New Volunteer Opportunities With Housing Works Development

Thanks to all volunteers who helped out at Design on a Dime 2012. Due to all of your hard work, we succeeded in surpassing last year’s sales goal!

We have a new volunteer project at the end of this month that could use some dedicated Housing Works helpers and is great for volunteer groups:

What – Housing Works’ Development Department is conducting a phone bank campaign to catch up with all of the wonderful folks who have donated to Housing Works and become members. Volunteers will be trained on site by staff, food and beverages will be provided. A special bonus will be awarded to volunteers who sign up for multiple sessions!

When – May 21st through May 25th from 5PM-8PM

Where …

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Posted on May 3, 2012 at 3:16 pm

STUDY: Lack of Housing Most Important Health Risk for People with HIV

A new study shows that housing and food are the biggest predictors of health than for people with HIV.

The study was conducted by University of California at San Francisco on 288 homeless men with HIV over a six year period (a similar study was done last year with homeless women and had similar results).

The SF Gate reported on the research study, and noted “Lacking basic necessities had a larger negative health effect than drug abuse, the virus in their blood or lack of treatment. Even among patients who were getting drug therapy for their HIV, the effects of being homeless offset most of the positive effects of treatment. But for many very poor patients, being homeless keeps …

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Posted on May 1, 2012 at 3:32 pm

For 5th Time, GENDA Passes NYS Assembly

GENDA is beginning to feel like the Susan Lucci of Albany bills—always a nominee, not yet winning the prize. Hopefully it won’t take 19 times for this bill to become law (which is what it took for Ms. Lucci to win an Emmy for playing legendary “All My Children” Erica Kane).

Yesterday, GENDA was passed by the NYS Assembly for the 5th time, and awaits a hearing by the New York State Senate, which is where it has always died. Advocates remain hopeful that the Senate will take the cue of the Federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, which recently banned discrimination against transgender people in federal agencies.

Housing Works has been organizing transgender activists who have been taking …

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Posted on May 1, 2012 at 11:55 am

Action Alert: Tell Prez Obama To Stop Abstinence Only Programs

Hasn’t the Obama Administration promised to end AIDS? Not if we consider what they’re funding!

Heritage Keepers, an abstinence-only-until-marriage program, has been included on a very short list of HHS-approved programs eligible for implementation with federal funds by Teen Pregnancy Prevention Initiative grantees.

Like most abstinence-only programs, Heritage Keepers:

• employs gender bias, telling girls they must “dress modestly” so as not to provoke “lustful thoughts” in boys;

• misleads young people about protection from HIV, STIs and pregnancy, providing no discussion of the benefits of using condoms and contraception; and

• reinforces homophobia: its focus on heterosexual marriage ignores and stigmatizes LGBT youth, who still cannot marry in most states and at the federal level.

Heritage …

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Posted on May 1, 2012 at 9:32 am

ADAP Watch: AIDS Drug Wait List Hits 3,109

As of April 26th, the wait list to receive lifesaving AIDS medication through the nation’s AIDS Drug Assistance Programs had hit 3,109 people across 10 states.

The number of people waiting to receive medication through state-run AIDS drug programs has increased more than 5,000 percent since August 2009, according to the National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors. The federal government has reacted with little urgency, however, allotting just $25 million in additional dollars to the program for FY 2012.

To help readers keep tabs on the growing ADAP crisis, we are now posting the Read More

Posted on April 30, 2012 at 11:43 am

Free Admission to Design on a Dime Public Sale Days, Meet Lara Spencer, May Shop Events

Design on a Dime is tonight! If you haven’t purchased tickets to the benefit, you simply must join us tomorrow and Saturday from 10am – 6pm for our Public Sale Days.

Shop over 50 vignettes created by participating interior design superstars with unbelievable discounts on vintage and contemporary furniture, artwork and home accessories like this Eames credenza, this “Ice Cube” lamp, and this Liv-Chic Venetian standing floor mirror.

We also have the honor of hosting an exclusive book signing and Q&A with Design on a Dime co-chair, Good Morning America anchor, and author Lara Spencer. Lara will share secondhand treasure transformation tips from her new book, I Brake for Yard Sales: and Flea Markets, …

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