Los Angeles's Minority AIDS Project faces possible closure

The Los Angeles-based Minority AIDS Project, the first AIDS group in the United States to focus on African-Americans, is facing a severe funding shortfall and is in danger of closing without immediate financial assistance, the Los Angeles Times reports. Carl Bean, founder of the organization and chairman of its board, says government funding cuts will slash about $2 million from the agency's annual $4 million budget. Agency officials say that in order to stay afloat they've already eliminated some programs for women, homeless people, injection-drug users, people living in poor housing, and men who have sex with men as well as programs that provide food vouchers, transportation, and housing. The organization also has laid off 22 employees, and another 15 have resigned, cutting the agency's staff in half. But the loss of government funding coupled with a 13% annual increase in case management clients has left the organization facing possible closure unless large donations are received soon, according to Bean. MAP, founded in 1985, provides case management, counseling, treatment adherence education, HIV antibody testing, a needle-exchange program, and several other HIV-related services. It serves about 1,200 people each month.