On Dec. 1, 2011, Housing Works client Cornell Duke joined his peers, as well as hundreds of other New Yorkers, at a World AIDS Day march, to protest deep cuts in housing and HIV-related funding implemented by the Bloomberg administration. The march was followed by a civil disobedience action that led to the arrest of eight AIDS activists, seven of them from Housing Works.

“I am sick and tired of being sick and tired,” said Duke, just as the march was about to begin. “It’s too many people who are homeless, and we have no way to better ourselves with these cuts that are being made.”

Duke knows first hand what this year’s cuts—over $13 million for HIV/AIDS housing and services—means for people with HIV who are struggling to make ends meet. Duke lives at the Housing Works East New York Residence, but he and his girlfriend, who is also HIV-positive, would like to find permanent housing. Duke has been afraid to look, though. He faces potential discrimination. Many brokers landlords won’t consider a HASA client due to cuts in brokers’ fee and security deposit assistance in the program.

But Duke has turned his fear into activism.

“I’m a poor man, an AIDS victim, and there are a lot of homeless victims to it,” he said. “Mayor Bloomberg needs to stop making these cuts, and help us get back on track.”

Cornell Duke and the Housing Works Advocacy team will continue to their relentless advocacy for fully funding all services for people with HIV.

Join the fight by making a donation to Housing Works.

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