Ventura County, Calif., HIV/AIDS Center At Risk Of Being Affected By Proposed State Budget Cuts

The Ventura County Rainbow Alliance, the county's only HIV/AIDS center, could be significantly affected by proposed funding cuts to state HIV/AIDS programs, the Ventura County Star reports. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) has proposed about $80 million in cuts to HIV/AIDS programs, including the state's AIDS Drug Assistance Program and education and prevention programs, a figure the state Legislature's Joint Budget Conference Committee has proposed be reduced to $33.5 million. The Rainbow Alliance serves 350 clients and provides emergency housing, food pantry services, mental health counseling and a case management program – all of which might be impacted by the budget cuts. The Legislature hopes that a final budget will be approved by the end of the month (Guerrero, Ventura County Star, 6/23).