The ‘Poverty and HIV: findings from the Crusaid Hardship Fund in Scotland’ report, which will be launched in the Scottish Parliament tonight by Crusaid, Waverley Care and HIV Scotland, highlights the effects that stigma and discrimination can have on the financial situation of people living with HIV. It also calls for action in tackling the root causes of poverty among people living with HIV in Scotland, such as age-related poverty, increasing levels of hate crime, and unemployment and poor housing among people living with HIV. 

David Johnson, director of Waverley Care said the report highlights how HIV can impact on almost every aspect of a person’s life.  

He said: “It shows how much poorer life can be, not just in terms of financial poverty, although this can be considerable, but also poorer in terms of social inclusion and life chances.  The examples of where the Crusaid Hardship Fund in Scotland has been used to alleviate individuals’ circumstances illustrate just how pervasive poverty can be and how important the Fund is in alleviating the worst aspects of this.”

One in two people diagnosed with HIV in Scotland contact the Crusaid Hardship Fund, which has disbursed over £1m in Scotland since 1991.

Steven Inman, Head of Grants and Projects at Crusaid, stressed the need for support mechanisms to assist young people in coming to terms with their HIV diagnoses.

“Trying to come to terms with a chronic and still highly-stigmatised illness whilst dealing with the pressures of adolescence and education is for some, an impossible ask. The Crusaid Hardship Fund works with referring agencies to minimise the immediate impact of poverty and works to keep family units together with respite and childcare costs to give young people the best possible start.

“There is now an emerging group of older people living with HIV. This group is more likely to spend extended periods in poverty due to low incomes as ill health and discrimination exclude them from the job market.”