To the editor: It’s disheartening to see The Instances attacking the AIDS Healthcare Basis (AHF) and its Wholesome Housing Basis (HHF) division. (“Inside World’s Largest AIDS Charity’s Troubled Transfer Into Homeless Housing,” Nov. 16)
AHF is among the few nonprofits that tries to deal with the homeless by lowering eligibility necessities to a drastic minimal, giving individuals an opportunity to get by on well-below-market rents. That in itself is a superb achievement – there’s nothing prefer it in Los Angeles.
AHF and HHF serve a distinct segment of people that can principally assist themselves however are underemployed or on Social Safety and can’t afford the typical hire for a one-bedroom residence, which exceeds $2,000 monthly. month. We’re a lifesaver for a lot of of our residents just by not requesting a credit score verify (one other main barrier to housing). Due to our mannequin, many individuals who would in any other case be homeless find yourself being housed.
I’m a witness to what number of sources AHF always devotes to upgrading and enhancing its amenities. As a result of AHF will not be a participant within the authorities paperwork and we aren’t grasping builders, we don’t get our allow requests fast-tracked, which ends up in delays in finishing upgrades.
Sadly, as we speak’s tradition prefers to emphasise the unfavorable and chorus from shining a light-weight on all of the positives of ventures like ours.
Robert Fields, Los Angeles
The writer is the housing coordinator for the AIDS Healthcare Basis’s Wholesome Housing Basis.
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To the editor: I’ve by no means understood how a non-profit group might spend tens of tens of millions of {dollars} on political campaigns and big advert buys – clearly on the expense of its precise shoppers and mission.
However now all of it is sensible: The AIDS Healthcare Basis seems to be like a predatory landlord in nonprofit camouflage.
AHF President Michael Weinstein’s 2018 quote, “Our thought on the AIDS Healthcare Basis has all the time been not simply to inform them, however to indicate them,” was actually prescient. He confirmed us precisely who he’s, sacrificing all his credibility and pretense of competence within the course of.
His hypocrisy is actual; his concern for weak tenants doesn’t seem like.
Paul Kradin, Santa Ynez