Middlesex County has been awarded a federal grant worth $1,570,212 to aid low income individuals and families living with HIV/AIDS.
The grant will assist Middlesex County residents through the Ryan White Program which supports both direct medical treatment as well as non-medical aid, according to a statement released by Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-Middlesex, Monmouth) on July 5.
“New Jersey ranks high in the nation for the number of reported HIV/AIDS cases and this funding from the Ryan White Program will provide critical medical care and support services for those living with HIV/AIDS who would otherwise have no means of paying for it,” Pallone said in the statement. “The Ryan White program improves the quality of life for some of our most vulnerable residents, and I will work with my colleagues to ensure the program continues.”
As ranking member on the Energy and Commerce Committee, Pallone has jurisdiction over initiatives like the Ryan White Program, which has received federal grants for 20 years and will assist approximately 2,800 individuals in the region.
Eighty percent of the grants go toward core medical services with the remaining funding helping families with food delivery, housing costs and medical transportation, according to the statement.