Dallas AIDS facility closes amid financial questions

Officials in Dallas County, Texas, have suspended funding to Hillvale Medical Group Associates in Dallas due to concerns about how $200,000 of a $625,000 grant was spent by the agency, forcing the organization to close, the Dallas Morning News reports. County auditors say the $200,000 in spending is "inconsistent with the contract or federal regulations." County auditor Virginia Porter suggested the agency, a residential and drug treatment facility for HIV-positive people, may eventually be ordered to repay the money to the county. Zachary Thompson, of the Dallas County Health and Human Services Department, says health officials are working to ensure that "there is no service disruption or negative impact" on Hillvale clients. Six Hillvale residents were relocated Monday to an alternate HIV housing program and another 60 clients were directed to other local AIDS groups, he says. Hillvale executive director Louis E. Deere could not be reached for comment.