Friends—

On September 27th, I will join my colleagues at Georgia Equality in the AIDS Walk Atlanta 5K to raise money for our crucial advocacy work. I am asking for your support as we fight to end HIV/AIDS. From now through October, all of the funds raised for Georgia Equality will be matched for an even greater impact.

Over 60,000 Georgians are currently living with HIV, and Metro Atlanta has one of the country's highest rates of new HIV diagnoses. For people living with HIV/AIDS, housing is a foundational need, a stabilizing force that helps people remain healthy and thriving. Ensuring that Georgians living with HIV/AIDS have access to safe, affordable housing is a central part of my work as Housing Policy Manager.

The policy landscape is certainly challenging: due to changes in the federal funding formula, funding for the HOPWA (Housing Opportunities for People With AIDS) Program in Metro Atlanta has been cut by 40% over the past two federal fiscal years.

Yet Georgia Equality has made tremendous progress in ensuring that the housing needs of Georgians living with HIV/AIDS are met, and we will continue to do so. Our advocacy has resulted in a greater degree of transparency, streamlined administrative processes, and a clear plan to secure funding to cover potential cuts.

Will you support our work by making a donation today? A donation of any size will go a long way. Thank you so much for your generosity.

With love and solidarity,

Rachel