Living In The Shadow Of AIDS

It was a last resort for Jim Collins to send a letter to The Courier, appealing for help with contacting the right city agency to assist him in applying for additional rent money.
Collins, who was diagnosed with AIDS in 1996, pays $900 per month for a small, one-bedroom apartment in Flushing$40 more than he used to pay.
Collins is only one of approximately 14,791 adults living with AIDS in Queens who find navigating through the citys bureaucracy to secure money for housing and food incredibly daunting. His request to the Human Resources Administration, a city agency, for an additional allowance to meet rent was denied in late July, only after he made a string of phone calls inquiring about the status of his application.
"When youre on a fixed income, every little bit counts," said Collins, 34, whose only sources of income are a monthly Social Security Disability check amounting to $810 and $380 which is sent directly to his landlord by the Division of AIDS Services, a department of the HRA. Medicaid covers his medical bills.
At press time, The Courier is trying to help Collins reach out to the right individuals and follow the correct procedures in order to bring his case to the HRA. Due to regulations concerning confidentiality with AIDS patients, discussion with the HRA has been limited. However, the Mayors office has been extremely helpful in facilitating the process.
"You shouldnt have to go through so much headaches dealing with the city," said Collins. "If you hand in stuff, things should be taken care of quickly. I shouldnt have to call the Division of AIDS Services constantly. Its crazy, because I have so much other stuff going on."
He wrote to Mayor Giuliani two years ago, when his food stamps had been cut drastically. He hadnt been given any reason for the cut, but realized if he wanted an answer he needed to go to the top. So he sent a neatly written letter on notebook paper to Mayor Giuliani. Not expecting an answer, he received one. He also received $100 in food stamps plus credit for the months where he had only been given $10 worth of stamps.
This time around, he was more pessimistic.
The HRA told him to find a roommate and split the cost of the apartment. "Ive been by myself in a one-bedroom apartment and the agency is aware of that," he said.
"They asked why I dont get a roommate but its not that easy. I need my privacy and I cant depend on a roommate to pay the bills."
Collins was working as a customer service rep for Nassau-Suffolk Frozen Foods, when he was diagnosed with AIDS seven years ago. He had started losing a lot of weight, and didnt know why. So he went to his doctor. "Everything happened so fast, I didnt even have a chance to sit down and accept it." Shortly after, his brother Raymond, died in a car accident. "It was like everything happened all at once," said Collins.
Ever since the accident, he has been close to his parents, who live in Hollis. His 21-year-old sister Janice is in the 101st Airborne, stationed in Iraq. Collins speaks to his sister almost every day, and looks forward to her early morning telephone calls. He loves writing her letters, too.
Collins plans to meet with the Division of AIDS Services on Monday, August 25 for a hearing to discuss his case.
Despite his hardships, Collins hopes to enter a training program to work with people suffering from AIDS or even become a social worker. He used to be on the advisory board of the AIDS Center of Queens County, but stepped down after feeling too bogged down with his own issues to help with other peoples problems in dealing with getting benefits and using city services.
Now, he wants to encourage others to write letters and to speak out about their problems. He would also like to speak out against stereotypes that make him feel uncomfortable. "Anyone can catch AIDS," he said. "Everyone should have a little compassion. I get the impression that when people hear I have AIDS, they think oh, well! or too bad! or something like that. They dont take it seriously."
Collins also stresses that people with AIDS shouldnt always rely on agencies to help them out.
"Even though there are organizations you can go to, sometimes you have to advocate for yourself," said Collins. "Sometimes you have to do stuff on your own and it makes you feel better, without having someone actually helping you. You ask for help, you sign release forms, you explain to them and it doesnt get you nowhere. Do it on your own, its a principle."