AIDS Healthcare Foundation

During the late 1980s and early 1990s, AHF emerged as an advocate for gay and bisexual men who were hit hardest at the start of the HIV/AIDS epidemic.{{Cite web |last=Jr |first=Lou Chibbaro |date=2023-09-28 |title=AIDS Healthcare Foundation celebrates opening of new D.C. healthcare center |url=https://www.washingtonblade.com/2023/09/28/aids-healthcare-foundation-ribbon-cutting-dc/,%20https://www.washingtonblade.com/2023/09/28/aids-healthcare-foundation-ribbon-cutting-dc/ |access-date=2023-10-20 |website=www.washingtonblade.com |language=en-US}} In 1987, activists Chris Brownlie, Michael Weinstein, Sharon Raphael, PhD, Mina Meyer, MA, and other advocates were among the earliest champions of the AIDS hospice movement.{{Cite web|title=Mina Meyer Obituary (1940 - 2016) - Long Beach, CA - Los Angeles Times|url=https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/latimes/name/mina-meyer-obituary?id=8087336|access-date=2023-07-06|website=Legacy.com}} They co-founded the Los Angeles AIDS Hospice Committee, which was the catalyst for the AIDS Hospice Foundation that we know today as the AIDS Healthcare Foundation.https://ahftimeline.org/fight-for-the-living/ {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180923053917/https://ahftimeline.org/fight-for-the-living/ |date=September 23, 2018 }} "AHF Timeline 1983 to 1999"

Members of the inaugural AIDS Hospice Committee—Brownlie, Weinstein, Myer, Raphael, Paul Coleman, and others—negotiated for the opening of Chris Brownlie Hospice by protesting and picketing of then-Supervisor Mike Antonovich's home. Following an emotional plea for hospice care to Los Angeles County Commission on AIDS, which included the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, they secured a $2 million commitment to provide AIDS care on the grounds of the Barlow Respiratory Hospital.[http://hiv.lacounty.gov/ Los Angeles County Commission on AIDS (HIV)], Official Government Website

On December 26, 1988, the 25-bed Chris Brownlie Hospice opened in the former nurses' dormitory at Barlow Respiratory Hospital and offered 24-hour medical and palliative care to people living through the final stages of AIDS.

AIDS Healthcare Foundation (January 31, 2013). [https://www.aidshealth.org/2013/01/ahf-remembers-chris-brownlie-hospice/ AHF remembers Chris Brownlie Hospice.]Los Angeles Times (September 23, 1996). [https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-09-23-me-46782-story.html AIDS Care Organization to Close Its Oldest Hospice.] AHF opened two additional hospices: the Carl Bean House in 1992, and the Linn House in 1995. The Carl Bean House was named after Archbishop Carl Bean, D.Min, an American Protestant clergy, HIV/AIDS activist, and Broadway singer who founded the Minority AIDS Project (MAP).[https://minorityaidsproject.org/our-founder-archbishop-carl-bean-d-min/ Archbishop Carl Bean, D.Min, Founder, Board Chair Emeritus (1982-2021).] Minority AIDS Project.{{Cite web |last=Williams |first=Timothy |date=1992-09-22 |title=AIDS Hospice Opens in South L.A. |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-09-22-me-1228-story.html |access-date=2023-11-15 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=HIV Community Mourns the Passing of Archbishop Carl Bean |url=https://www.hiv.gov/blog/hiv-community-mourns-passing-archbishop-carl-bean |access-date=2023-11-15 |website=HIV.gov |language=en}} Located in South Central Los Angeles, MAP specifically focused on care for predominantly Black and Latino community members, accepting all terminal AIDS patients regardless if they had health insurance or not.

