say funding inequities are leaving black lead.

Hiv prevention group struggling to keep doors open and provide care.

>> They're pushing for more help from local lawmakers to prioritize black and brown people who they say are uniquely impacted by the virus.

Meanwhile, advocates a federal cuts to grants Medicaid and diversity initiatives are also threatening to weaken response to the disease.

Joining us now are crisp office, our Executive Director of Task Force Prevention and Community Services, a community-based organization in Austin and Timothy Jackson, senior director of policy and advocacy for AIDS Foundation, Chicago, thanks to both for joining us.

So Illinois Department of Public Health, their data shows that black and Hispanic people make up about 73% of HIV and AIDS cases diagnosed in the state since 2018.

That's a lot.

The U.S. Census data shows the state is only 14% black and 18% Hispanic Timothy Wire, blacks and Hispanics.

So disproportionately affected by this.

I thank you so much for allowing me to be here.

There are a litany of reasons.

One from access to care, access to prevention, medical mistress, stigma is a large part of it.

But oftentimes what we see is that the communities that are represented so disproportionately black and and led NE communities.

As you mentioned, it's at those communities.

Just don't have access to providers or community organizations oftentimes those community organizations just don't have the funding, the robust funding that they need order to take care of their own communities.

so that is really kind of the heart of what we're seeing that keeps inequities going.

Chris, let's expand on that a little bit more.

What are some of the barriers that black people with HIV and AIDS face in accessing care?

Absolutely.

I think it won't.

Some of the things that we hear commonly a task forces.

>> you know, access in terms of navigating insurance.

You know, it's not easy for young adults too.

And, you know, navigate complicated health care systems, including insurance, is but also finding the right provider and not all providers are prepped friendly or, you know, willing or able to provide treatment, you know, for HIV.

so, you know, those that's another challenge.

I think another challenge is a cost not knowing how what how much is going to cost?

What your code he's going to if you're going to get a bill, if this, you know insurance.

I mean, I'm sorry that this medical care provider accept your insurance.

And so these challenges, I think often times can be overwhelming and never come those challenges.

Absolutely.

Well, that's why organizations like task force exists because that's exactly what our staff are trained to do is to provide support with navigating health care systems as well as support with navigating insurance.

And so we can enroll individuals and insurance and we also help them provide, you know, be connected to medical care providers who can provide culturally specific care as well as gender affirming care.

And Chris, you've been pushing, of course, more equitable funding for black lead.

Hiv and AIDS prevention organizations would have been the challenges in getting that funding, especially for a smaller organization.

Absolutely.

Well, you know, as you by communities are disproportionately impacted by HIV and >> what we see not just here in Chicago, but even nationally is that black lead organizations are much more likely to be have smaller budgets.

you know, and I think that like, you know, to of these point that makes it harder for us to provide supports to our community in so some of the challenges that we see right now is especially, you know, with what's happening at the federal level.

a lot you know, it's harder to now allocate funding to address communities that are disproportionately impacted, right?

So, you know, being able to say, well, we're going you know, allocate these dollars to support HIV and black communities because they are disproportionately impacted or LGBT is gentle, loving communities because they are disproportionately impacting that's a talent.

Iit's can't do that under these new rules that Timothy, what changes would you like to see to help bridge that funding Yeah, absolutely.

making sure that we as as large organizations, AIDS Foundation, Chicago, part of our racial equity plan is increasing each year.

The amount of money that goes to Black landslide, a lead organization for good.

>> Making sure that we're not going end the HIV epidemic without community making sure that we're supporting those organizations.

So something simple that we can do make sure that most of our grant subcontracted organizations are likely Latinx laid in community, but also understanding to Chris's point.

Equity is not a bad It is not a bad word.

understanding that in order for us to end the HIV epidemic character, Illinois and across the country, we have to do it in the communities that are most.

Impacted.

so that's just simple.

Timothy can private grants donations make up for the gap that you all might be experiencing in federal dollars?

fortunately, I would love for it in >> but for so we and kind of like this.

breakfast of a kind of like things.

Its state, great dollars to be able to provide care to people living with the battle with HIV.

But with cuts that we're seeing Capitol Hill.

And that just makes it very difficult when you're talking about prevention or K here, you know, housing, all of these things are really, you know, endangered congressional Republicans and the White House.

Chris, how much of organization would you say how much of your budget relies on federal dollars?

>> So we've actually seen cuts.

you know, you just between 2024 2025.

Where >> we've seen about a 10 to 15% cut government revenue.

you know, and we are anticipating further cuts even for 2026.

What that means for you and the work you do, the people, the people you becomes more So we have to certainly be more creative with finding other revenue sources to help bridge in or fill in those gaps.

You know, and certainly, you know, being able be trying to expand support in the private sector, almost out of time.

But what is the state's role here?

And they step >> The state's role, if if they're going to roll up their sleeves going to have fill the void, we understand it.

The old adage is ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure and understanding that if we can prevent HIV, could go long way.

But we need partners at state and local levels to be able to roll up their sleeves and get to in in this fight with us.

Push back on the federal government to make sure that we have all of the resources that we need in order to continue our work in the HIV epidemic.

someone who lives with HIV.

Are you concerned about losing ground on the progress that's been made over the years salute Lee between that the cuts to Medicaid that we saw and HR one in July.

And now these potential cuts were there getting rid of HIV prevention dollars and the federal government flashing Ryan White, which is a program that provides care to people they with HIV.

We are literally going to see people And really kind of the heart frightening