Two Atlanta AIDS Service Organizations Lose $1 Million in Federal Funding Due to Application Errors
Two Atlanta-area AIDS organizations will lose a combined $1 million in federal funding because of errors on their applications for grant money, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports. AID Atlanta lost $500,000 in Ryan White CARE Act funding this year because it was unable to provide requested proof of the not-for-profit status of its new primary care physician in the application, according to AID Atlanta Executive Director Tony Braswell. As a result of the funding cut, AID Atlanta will stop offering blood work and medications to clients, although it will continue to provide HIV testing, counseling, case management, education and other outreach services. The organization is working this week to transfer 371 affected clients to area health care facilities. Project Open Hand, an Atlanta program that provides home-delivered meals for people with HIV/AIDS and other serious illnesses, lost more than $400,000 in Ryan White funds because it turned in its application six minutes after the deadline. The organization said it does not expect any "immediate changes" in services for clients, adding that it plans to step up its fundraising efforts. Both AID Atlanta and Project Open Hand could receive Ryan White funding later this year if any money in the program remains unspent (Eldredge, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 2/13).
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