On November 26, 1989, Brownlie died at the age of 39, because of AIDS-related complications.{{Cite web|last=Feldman|first=Paul|date=1989-11-29|title=Chris Brownlie; Crusader for AIDS Care, Hospices|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-11-29-mn-54-story.html|access-date=2023-07-06|website=Los Angeles Times|language=en-US}} He was survived by his longtime partner and Brownlie Hospice co-founder, Phill Wilson,

[https://www.amfar.org/about/board-of-trustees/phill-wilson/ Phill Wilson.] amfAR. and his father, sister, brothers, countless friends and fellow AIDS activists. In addition to Brownlie, over 1,000 people had been given dignified, specialized, compassionate final care at the Chris Brownlie Hospice by the time it ended hospice operations in September 1996. The building that housed the Brownlie Hospice went through its own rebirths, housing various departments of AHF, including the headquarters for AHF's Public Health Division, before the organization officially turned the property back over to the City of Los Angeles with a sunset memorial ceremony on January 26, 2013.[https://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2013/01/26/las-first-aids-hospice-returned-to-city-in-memorial-service/ "LA's First AIDS Hospice Returned To City In Memorial Service"], January 26, 2013

As medical opportunities for managing HIV including anti-retroviral drugs became more available, AHF changed its mission to helping individuals with HIV/AIDS live well with the disease through advanced medical care. This shift was marked with the change of the Foundation's name to AIDS Healthcare Foundation in July 1990.{{Cite news|last=Glazek|first=Christopher|date=2017-04-26|title=The C.E.O. of H.I.V.|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/26/magazine/the-ceo-of-hiv.html|access-date=2023-07-06|issn=0362-4331}}{{Cite web|date=Sep 25, 2014|title=AHF Milestone: 350,000 People in 36 Countries Now Receiving AIDS Care and Treatment|url=https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/healthcare/ahf-milestone-350-000-people-36-countries-now-receiving-aids-care-and-treatment|access-date=July 6, 2023|website=fiercehealthcare.com}}

AHF operates the Out of the Closet thrift store chain. 96 cents of every dollar earned at the thrift stores goes to AHF's HIV/AIDS programs and housing services, on-site pharmacies, and free HIV testing.{{Cite web|last=George|first=Jude|date=2021-11-10|title=Out of the Closet thrift shops provide LGBTQ+ safe spaces, fund social services for HIV/AIDS|url=https://theoccidentalnews.com/culture/2021/11/10/out-of-the-closet-thrift-shops-provide-lgbtq-safe-spaces-fund-social-services-for-hiv-aids/2904671|access-date=2023-07-06|website=The Occidental|language=en}} The first Out of the Closet thrift store opened in 1990 in Los Angeles' Atwater Village to benefit residents living with AIDS at the Chris Brownlie Hospice.{{Cite web |last=Grange |first=Lori |date=1990-09-13 |title=Store to Benefit AIDS Patients : Health: The Atwater Village shop is dedicated to helping those in a hospice and to raising funds for education about the disease. |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-09-13-gl-267-story.html |access-date=2024-03-27 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}} In 1997, Out of the Closet thrift stores began offering free and anonymous HIV testing.{{Cite web |last=Perera |first=Andrea |date=2001-11-04 |title=Thrift Stores Sell Shoppers on HIV Testing |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2001-nov-04-ca-65440-story.html |access-date=2024-03-27 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}

In 1991, AHF opened the Richard Polanco HIV Clinic as a place where people in the early stages of AIDS could receive treatment even without private health insurance.{{Cite web |last=Wielawski |first=Irene |date=1991-01-29 |title=Clinic Opens for Patients With AIDS Virus : Health care: Goals include serving the poor and providing timely treatment of early symptoms. Unit is named for Assemblyman Richard Polanco. |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-01-29-me-70-story.html |access-date=2024-04-01 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}

