Minneapolis HIV prevention programs at risk with federal funding changes
Federal funding changes threaten Minneapolis HIV prevention programs
Go Deeper.
Create an account or log in to save stories.
Like this?
Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.
A long-standing federal funding program that supports HIV prevention efforts nationwide may soon come to an end.
Last week, the Trump administration’s Office of Management and Budget informed the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that it will not reauthorize $46 million in federal funding for HIV prevention programs.
This funding supports 96 community-based organizations that provide services such as HIV testing, referrals for pre- and post-exposure drug treatment, outbreak response and assistance for newly diagnosed HIV-positive individuals in accessing medical care and treatment.
The grants were temporarily extended through September after originally expiring on June 30. Organizations expected to learn about a new funding opportunity from the CDC before the extension ends, but they have been informed that no announcement will be made.
Turn Up Your Support
MPR News helps you turn down the noise and build shared understanding. Turn up your support for this public resource and keep trusted journalism accessible to all.
Instead, the money will be redirected to state and local health departments.
The shift in funding has raised concern among grantees about the continuity of financial support for their work, as the funds will no longer be allocated directly to the organizations.
The Aliveness Project, located in south Minneapolis, is one of the organizations affected by the decision. The Minneapolis-based Indigenous Peoples Task Force, which also receives direct CDC funding, is the other.
These two organizations collaborate closely, and this change could disrupt services for community members who rely on their support.
“With this work not happening in the community, the end result will be more HIV infections, and these folks won't be getting the services that they need,” said Matt Toburen, executive director of Aliveness Project. “They won't be getting the care they need. Folks won’t know that they have HIV.”
The five-year HIV community-based prevention grant provides the Aliveness Project with approximately $450,000 annually. This funding supports HIV testing and outreach efforts in high-risk communities through both clinical settings and mobile outreach.
Aliveness Project outreach workers visit shelters, bars, clubs, encampments and community events to offer rapid HIV testing, which is done with a simple finger prick. They also assist individuals in quickly accessing care, starting them on medication to prevent HIV transmission and connecting them with necessary services.
Many of the people they serve face barriers to accessing traditional healthcare. According to Toburen, these barriers often affect young queer people of color who may not regularly visit a doctor due to stigma or because they do not have a medical professional they feel comfortable discussing their sexual health with.
Toburen noted that in Minnesota, there are approximately 300 new HIV infections each year. He said if people can access care and effective medications, they can lead long and healthy lives.
“It’s an amazing public health win because that's preventing further transmission of HIV,” he said.
Over five years, Aliveness’ community-based prevention services conducted 6,297 HIV tests, identifying 56 positive results, including 51 new diagnoses. More than 96 percent of those who tested positive were connected to medical care within 30 days.
Additionally, more than 6,100 HIV-negative participants were also screened and referred for PrEP, a medication that can help prevent HIV and significantly lower an individual’s chances of contracting HIV through sex.
Aliveness Project did not receive direct communication from the CDC regarding these funding changes and has heard very little from the Minnesota Department of Health’s community-based HIV prevention programs.
Toburen mentioned that it does not seem like the health department plans to use the funds in the same way. He added that the Aliveness Project receives a small grant from the Minnesota Department of Health for HIV prevention, but it will “be a shell of itself.”
“What's so sad is we have this existing infrastructure, we have existing staff, we have the existing relationships in the community,” Toburen said. “So that just gets lost.”
The Minnesota Department of Health said in a written statement that it applied for supplemental grant funding from the CDC for HIV prevention in June but has not yet received approval or funds.
“At this time, the CDC has not given any notice to MDH that funding provided to community-based organizations would be redirected to states, nor was there any indication of that change at the time of MDH's grant application,” said a spokesperson for the health department, in a statement on Friday. “The uncertainty surrounding federal funding poses significant challenges for our public health initiatives.”
Emily Hilliard, senior press secretary for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, said in a statement to MPR News that the funding is being streamlined through health departments, but she emphasized the importance of local decision-making in combating HIV and using local data to guide the development of strategies and interventions.
“For the first time in 45 years, the end of this epidemic was within reach, and the federal government is choosing to drag us backward,” Toburen said. “We were born from a community that refused to be abandoned, and we will keep fighting for every person who walks through our doors.”
