The City of West Hollywood has reactivated its West Hollywood Responds program to encourage community support for HIV/AIDS service providers in the wake of major federal budget cuts. The move follows recent decisions by the Trump Administration to eliminate more than $1.5 billion in HIV prevention funding, including dismantling the CDC’s HIV prevention and surveillance programs — cuts that have had a significant impact on Los Angeles County.
At its April 7, 2025 meeting, the West Hollywood City Council adopted a resolution formally opposing these federal actions and reaffirmed the City’s commitment to HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment, and care. Health officials warn that unless immediate support is provided, the region may see a rise in new infections.
As part of its response, the City is urging residents to consider donating to local organizations actively providing HIV/AIDS-related healthcare, testing, education, and support services. A full list is available at weho.org/wehoresponds.
Organizations Seeking Support:
APAIT – apaitssg.org
Offers testing, behavioral health services, housing case management, and support for underserved communities affected by HIV/AIDS.
AIDS Healthcare Foundation – aidshealth.org
The world’s largest provider of HIV care, operating clinics, pharmacies, housing, and “Out of the Closet” thrift stores that help fund services and testing.
APLA Health – aplahealth.org
Provides comprehensive medical and dental care, HIV specialty services, and mental health support with a focus on underserved populations.
Being Alive Los Angeles – beingalivela.org
Peer-led organization offering free mental health care, support groups, and wellness services to people living with HIV/AIDS.
Bienestar Human Services – bienestar.org
Offers HIV prevention, STI testing and treatment, mental health counseling, and harm reduction services focused on Latinx and LGBTQ+ communities.
California Community Foundation – calfund.org
A philanthropic hub supporting numerous causes, including HIV/AIDS efforts in Los Angeles. Donors may contribute to specific funds or general initiatives.
Los Angeles LGBT Center – lalgbtcenter.org
Provides stigma-free HIV/AIDS services including prevention, testing, and ongoing care across several locations in Los Angeles.
Men’s Health Foundation – menshealthfound.org/donate
Delivers coordinated medical care, HIV prevention, and support services focused on eliminating healthcare disparities.
Minority AIDS Project – map-usa.org
The first Black- and Latino-led HIV/AIDS organization in the U.S., offering free education, testing, and support services.
Project Angel Food – angelfood.org
Delivers free, medically tailored meals to thousands of people in Los Angeles County living with HIV/AIDS and other critical illnesses.
The City also encourages donors to research organizations through resources like Charity Navigator to ensure transparency and alignment with their values.
About WeHo Responds
Originally launched in 2005 following Hurricane Katrina, West Hollywood Responds is the City’s official mechanism for supporting disaster relief and urgent aid efforts. In recent years, the program has mobilized local giving for crisis response in Ukraine, Syria, Turkey, Maui, and California wildfire zones.
West Hollywood has a longstanding and deeply rooted commitment to HIV/AIDS care and prevention. In the early years of the epidemic, the City was one of the first municipalities to fund HIV-related social services — a legacy it continues today through its Human Services Division.
To learn more or donate, visit weho.org/wehoresponds.
Instead of leasing that run down restaurant where the owners should be fined for leaving it as an eyesore give those funds to buy the drugs that are no longer free or discounted and give them to the agencies here in WEHO that can prescribe them. HIV will make an ugly return because most cannot afford Prep or the meds to treat not only HIV but other illnesses
A lot of organizations are receiving a lot of federal funding, AIDS is no longer a debilitating disease or a death sentence. People have HIV and are able to function normally – work, care for themselves. A lot of these organizations were founded when people were home bound and/or dying. That is not the case any longer and hasn’t been for some time. BUT a lot of these organizations still hope tax payer money keeps rolling in to keep paying salaries to their staff. And we now know how HIV is transmitted. No one should be having unprotected sex knowing… Read more »
So the city’s response is to encourage residents to donate to HIV/AIDS organizations? What is the city’s Human Services Division doing?
Um, all of those organizations would have a lot more money for prevention programs if they didn’t pay their top executives a half million dollars a year for 40 weeks work plus benefits plus deferred compensation. All of those so-called “nonprofits“ that you mentioned have a very top heavy overpaid executive staff, especially the LA LGBT Center. And don’t even get me started on Michael Weinstein and AHF. That’s been nothing but grift since the beginning. It’s unconscionable that the federal government is cutting any kind of HIV funds, but that’s typical of what you get with Republicans since the… Read more »