In 2000, AHF opened its first pharmacy, a move that proved crucial to its underlying business model.{{Cite news |last=Glazek |first=Christopher |date=2017-04-26 |title=The C.E.O. of H.I.V. |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/26/magazine/the-ceo-of-hiv.html |access-date=2023-10-26 |issn=0362-4331}} The organization's main business is its network of pharmacies and clinics that provide primary care to patients, most of whom have their insurance claims paid by government insurance programs like Medicaid. The excess income from these patients has helped AHF provide free care to millions of patients—the greatest reach of any HIV/AIDS organization. AHF acquired the MOMS Pharmacy chain of pharmacies in 2012, and in 2013, rebranded the chain as AHF Pharmacy.{{cite news|url=http://drugstorenews.com/article/aids-healthcare-foundation-rebrand-moms-pharmacy|last=DeArment|first=Alaric|title=AIDS Healthcare Foundation to rebrand MOMS Pharmacy|work=Drug Store News|publisher=Lebhar-Friedman|date=18 January 2013|accessdate=11 March 2013|archive-date=March 8, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130308114642/http://www.drugstorenews.com/article/aids-healthcare-foundation-rebrand-moms-pharmacy|url-status=dead}}

AHF sponsored HIV awareness-themed Rose Parade floats in 2012 and 2013, each winning the Queen's Trophy for best use of roses.{{cite web|url=http://lgbtpov.frontiersla.com/2012/01/02/ahfs-rose-parade-tribute-to-elizabeth-taylor-wins-queens-trophy/|last=Ocamb|first=Karen|title=AHF's Rose Parade Tribute to Elizabeth Taylor Wins 'Queen's Trophy'|work=LGBT{{!}}POV|publisher=Frontiers|date=2 January 2012|accessdate=11 March 2013|archive-date=December 21, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131221202402/http://lgbtpov.frontiersla.com/2012/01/02/ahfs-rose-parade-tribute-to-elizabeth-taylor-wins-queens-trophy/|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2013/01/rose-parade-2013-list-of-float-winners.html|last=Gerber|first=Marisa|work=L.A. Now|publisher=Tribune Company|title=Rose Parade 2013: List of float award winners|date=1 January 2013|accessdate=11 March 2013}} The organization fashioned a tribute to actress Elizabeth Taylor, who championed HIV and AIDS programs in the 1980s.{{Cite web |date=2023-12-09 |title=An LA group pulled its float out of the 2024 Rose Parade. Mickey Mouse is partly to blame |url=https://www.pasadenastarnews.com/2023/12/08/an-la-group-pulled-its-float-out-of-the-2024-rose-parade-mickey-mouse-is-partly-to-blame/ |access-date=2023-12-14 |website=Pasadena Star News |language=en-US}}

In 2014, AHF made history during the Rose Parade by hosting a same-sex wedding on its float for the first time in the parade's history.{{Cite web |date=2014-01-01 |title=2014 Rose Parade: Winners, highlights and more (photos) |url=https://www.kpcc.org/2014-01-01/2014-rose-parade-winning-floats-announced |access-date=2023-11-29 |website=LAist - NPR News for Southern California - 89.3 FM |language=en}} The float, with the theme "Love is the Best Protection," won best presentation of color and color harmony through floral use.{{Cite web |date=2014-01-01 |title=2014 Rose Parade: Winners, highlights and more (photos) |url=https://www.kpcc.org/2014-01-01/2014-rose-parade-winning-floats-announced |access-date=2023-11-29 |website=LAist - NPR News for Southern California - 89.3 FM |language=en}} A longtime float participant, the organization has earned a reputation for thought-provoking messages surrounding healthcare, homelessness, gay rights, anti-violence, and other issues.{{Cite web |date=2023-12-09 |title=An LA group pulled its float out of the 2024 Rose Parade. Mickey Mouse is partly to blame |url=https://www.pasadenastarnews.com/2023/12/08/an-la-group-pulled-its-float-out-of-the-2024-rose-parade-mickey-mouse-is-partly-to-blame/ |access-date=2023-12-14 |website=Pasadena Star News |language=en-US}}

