What is Economic Justice?

1. What is Economic Justice? Julie Davids

2. What is Economic Justice? • Framing & laying the foundation for economic justice • Why/how it intersects with HIV • Connecting the dots between HIV, Economic Justice, Stigma and Discrimination, Access to Health Care, and Violence

3. Definition Economic Justice (EJ) is: “The attainment of rightful access to basic financial and material resources and opportunities” We believe that it is keyto ending the HIV/ AIDS epidemic in the United States and around the world.

4. 1% vs. 99% Economic inequality does not happen by accident. It happens because of an economic system, supported by both parties in leadership in our nation, that benefits the very few to the detriment of the many.

5. PWN on HIV & Economic Justice • The relationship between economic stability, employment status, HIV status and health is diverse and complex, to say the least. • Economic insecurity is a risk factor for HIV, and in some cases, economic insecurity is even an incentive to acquire HIV. • An HIV diagnosis can fuel a cycle of poverty with medical costs, the inability or perceived inability to work, and discrimination in the workplace. Cycle of Poverty

6. What does CDC say? “…poverty is the single most important demographic factor associated with HIV infection among inner-city heterosexuals.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2010 The U.S. Census Bureau defined and included high-poverty areas with at least 20 percent of residents have household incomes below the poverty line.

7. What does CDC say? “…other factors associated with poverty also likely contribute to high HIV prevalence in these settings.  Some of these factors include limited health care access, which can reduce utilization of HIV testing and prevention services; substance abuse, which can increase sexual risk behavior; and high rates of incarceration, which can disrupt the stability of relationships.” (emphasis added)

8. Is it just inner-city heterosexuals? This study excluded gay and bisexual men, as well as injection drug users – so we do not know if poverty increases their risk of infection. However, we know that poverty impacts these communities as well!

9. Vicious Economic Cycles HIV is more prevalent in communities/people who have been traditionally economically marginalized (queer and transgender people, women, people of color) and economic marginalization increases risk of HIV and can make it hard to keep your job. Poverty increases risk of HIV and having HIV increases economic vulnerability. Violence increases risk of HIV and having HIV increases poverty which limits options for dealing with violence.

10. But don’t the “poor” get assistance? • Need for help extends to more than the poorest of the poor – income caps block many. • Federal Poverty Level is based on the 1960s and the cost of food; not considered a major expense in many budgets currently and even excludes childcare. • Working poor and middle class often left out, despite specific challenges. • Current Ryan White budget in Congress slashes many areas, including food stamps. • We need justice, not just assistance; we need “living wage” budgets not poverty budgets.

11. Minimum Wage Ensures Injustice How much the federal minimum wage would be if it had kept up with inflation over the past 40 years. Instead, it’s $7.25. $10. 39 The annual income for a full-time employee working the entire year at the federal minimum wage. $15,080 The number of states where a minimum wage worker can afford a two-bedroom apartment working a 40-hour week 0 The number of times Congress passed legislation to increase the minimum wage in the last 30 years. 3 The number of states (including the District of Columbia) which have raised their minimum wage above the federal level of $7.25 19 Source: http://www.raisetheminimumwage.com/facts/

12. Minimum Wage Ensures Injustice (cont.) The number of states that annually increase their state minimum to keep up with the rising cost of living. 10 The percentage of Americans that support gradually raising the minimum wage from $7.25 an hour to at least $10.00 an hour, in an October 2010 poll. 67 The percentage of self-identified Tea Partiers that support raising the minimum wage to $10 in Maryland, according to a December 2010 poll. 62 The percentage of Missouri voters that voted to increase minimum wage in the 2006 ballot initiative. 76 The federal minimum wage for tipped employees, such as waiters and waitresses, nail salon workers, or parking attendants. $2.13

13. And what about this “recession?” • Many of the people affected by HIV already had higher unemployment rates even before “recession”: • People of color • Transgender people • People experiencing illness • People with a history of imprisonment • Single parents • Now, those who are seeking new or to resume employment have even more competition from new groups of unemployed.

14. Many rungs missing on ladder to Economic Justice for Women with HIV Education and job training Childcare Stable, safe housing – often the biggest need identified in community planning but rarely addressed at scale Accessible, appropriate medical care not tied to employer insurance or AIDS status Transitional and/or harm reduction services to assist with drug use, violence, re-entry from imprisonment Specific job search and retention services for transgender and gender-variant women Employer education and legal intervention for HIV+ worker’s rights

15. Case Study: HIV PJA has joined this economic justice campaign that looks at in-home services and support (home-care) because: • Create 2 million new, good jobs with training • Addresses a need for more care providers for people with chronic illnesses, seniors (including those living with HIV), and people living with disabilities • The providers of these services are primarily women of color, including many immigrants and people from communities hit hard by HIV

16. Case Study: Caring Across Generations (cont.) Caring Across Generations is a national campaign to: • PROTECT WHAT WE HAVE: Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security, Ryan White CARE Act • CREATE WHAT WE NEED: 2 million new jobs to address service needs for in-home support, with training, labor rights and a path to citizenship

17. HIV PJA EJ Working Group Our Economic Justice Working Group is co-chaired by two U.S. Positive Women’s Network leaders!  Dee Borrego Gina Brown  To join us, go to: bit.ly/JoinEJWG or contact Julie Davids at jdavids@aidschicago.org or 646-431-7525