Push for more AIDS rental assistance

A coalition of affordable housing advocates is pressing Gov. Eliot Spitzer to include funds in his next budget to change rental assistance programs for AIDS patients who receive housing subsidies. At present, rent for AIDS patients who receive subsidies is calculated on a combination of how much public assistance they receive plus any outside income. In contrast, other subsidized housing residents have their rents capped at 30 percent of their total income, which includes what they receive in public assistance. Sean Barry, co-director of the New York City AIDS Housing Network, said activist groups are trying to get the same cap put into place for AIDS patients. more By John Celock