AHF produced the documentary film Keep The Promise: The Global Fight Against AIDS, depicting the AHF-sponsored protest of government anti-HIV funding levels and anti-HIV drug prices at the XIX International AIDS Conference, 2012. The film premiered on March 29, 2013 at the Vail Film Festival.{{cite web|url=http://vailff.festivalgenius.com/2013/films/keepthepromisetheglobalfightagainstaids_jrgfockele_vailff2013|title=Keep The Promise: The Global Fight Against AIDS|publisher=Vail Film Festival|accessdate=16 March 2013|archive-date=March 3, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303221615/http://vailff.festivalgenius.com/2013/films/keepthepromisetheglobalfightagainstaids_jrgfockele_vailff2013|url-status=dead}}

In August 2024, AHF opened a new all-in-one facility in Austin, Texas, including an HIV healthcare center, pharmacy services, STI testing and treatment, and an Out of the Closet thrift store, where 96 cents of every dollar earned goes back into local patient care.{{Cite web |last=Brolley |first=Tara |date=2024-08-02 |title=New Austin HIV center aims to enhance local access to healthcare |url=https://cbsaustin.com/news/local/new-austin-hiv-center-aims-to-enhance-local-access-to-healthcare |access-date=2024-08-21 |website=KEYE |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2024-08-02 |title=All-in-one HIV health care center opens in Central Austin |url=https://www.kvue.com/article/news/health/hiv-health-care-center-austin-aids-foundation/269-ce3a37fd-8830-464e-894b-4de60da54028 |access-date=2024-08-21 |website=kvue.com |language=en-US}}

AHF's 2025 Rose Parade float, "Home Sweet Home," celebrated the 100th anniversary of Charlie Chaplin's 1925 film The Gold Rush and Chaplin's Little Tramp character, who is considered America's most famous (albeit fictional) homeless person.{{Cite web |last=Anderson |first=Gayle |title=Rose Parade Float Deco Week: Aids Healthcare Foundation |url=https://ktla.com/morning-news/rose-parade-float-deco-week-aids-healthcare-foundation/ |website=KTLA Now}} The float also promoted AHF's Healthy Housing Foundation and its work addressing the affordable housing and homelessness crises.{{Cite news |title=Rose Parade Float Deco Week: Aids Healthcare Foundation |url=https://ktla.com/morning-news/rose-parade-float-deco-week-aids-healthcare-foundation/ |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20241226145436/https://ktla.com/morning-news/rose-parade-float-deco-week-aids-healthcare-foundation/ |archive-date=2024-12-26 |access-date=2025-01-09 |work=KTLA |language=en-US}}

In January 2025, AHF received The King Center's Martin Luther King, Jr. Social Justice Award, the organization's highest recognition for contributions to social justice.{{Cite web |last=Draft |first=Rough |date=2025-01-24 |title=AIDS Healthcare Foundation receives MLK, Jr. Social Justice Award |url=https://roughdraftatlanta.com/2025/01/24/aids-healthcare-foundation-receives-mlk-jr-social-justice-award/ |access-date=2025-02-19 |website=Rough Draft Atlanta |language=en-US}} The award was presented by Bernice King and recognized AHF's "transformative work in advancing health equity, combating HIV/AIDS, and championing the rights and dignity of underserved communities worldwide."{{Cite web |last=Draft |first=Rough |date=2025-01-24 |title=AIDS Healthcare Foundation receives MLK, Jr. Social Justice Award |url=https://roughdraftatlanta.com/2025/01/24/aids-healthcare-foundation-receives-mlk-jr-social-justice-award/ |access-date=2025-02-19 |website=Rough Draft Atlanta |language=en-US}}

