[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 152 (Wednesday, September 24, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Page S9425]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 102--EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF CONGRESS THAT 
ENSURING THE AVAILABILITY OF ADEQUATE HOUSING IS AN ESSENTIAL COMPONENT 
 OF AN EFFECTIVE STRATEGY FOR THE PREVENTION AND TREATMENT OF HIV AND 
                    THE CARE OF INDIVIDUALS WITH HIV

  Mrs. CLINTON submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was 
referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs:

                            S. Con. Res. 102

       Whereas adequate and secure housing is recognized as a 
     human right in Article 25 of the Universal Declaration of 
     Human Rights, adopted by the General Assembly of the United 
     Nations on December 10, 1948;
       Whereas strong and consistent research findings show that 
     the socioeconomic status of individuals and groups is a key 
     determinant of health;
       Whereas the link between poverty and an increased risk of 
     contracting HIV and other poor health outcomes is well 
     established;
       Whereas research findings demonstrate that there is a 
     direct relationship between inadequate housing and a greater 
     risk of HIV infection, poor health outcomes, and early death;
       Whereas poor living conditions, including overcrowding and 
     homelessness, undermine safety, privacy, and efforts to 
     promote self-respect, human dignity, and responsible sexual 
     behavior;
       Whereas, according to the National AIDS Housing Coalition, 
     individuals who are homeless or unstably housed are 2 to 6 
     times more likely to use hard drugs, share needles, or 
     exchange sex than individuals with stable housing, as the 
     lack of stable housing directly impacts the ability of 
     individuals living in poverty to reduce HIV risk behaviors;
       Whereas, despite the evidence indicating that adequate 
     housing has a direct positive effect on the prevention and 
     treatment of HIV and health outcomes, the lack of resources 
     dedicated to providing adequate housing has been largely 
     ignored in policy discussions at the international level; and
       Whereas the United Nations, in the 2006 Political 
     Declaration on HIV/AIDS, embraced the goal of universal 
     access to comprehensive prevention programs and treatment, 
     care, and support for individuals with HIV by 2010: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 
     concurring), That it is the sense of Congress that ensuring 
     the availability of adequate housing is an essential 
     component of an effective strategy for the prevention and 
     treatment of HIV and the care of individuals with HIV.

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