New Mexico HIV Emergency Project ● 2024 Annual Report
For 35 years, the Emergency Project has played a unique role within the state’s HIV healthcare network. The New Mexico Department of Health estimates that 4,107 people in the state are infected with HIV. We help meet the basic living needs of some of the most vulnerable people within that population.
In 2024:
The Emergency Project helps prevent homelessness for low-income New Mexicans living with HIV/AIDS. Ours is "last resort" financial assistance with the flexibility to meet a wide range of needs – some of which (like auto repairs) are essential but cannot be paid by government or other sources of support. Our rush payments are primarily for rent, utilities, and medical bills. We also assist with health insurance, medicines, and other necessities of life. Very few of our clients can pay for eyeglasses through any other sources. Due to inflation, again last year the single most important need was help for gas and electricity bills. Our assistance checks go out within 24 hours – often on the same day the request is received.
The Emergency Project steps in when no other assistance program can quickly relieve the multiple stressors people living with HIV/AIDS can face. By collaborating with community health agencies the Emergency Project supports individuals in urgent circumstances when many other government-funded programs may face slower processing times or seasonal caps on funds which can negatively impact client engagement.
The Emergency Project is majority funded by New Mexico Department of Health and coordinates with NMDOH to receive emergency financial requests from five HIV Service Provider Organizations: the University of New Mexico’s Truman Health Services, Southwest Care Center, First Nations Community HealthSource, Alianza of New Mexico, and Community Collaborative Care. Coordinating with these health care agencies and their case managers allows the Emergency Project to provide assistance that supports their clients remaining engaged in treatment. Collaboration like this has enabled the Emergency Project to reach people across the state while also supporting reducing negative health outcomes of untreated HIV, including its spread.
During 2024, we assisted with providing 488 emergency financial assistance payments. The Emergency Project was able to reach people across the state including 62 smaller cities and rural communities in addition to small metro and metropolitan areas. 2024 assistance payments aided at least 348 individuals of a broad range of self-reported demographics.
The Emergency Project was established during the original AIDS crisis, when people were dying at shocking rates. Thirty-five years ago, clients were primarily gay and bisexual men living in Albuquerque and Santa Fe. Over the years our client base has evolved along with the changing face of HIV. We have never discriminated on the basis of race, gender or sexual orientation.
As an additional service for referred clients, Common Bond board member Dylan Lutey, an estate planning attorney with Hedrich Law, P.A. in Albuquerque, offers pro bono legal services: New Mexico Power of Attorney and Advance Medical Directive.
The Emergency Project operates in a low-key, direct, individual manner with a minimum of bureaucratic detail. For its first 20 years, equal rights activist Liz Canfield managed the project as a volunteer from her home.
During 2024, the Emergency Project received an estimated $133,258 in funding and donations from the New Mexico Department of Health, Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, UNM Truman Health Services’ HIV Glow Walk, The Wilde Bunch, indirect public support, and private individual donations. 90% or more of the program's annual budget was dedicated to direct services.
The Emergency Project is a program of Common Bond New Mexico Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit; therefore, your contributions are tax-deductible. You can donate securely online by clicking here. For more information, e-mail [email protected] or call 505-636-0845.
In 2024:
- We continued our assistance benefit of $300 per referred client.
- We disbursed $92,248.97 -- which helped 348 individuals.
- In collaboration with our primary funder NMDOH increased our annual contract to support more New Mexicans in need across the state.
The Emergency Project helps prevent homelessness for low-income New Mexicans living with HIV/AIDS. Ours is "last resort" financial assistance with the flexibility to meet a wide range of needs – some of which (like auto repairs) are essential but cannot be paid by government or other sources of support. Our rush payments are primarily for rent, utilities, and medical bills. We also assist with health insurance, medicines, and other necessities of life. Very few of our clients can pay for eyeglasses through any other sources. Due to inflation, again last year the single most important need was help for gas and electricity bills. Our assistance checks go out within 24 hours – often on the same day the request is received.
The Emergency Project steps in when no other assistance program can quickly relieve the multiple stressors people living with HIV/AIDS can face. By collaborating with community health agencies the Emergency Project supports individuals in urgent circumstances when many other government-funded programs may face slower processing times or seasonal caps on funds which can negatively impact client engagement.
The Emergency Project is majority funded by New Mexico Department of Health and coordinates with NMDOH to receive emergency financial requests from five HIV Service Provider Organizations: the University of New Mexico’s Truman Health Services, Southwest Care Center, First Nations Community HealthSource, Alianza of New Mexico, and Community Collaborative Care. Coordinating with these health care agencies and their case managers allows the Emergency Project to provide assistance that supports their clients remaining engaged in treatment. Collaboration like this has enabled the Emergency Project to reach people across the state while also supporting reducing negative health outcomes of untreated HIV, including its spread.
During 2024, we assisted with providing 488 emergency financial assistance payments. The Emergency Project was able to reach people across the state including 62 smaller cities and rural communities in addition to small metro and metropolitan areas. 2024 assistance payments aided at least 348 individuals of a broad range of self-reported demographics.
The Emergency Project was established during the original AIDS crisis, when people were dying at shocking rates. Thirty-five years ago, clients were primarily gay and bisexual men living in Albuquerque and Santa Fe. Over the years our client base has evolved along with the changing face of HIV. We have never discriminated on the basis of race, gender or sexual orientation.
As an additional service for referred clients, Common Bond board member Dylan Lutey, an estate planning attorney with Hedrich Law, P.A. in Albuquerque, offers pro bono legal services: New Mexico Power of Attorney and Advance Medical Directive.
The Emergency Project operates in a low-key, direct, individual manner with a minimum of bureaucratic detail. For its first 20 years, equal rights activist Liz Canfield managed the project as a volunteer from her home.
During 2024, the Emergency Project received an estimated $133,258 in funding and donations from the New Mexico Department of Health, Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, UNM Truman Health Services’ HIV Glow Walk, The Wilde Bunch, indirect public support, and private individual donations. 90% or more of the program's annual budget was dedicated to direct services.
The Emergency Project is a program of Common Bond New Mexico Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit; therefore, your contributions are tax-deductible. You can donate securely online by clicking here. For more information, e-mail [email protected] or call 505-636-0845.