In the early 2000s, AHF developed a program called Global Immunity, whose goal is to change the course of the HIV/AIDS epidemic by expanding access to treatment for those living with HIV across the globe.{{Cite web |last=Hesse |first=Bob |date=2004-10-24 |title=Zambia: First lady launches, dedicates Army AIDS center |url=https://caringmagazine.org/zambia-first-lady-launches-dedicates-army-aids-center/ |access-date=2023-11-09 |website=Caring Magazine |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=New Partnership Opens HIV/AIDS Clinic in Ugandan Market To Provide Antiretroviral Treatment at No Cost to Vendors |url=https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/dr00031536/ |access-date=2023-11-09 |website=KFF Health News |language=en-US}} As of 2023, the organization operates clinics in 45 countries.{{Cite web |last=Bates |first=Oliver |date=2023-10-04 |title=AHF Opens New State-of-the-Art Capitol Hill Facility |url=https://www.metroweekly.com/2023/10/ahf-opens-new-state-of-the-art-capitol-hill-facility/ |access-date=2023-11-09 |website=Metro Weekly |language=en-US}}

In 2001, AHF became the first international organization to sponsor an HIV/AIDS clinic in South Africa.{{Cite web |last1=Times |first1=Bob Pool Bob Pool retired in 2014 from the Los Angeles |last2=since 1983 |first2=where he had been a general assignment reporter on the Metro staff |date=2001-08-17 |title=Helping Africa in the AIDS Struggle |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2001-aug-17-me-35224-story.html |access-date=2023-10-20 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}} The clinic, Ithembalabantu (Zulu for "People's Hope"), was opened in Umlazi, Durban where 10% of the population was infected with HIV at the time.

In 2002, AHF opened an HIV/AIDS clinic in Masaka, Uganda under the program Uganda Cares.{{Cite web |title=Wall Stories |url=https://aidchild.org/wallstories/ |access-date=2023-11-09 |website=ALIUGANDA.COM |language=en-US}} In 2004, the organization developed an "HIV Medic Program" in Masaka, a task-shifting training program that was awarded a "Best Practice" designation by the World Health Organization (WHO). By 2022, Uganda Cares had tested over seven million Ugandans, started treatment for more than 112,000 Ugandans, and distributed over 45 million condoms.{{Cite web |last=Jjingo |first=Malik Fahad |date=2022-07-15 |title=Health activists raise concern over spike in anti-HIV drug prices |url=https://hejnu.ug/health-activists-raise-concern-over-spike-in-prices-of-hiv-aids-drugs/ |access-date=2023-11-09 |website=Health Journalism Network Uganda(HEJNU) |language=en-US}}

In 2004, AHF began working in India.{{Cite web |title=India gets its first free condom store |url=https://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-india-gets-its-first-free-condom-store-2417491 |access-date=2024-05-22 |website=DNA India |language=en}} Two years later, the Centre of Excellence ART clinic was opened by AHF India Cares in New Delhi, with AHF becoming the first provider to offer free anti-retroviral therapy (ART) in the area.{{Cite web |last=www.ETHealthworld.com |title=40% of 21 lakh estimated HIV positives are women: Dr V Sam Prasad, AHF - ET HealthWorld |url=https://health.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/diagnostics/40-of-21-lakh-estimated-hiv-positives-are-women-dr-v-sam-prasad-ahs/63218163 |access-date=2024-05-22 |website=ETHealthworld.com |language=en}}

In May 2023, AHF began a collaboration with the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) to eliminate HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, viral hepatitis, monkeypox, and other STIs in Latin America.{{Cite web |date=2023-05-02 |title=PAHO implements new initiative to eliminate HIV/AIDS in LAC |url=https://www.jamaicaobserver.com/latest-news/paho-implements-new-initiative-to-eliminate-hiv-aids-in-lac-2/ |access-date=2023-12-14 |website=Jamaica Observer |language=en-US}} The partnership set out to implement WHO recommendations through advocacy, including improvement of prevention programs, quality of care, and treatment outcomes.

