresses the unmet health needs of persons living with HIV disease (PLWH) by funding primary health care and support services. The CARE Act was named after Ryan White, an Indiana teenager whose courageous struggle with HIV/AIDS and against AIDS-related discrimination helped educate the nation. Some areas that receive funding through the CARE Act use Ryan White dollars to assist clients with emergency and transitional housing need. NAHC strongly supports the continued ability of CARE Act grantees to use CARE resources to provide housing referrals and transitional and emergency housing assistance. The CARE Act was reauthorized at the end of 2006.
The 2006 reauthorized program contains a variety of changes to the Act, including formula revision and a requirement that 75% of CARE Act funds be reserved for “core medical services.” Emergency housing assistance remains a fundable service under the CARE Act, but funding available for housing will be restricted to the remaining 25% (after the core medical service set-aside).
Following the reauthorization, the Department of Health and Human Services Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) which administers the program, issued a proposed housing policy amendment in December 2006 which included a retroactive, cumulative 24 month lifetime cap per household for emergency and transitional housing. Recognizing the importance of the availability of this housing assistance in communities which have prioritized housing need, people with HIV/AIDS, AIDS service organizations and housing and health advocates along with a number of members of Congress submitted comments in opposition to the proposed housing policy amendment to HRSA. Over 200 comments were submitted with only a handful in favor of the policy. This grassroots led effort resulted in withdrawal of the proposed policy.
Thanks to the aggressive advocacy by AIDS housing consumers and supporters across the country and outreach from members of Congress since 2007, the HRSA Administrator issued a notice published on February 10, 2010, that it was rescinding enforcement of its 24-month cumulative cap on short-term and emergency housing assistance under the Ryan White program.
Amendment 1 to Policy Notice 99-02 specifically states, “Grantees will not be required to enforce the amendment for beneficiaries that might be at or near the 24-month cumulative cap on short-term and emergency housing assistance. At the same time, grantees will benefit from general policy guidance with regard to the use of Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program funds for housing referral services and short-term or emergency housing needs. A comprehensive review of the Housing Policy will permit HRSA’s Administrator time to evaluate completely all aspects of it. The Policy Notice is amended to address updated nomenclature, and is reprinted below for ease of reference.” Click here to view the notice.
UPDATE: Rep. Rosa DeLauro’s “Dear Colleauge” Letter to HHS Secretary
HRSA Housing Policy Call to Action
Housing and the CARE Act – NAHC Factsheet (PDF)
CAEAR Coalition’s Overview of the CARE Act (PDF)
FY 2007 Ryan White Program Guidance (PDF)
NAHC Ryan White CARE Act FY06 Housing Allocation & Expenditure Chart
FY 2011 Appropriations for Federal HIV/AIDS Programs