18: Every Penny Counts in the Fight Against HIV

Finding out you are HIV positive can be devastating both mentally and physically. But it can also be devastating financially, with the steady stream of doctor’s fees and drug purchases for years to come. In the early days of HIV, a diagnosis often meant loss of housing, employment and emotional support. Imagine trying to determine how to live with such a chronic condition while facing such loss. Even today, for many already struggling in today’s economy and living from paycheck to paycheck, often without health insurance, an HIV-positive diagnosis can topple an already precarious financial balancing act.

In an effort to help those struggling with both HIV to meet basic needs, the AIDS Emergency Fund - Every Penny Counts was born as an all-volunteer group in 1990, spurred by the needs of a plethora of HIV-positive people unable to pay their bills and having nowhere to turn. Modeled after a similar effort started in San Francisco where bars put out “penny jars” to distribute funds to those in need, the local Minnesota effort also used penny jars and began accepting donations from generous individuals and businesses. Twin Cities resident and former MAP Board member Chris Follett, along with a small group of hard-working volunteers spent a few nights each week reviewing applications and distributing funds to those in need of assistance. It was a daunting task, with the virus spreading rapidly and ever more people needing help with medical, food and housing costs.

That first year, nearly 800 HIV-positive Minnesotans took advantage of what was now called the Every Penny Counts Emergency Assistance program.Ultimately public funds were allocated by the local Ryan White Planning Group to aid in this effort. As with many all-volunteer groups, administration of these efforts became more challenging as accepting public dollars required detailed program reports, client-level data collection and various other contract obligations. In 2000, these administrative requirements combined with the dramatic increase in program demand led the increasingly overwhelmed founders to approach the Minnesota AIDS Project to manage this important program. That first year, nearly 800 HIV-positive Minnesotans took advantage of what was now called the Every Penny Counts Emergency Assistance (EPCEA) program.

In the eight years since then, efforts to keep people fed, sheltered and healthy have greatly expanded with around 1,400 active clients currently enrolled according to Ken Oltman, who manages the program for the Minnesota AIDS Project. File cabinets line the walls of his office, filled with the names and struggles of program beneficiaries and documents laying out the stories of how EPCEA has helped them through tough spots.

Still, there is never enough money. EPCEA receives funding primarily through the Ryan White Care Act, which designates federal funds for HIV-related care and services. But the number of people applying for EPCEA assistance and the inflating costs of the things they need assistance with are growing at a higher rate than yearly funding increases can keep up with.

This year, the average monthly income for program participants is $637.As a result, there are simply not enough funds to match the current need. It is one of his biggest frustrations, Oltman said; telling people he can’t help with their late rent checks, subsidize their prescriptions or chip in on this month’s grocery purchases is hard for both him and those he has to let down.

In 2005, realizing that with burgeoning costs the program was going to run out of money long before the end of the fiscal year, EPCEA began using a lottery system. Clients now enter their names into a drawing for funds each month, and that month’s allocation of money is distributed to as many people as possible on a random basis. Each of EPCEA’s clients can receive up to $400 per year in funding. If a person misses being picked by the lottery that month, their name is automatically entered for the next month until they are chosen.

This year, the average monthly income for program participants is $637, Oltman said.

“We work with individuals at 175 percent of the federal poverty level or less,” he said. “In that context, any kind of assistance you provide makes a substantial difference in their lives.”

For Oltman and those he helps, every penny really does count.

“What we can do is limited,” he said. “But sometimes all you need is that little bit of assistance to help you get back on your feet.”

For more information about Every Penny Counts and how you can help, please visit the EPCEA Web site.

Last Updated: Tuesday, October 7, 2008
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