AHF is a proponent of increasing the housing supply for low-income and homeless individuals, and also advocates for rent control.{{Cite web |last=Sami |first=Isabel |title=AHF buys Leland Hotel to redevelop as affordable housing |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/losangeles/news/2023/01/10/ahf-to-turn-leland-hotel-into-affordable-housing.html |access-date=2023-10-20 |website=The Business Journals}}{{Cite web |date=2019-02-18 |title=AIDS Healthcare Foundation Says It Will Modify Design For Low-Income Housing In Fort Lauderdale |url=https://www.wlrn.org/news/2019-02-18/aids-healthcare-foundation-says-it-will-modify-design-for-low-income-housing-in-fort-lauderdale |access-date=2023-10-20 |website=WLRN |language=en}}{{Cite news |last=Levin |first=Matt |date=2019-05-03 |title=Rent control firebrand has no regrets |language=en-US |work=CalMatters |url=http://calmatters.org/politics/2019/05/rent-control-firebrand-has-no-regrets/ |access-date=2023-10-20}} The organization states that their housing platform is based on what they call the "3 Ps": Protect, preserve, and produce.{{Cite news |title=After a Pair of Failures at the Ballot Box, Michael Weinstein Still Has Affordable Housing on His Agenda |language=en |work=LAmag - Culture, Food, Fashion, News & Los Angeles |url=https://lamag.com/featured/michael-weinstein-affordable-housing |access-date=2023-10-27}} They explain this as addressing gentrification and homelessness by promoting rent control and discouraging evictions; supporting sustainable land-use policies without disrupting neighborhoods; and creating affordable housing through cost-effective new construction and the adaptive reuse of existing buildings.

Weinstein likens the homelessness and housing affordability crises to the "moral outrage of AIDS in the [1980s]," with many homeless youth identifying as LGBTQ.{{ r | LABlade_2019-12-06 }} Under his leadership, AHF has sued to prevent the destruction of available housing units by developers who favor luxury housing.{{ r | LABlade_2019-12-06 }}

In recognition of the interconnectedness between housing stability and overall health outcomes for individuals living with HIV/AIDS, AIDS Healthcare Foundation established the Healthy Housing Foundation (HHF).{{Cite web|last=Hoberman|first=Natalie|date=2017-10-09|title=AHF {{!}} Healthy Housing Foundation {{!}} Affordable housing|url=https://therealdeal.com/la/2017/10/09/after-losing-its-battle-to-curb-la-development-ahf-launches-affordable-housing-division/|access-date=2023-07-06|website=The Real Deal|language=en}} HHF is responsible for finding or building affordable housing units in several places across the country, including Los Angeles and Miami-Dade County, where the organization has made a multi-million dollar commitment to house people in need.{{Cite web |title=AHF Makes Multi-Million Dollar Commitment for Affordable Housing |url=https://www.outclique.com/ahf-makes-multi-million-dollar-commitment-for-affordable-housing/ |access-date=2023-09-27 |website=www.outclique.com}}{{Cite web |last=Bandell |first=Brian |title=Nonprofit proposes affordable apartments in Miami. All the details. (Photos) |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/southflorida/news/2023/07/24/healthy-housing-affordable-apartments-miami.html |access-date=2023-09-27 |website=www.bizjournals.com}}

In 2017, AHF created a new organization named the Healthy Housing Foundation (HHF) which started acquiring hotels (often single-room occupancy) in the Los Angeles area for conversion to affordable housing units, renting them for about $400–600 per month.{{r | LAT_2020-03-08 | LAT_2023-03-10 }} By 2020, it owned seven such properties totaling 800 units.{{r | LAT_2020-03-08 }} As of 2022, it owns over a dozen in Los Angeles, Hollywood, and Skid Row neighborhoods, and by 2023 has spend more than $180 million on the purchase and renovation of these properties.{{r | LAT_2023-01-20 | p=1 | q=The foundation purchased the Madison in 2017 — the first of more than a dozen single-room-occupancy and other apartment complexes it owns on skid row, Hollywood and in other Los Angeles neighborhoods. }}{{Cite web |last=Asch |first=Andrew |date=2023-10-20 |title=AIDs Healthcare Foundation Buys $20M Warehouse in Carson |url=https://therealdeal.com/la/2023/10/20/aids-healthcare-foundation-buys-20m-warehouse-in-carson/ |access-date=2023-10-23 |website=The Real Deal |language=en |quote=The Healthy Housing Foundation has spent more than $183 million on the purchase and renovation of older properties in Los Angeles,...}} AHF has specialized in buying old (and sometimes vacant) hotels and converting them to housing (for a total investment of $110,000 per unit) as a much more cost-effective way to provide housing than the City of Los Angeles, which pays about $500,000 per unit for constructing new affordable housing.

