The Community AIDS Network/Akron Pride Initiative (CANAPI) announced Wednesday that the U.S. Department of House and Urban Development (HUD) has ended more than $330,000 in federal grants to the organization – roughly 25% of the organization’s total annual programing budget.
Since 2010, CANAPI has offered services including housing support, free HIV testing and prevention resources, a community fresh food pantry and ongoing educational outreach.
Via an August 21 press release, the Akron-based non-profit organization said the cuts will eliminate two programs. At least 17 clients will need to find new housing options within “a matter of days.”
In light of the cuts, the organization also announced it will not fill two currently open staffing positions, and has set a total fundraising goal of $75,000 in order to “maintain staffing and services through the remainder of 2025.”
“This is an absolute travesty,” said CANAPI Board President Julie Beckert. “In the days, weeks, and years ahead we will be looking to our community partners to lean in with their support as we continue to fight for our clients and provide them the life-saving resources and support they so desperately need.”
The Micah Project – a rapid rehousing program that matched clients with case workers to help them secure housing – will be eliminated on Sept. 1. Lavender Landing – a collection of programs serving at-risk LGBTQ+ Ohioans ages 18 to 29 – will cease operations at the end of October.
Both programs are funded via Summit County’s Continuum of Care (CoC) and together protected an average of 70 Summit County residents from experiencing homelessness each year.
HUD did not make cuts to any other programs funded via the CoC this year.
Beckert called HUD’s failure to renew CANAPI’s grants a “clear targeted attack against the LGBTQ+ community and LGBTQ+ youth” by the Trump administration.
In February, Trump-appointed HUD secretary Scott Turner issued an order to “halt any pending or future enforcement actions” related to the Equal Access Rule. The rule requires equal access based on gender identity to all housing and shelter funded under Office of Community Planning and Development (CPD).
Without the rule in place, transgender, gender non-conforming and LGBTQ+ people do not have explicit protection from discrimination within federally funded programs.
Experts say the changes in funding are part of a larger anti-transgender political movement and have been consistent with Trump’s executive order claiming there are “two sexes” in the United States: “male and female.”
“The queer community is very familiar with having a federal government who not only doesn’t support us but actively works against us even to the point of death,” added CANAPI Vice President Justin Lepley. “In times like these, it is absolutely critical that we come together to support each other and protect the most vulnerable among us.” 🔥
Editor’s Note: H.L. Comeriato served as a member of the board of directors at CANAPI between 2017 and 2021.
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- To learn more about CANAPI and the services they offer, click here.
- To make a donation to CANAPI, click here.
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