Portland, OR | July 6, 2015 - Cascade AIDS Project (“CAP”) is pleased to announce that it has been awarded $1,750,000 over the next five years to deliver HIV prevention strategies to those at high risk for contracting HIV in our communities by the Center for Disease Control (“CDC”). While CAP is gratified to receive the award, it represents a significant cut ($500,000) as compared to our previous award.

The reduction in funding is the result of CDC’s prioritization of allocating funding to match the geographic burden of the U.S. HIV epidemic today. While the epidemic remains a significant public health concern in the Portland metro region, we have a smaller population of people living with HIV than other regions. This reallocation of funds also means a decrease in funding that state & local health departments have received directly from the CDC. As a result, CAP is receiving less funding not only directly from the CDC, but also through local and federal contracts.

“While Oregon is not one of the states hardest hit by the epidemic, it is still estimated that there are over 1,000 individuals who are infected with HIV and don’t know their status in the state” said Caitlin Wells, CAP Director of Prevention & Education. “With the advances in HIV prevention methods such as more sophisticated testing technology and the availability of pre- exposure prophylaxis medication (or PrEP), the need for prevention dollars is greater than ever. Cutting funding will have significant implications for our ability to decrease or hold infection rates steady.”

Cascade AIDS Project will use the new CDC funding to deliver high-impact HIV prevention strategies including:

•  providing HIV testing to those at high risk to increase the proportion of people who are aware of their HIV status;

•   engaging HIV-positive people in ongoing care and treatment, helping them adhere to antiretroviral therapy, and ensuring they receive prevention and support services;

•   ensuring high-risk, HIV-negative individuals have access to prevention and support

  services such as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), high-

  impact behavioral interventions, and screening for sexually transmitted infections; and

•   distributing condoms to HIV-positive and high-risk, HIV-negative individuals.

Additionally, a significant three-year grant from the Department of Health & Human Services’ Office of Minority Health which funded CAP’s youth education programming came to an end on June 30, 2015 and no viable alternative was made available.

Services that are being eliminated as a result of the CDC cuts and end of grant funding include:

•   CAP’s peer education, testing, and prevention program focused on at-risk youth; and

•   the free, statewide HIV/STD Hotline operated by CAP which provided basic information

  about the disease.

Despite funding cuts, CAP remains committed to delivering high impact prevention services to communities and individuals most at risk for HIV and other communicable diseases. “In past years, we have been able to cobble together money to bridge the funding gap” said Tyler TerMeer, CAP Executive Director. “However, given the magnitude of cuts this year, CAP has little choice but to reduce or eliminate unfunded programs.”

Preventing HIV and other communicable diseases not only creates healthier communities, it is a cost-effective effort. Each prevented HIV case saves about $385,000 over a lifetime. diagnosis and treatment is critical to preventing further infections and costly chronic medical conditions such as AIDS, liver disease and infertility. In particular, untreated HIV can lead to poor health, the inability to work or maintain stable housing, and poverty—conditions which affect the vibrancy of our community.