The United States is currently facing multiple epidemics, including HIV, viral hepatitis, overdose and COVID-19, all amid a resurgence in the call to end racial injustices in this country. When crises hit, the organizations serving people living with and affected by HIV must begin the arduous process of assessing the impact of these crises and meeting their clients’ most pressing needs.
The impacts of Hurricane Fiona are expected to be wide-reaching as it was preceded by several other natural disasters, including hurricanes Irma and María and a 6.4-magnitude earthquake, as well as COVID-19. Hurricane Fiona severely threatened the availability and accessibility of health care for people living with HIV when it made landfall on Sept. 18, 2022. Fiona caused widespread power outages, lack of potable water, flooding, and the destruction of homes, roads and bridges throughout Puerto Rico.
Catastrophes like Hurricane Fiona jeopardize the ability of individuals to continue accessing care and threaten the stability and infrastructure of HIV service organizations that have been impacted. If organizations in affected areas are not supported to meet the emerging needs of their communities as they work toward recovery and mitigating the effects of future disasters, Hurricane Fiona threatens to slow down progress toward seeing an end to the HIV epidemic.
AIDS United’s Relief, Recovery & Resilience Fund was established in 2017 to help meet the immediate and urgent needs of people living with and vulnerable to HIV in regions affected by urgent crises like earthquakes, hurricanes and global pandemics.
Through the Relief, Recovery & Resilience Fund, AIDS United will provide grants between $15,000 and $35,000 to help organizations address community needs related to Hurricane Fiona. Current available funds total $420,000. We anticipate making 12-28 grants that may support activities such as the following:
- Service provision
- Direct provision of needed supplies to HIV constituents.
- Direct financial assistance for HIV constituents.
- Medical services and case management for HIV constituents.
- Emotional or mental health support for HIV constituents, staff, and/or volunteers.
- Organizational support
- Repairing organizational infrastructure.
- Supporting administrative costs not covered by other funding sources.
Funding can be used for general operating support or project-specific needs.
Applicants must have HIV as one of their focus areas and utilize a racial and social justice framework. Additionally, organizations must clearly articulate the importance of the issue or challenge that they or their community is experiencing, the current opportunity to address the issue or challenge, and why the applicant is the appropriate entity to address the stated need.
To learn more about this funding opportunity, eligibility and the application process visit, Relief, Recovery & Resilience Fund: Supporting the HIV Community Impacted by Hurricane Fiona – AIDS United.
