Important CHF update: monthly income threshold decrease

As members who access the Complementary Health Fund (CHF) know, in 2011, Positive Living BC had to reduce the monthly dividend from $55 to $35 because of a sharp decrease in funds generated by the Scotiabank AIDS WALK for LIFE.

Unfortunately, the CHF may not be sustainable even at that level in 2012 unless further changes are made to the program’s structure. After careful deliberation following a professionally conducted internal review, the Board has decided to lower the monthly income threshold for CHF recipients from $3,000 to $2,000 beginning in April 2012.

In other words, only those members whose gross monthly income is $2,000 or less will be applicable for the CHF.

The intent behind this strategy is to ensure those members that need CHF the most are still able to have access. These are tough times, but they can get better. As part of the largest member-driven HIV-positive organization in Western Canada, it is up to you to improve quality of life in our community. If you want to see funding for the CHF restored to previous levels, do your best to support the WALK in 2012.

The CHF team will continue to review and adjust these decisions on a yearly basis.