Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS recently awarded HVCS a $10,000 grant to help support our Client Assistance Program, which includes our emergency food and toiletry closets. This grant will be used to help more than 150 clients by providing personal care items, toiletries, and household cleaning products (including laundry detergent). Most of us consider these items to be basic necessities but are luxuries for our low-income clients.

The majority of the clients CAP serves are low income, and they typically spend 50% (30% is considered affordable) of their monthly gross income on rent payments. After the rent payment, monthly food purchases and utility payments are made, there is little or no money left to afford basic toiletries, household cleansers and laundry products.

These basic items are not funded by government or private assistance programs. For example, the Supplemental Nutrition Access Program (SNAP), which many of these clients are eligible for, does not cover personal hygiene and cleaning products, leaving many without access to these items. These items, however, are necessary not only to maintain a clean and stable home, but to bolster one’s personal health and wellbeing.

CAP also assists our HIV-positive housing program participants. When they move into new housing, the program is able to provide basic cleaning supplies so they can move into a sanitary environment.

Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS helps men, women and children across the country and across the street receive lifesaving medications, health care, nutritious meals, counseling and emergency financial assistance.

We are extremely grateful for the ongoing assistance from BC/EFA and its fundraisers, such as the Hudson Valley Dance Festival.