'I lost my home and job after HIV'

HIV diagnosis brings financial worries to many

A report says people diagnosed with HIV/Aids often face high levels of poverty and hardship.

Paul Fleming was diagnosed with HIV in August 2002.

Within weeks he had lost his job and his home.

He tells BBC News Online how he rebuilt his life.

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"I'd felt a bit poorly, but I thought it was just a summer cold.

"But it wouldn't go away, and I was given an HIV test.

Financial problems are not something you anticipate when you are diagnosed with HIV Paul Fleming

"When it came back positive, I lost the will to live.

"It was the eternity of it - it wasn't going to go away ever."

Paul, now 39, said: "I had been working for the Civil Service on a temporary contract. But because I wasn't really able to work, that was rescinded, and I didn't get any sick pay from the agency - I wasn't entitled.

"So I had to apply for Income Support and Housing Benefit. But they take time to come through.

"I had to leave my apartment because I couldn't pay the rent."

Support

Paul became very depressed, and even attempted to take his own life.

Friends rallied round, and gave him accommodation and support to tide him over until Hackney Council were able to provide him with a flat.

The charity Crusaid also help him, awarding him £200 from its Hardship Fund.

It also put him in touch with the Globe Centre, in east London, where he was given support and assistance.

A year later, Paul is working as a volunteer at the National Aids Trust, helping to raise money for the charity's work, living on benefits of £54 a week.

He says he would never want to go through the experiences of the last year again.

"I wouldn't envy anybody who is going through it at all.

"I would only hope that people would be able to access the support they need easily and quickly.

"I'd also welcome changes to laws and regulations to help HIV positive people."

Link

He added: "Financial problems are not something you anticipate when you are diagnosed with HIV. But they can hit you quite quickly and quite severely.

"But it seems HIV and poverty are very closely linked.

"Now I'm much better. I'm still HIV positive, and that's not going to go away.

"But I feel useful, and I feel better."