Being Alive, Los Angeles; May 1998
Fran McDonald

Many of you may not know of a program offered by Aid for AIDS to residents of LA County that provides necessary furnishings like refrigerators, beds, cooking utensils, etc. The Household Items Assistance Program can come to the rescue if an applicant meets the eligibility requirements: 1) Income of less than $1,496 per month; 2) Proof of L.A. County residency; and 3) Symptomatic or disabling HIV. Participants can receive up to $150 ($200 if there are dependent children) to spend at Out of the Closet and Prototypes thrift shops. Once the application is approved, the individual must choose which thrift shop will be used and Aid for AIDS will fax approval directly to the location where the purchase will be made. Contact Aid for AIDS at 8235 Santa Monica Blvd., #200 in West Hollywood or phone 213.656.1107 and ask for Household Items Assistance Program. There is no delivery charge for large and/or heavy items.

Help of another kind is available from In-Home Supportive Services Program (IHSS), a state program run by the individual counties. This program enables those who are medically and financially eligible (IHSS uses the same criteria as SSI) to stay in their apartments or homes by providing a person to do necessary household chores like cleaning, cooking, and laundry as well as things like bathing and transportation to medical appointments.

One of the nicer things about this program is that the applicant is free to choose the person who'll do the work-a friend, neighbor, or relative perhaps. In the absence of such a person, the County can supply a registry of people who are available for such jobs. For more information or for an application, in LA.. County, call 888.944.4477. In other areas, you'll find the number in the white pages under the "County of" listings for your county.

Electric Utilities Change

Effective April 1, California changed the way consumers receive their electricity. Prior to this, the electric utilities were a monopoly. Now, like your phone service, you are free to pick the carrier you think offers the best deal, but proceed with caution. An HIV household often has a shaky budget so it makes sense to search out the lowest rates-just make sure you read and understand the fine print so you don't pay more than you were before. The California Public Utilities Commission has a toll-free number for answers to questions about electricity charges. Call 800.253.0500, or check their Web Site at http://www.knowledgeispower.org/

Renter Assistance

This year's claim form for Renter Assistance should be ready by the end of April. If you qualify, you should file for this cash payment. If you aren't aware of this program, it is a once yearly payment to individuals who meet the following criteria:

1. You must live in a rental unit where you pay at least $50 per month rent and for which your landlord paid property taxes in 1997.

2. Total household income of $13,200 or less in 1997.

3. You were at least 60 or disabled as of 12/31/97.

Proof of age must be included in the form of a copy (not the original) of a birth certificate, Benefits Identification Card, church baptism record, or Social Security award letter stating your date of birth. To establish proof of disability, submit an original statement by a physician on his/her letterhead or a copy of a Medicare or Social Security award letter.

Depending on income, the rebate, which must be applied for by August 31, ranges from $10-$240. To obtain an application call the State of California at 800.852.5711 and ask for Renter Assistance Form 9000r, or call me.

Heterosexual Support

Positive Friends for Life is a non-profit organization of largely heterosexual men and women-a reflection of the changing face of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. A support group meets the first and third Tuesday each month at Santa Monica AIDS Project located at 2020 Santa Monica Blvd., #190 in Santa Monica. Their board meetings are held the first Sunday of each month from noon-1:30pm at Being Alive Silver Lake. There is also a monthly potluck on the third Saturday of each month from 8:00pm-midnight, also at Being Alive Silver Lake. The party is a potluck and they ask that you bring your own drinks. For more details, call 310.535.9877. This organization is tackling both the practical and the social aspects of what for many is an explosive situation. Check into their activities-you might find your life pointed in a new and less volatile direction.

Sexvibe

At first glance, you might think that a magazine with this title and a cutie-pie to die for on the cover would be pretty hot stuff and nothing more. Wrong. Partially funded by a grant from APLA, Sexvibe, published bi-monthly, is both informative and entertaining. I've been particularly impressed by the magazine's "Healthvibe" column, written by Bill Mannion, RN. For example, in the November/December issue, he wrote about viral load, a subject every HIV+ person should know about, but in my experience few actually do. In only two pages (a real plus since the average reader shies away from long articles) Mr. Mannion wrote the clearest, most succinct explanation of viral load I've found. Mr. Mannion knows his stuff-he's the Nurse Director of the Immune Suppressed Unit at Midway Hospital. Pick up a copy of Sexvibe at many of the same places you already see Frontiers, 4-Front, etc. If you'd like a copy of the viral load article, call me.

Consciousness Raising

Ever since the red ribbon first made its appearance, I have reminded everyone (unfortunately many need that reminder) of the world's biggest epidemic. Anyone who has seen me all these years has also seen the red ribbon, since the only time I don't wear it is in the bath. A reader knew this and sent me an article about another consciousness-raising thing that appears in the Guinness Book of World Records: the famous mile-long Rainbow Flag in the Stonewall 25 Parade in NYC is recognized as the world's largest flag. Did you know that? I didn't!

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Fran McDonald has been in Social Services for 27 years and welcomes your calls at 213.664.4772.

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