In 2020, tenants in one of the AHF's apartment buildings (an almost century-old hotel named The Madison) sued the AHF over slum-like conditions.{{Cite news|date=2020-03-08|title=AIDS Healthcare vowed to do homeless housing better. Tenants say it's a 'slumlord'|url=https://www.latimes.com/homeless-housing/story/2020-03-08/homeless-housing-aids-healthcare-foundation-lawsuit-skid-row-tenants|access-date=2022-01-04|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|language=en-US}}{{Cite news |last1=Dillon |first1=Liam |last2=Oreskes |first2=Benjamin |last3=Smith |first3=Doug |date=2023-01-20 |title=A powerful nonprofit owns apartments for poor tenants. Why are some tenants trapped in their rooms? |url=https://www.latimes.com/homeless-housing/story/2023-01-20/ahf-madison-hotel-elevator-lawsuit-story |access-date=2023-01-20 |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}} The tenants had reached a settlement with the previous owner for similar problems, and allege that the previous owner defrauded AHF by not disclosing that settlement, though others say that AHF should have known from due diligence.{{r | LAT_2023-01-20 | p=1 | q=When the new group of tenants sued the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, it filed a cross-complaint against Segal, alleging he had defrauded the foundation by not disclosing the settlement or problems with the elevator. Segal did not respond to the foundation's lawsuit, and the court issued a default judgment against him. Segal could not be reached for comment by The Times. Others say that basic due diligence prior to purchasing the building would have revealed both the settlement, which was publicized in news releases, and issues with the elevator. Steve Diaz, deputy director of the Los Angeles Community Action Network, an organizing group that assisted Madison residents in the lawsuit against Segal, said circumstances at the building were common knowledge throughout skid row. }} AHF has argued against accusations about lingering maintenance problems in the organization's Skid Row residential buildings, blaming city officials for failing to permit planned upgrades.{{Cite web |last=Bailey |first=Jeremy |date=2023-01-26 |title=LA Times Reporter Admonishes Critical, Full-Page Ad |url=https://www.thewrap.com/los-angeles-times-reporter-full-page-advertisement-aids-healthcare-foundation/ |access-date=2023-09-27 |website=TheWrap |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2023-03-10 |title=Inside the financial ties between a controversial housing nonprofit and Kevin de León |url=https://www.latimes.com/homeless-housing/story/2023-03-10/kevin-de-leon-aids-healthcare-foundation-financial-ties |access-date=2023-09-27 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}} In 2022, the city and public utility paid AHF $100,000 to settle claims that they had delayed needed improvements to an elevator at The Madison.

In December 2023, AHF purchased the Morrison Hotel, made famous by The Doors' 1970 album cover, with plans to convert the building into 111 units of affordable housing. The Doors drummer John Densmore and rock photographer Henry Diltz helped HHF make the announcement, with the hotel becoming the 15th affordable housing property owned and managed by the organization in Los Angeles.{{Cite web |last=Maetzold |first=Amy |date=2023-12-20 |title=The Doors' "Morrison Hotel" becoming affordable housing in Los Angeles - CBS Los Angeles |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/losangeles/news/the-doors-morrison-hotel-becoming-affordable-housing-in-los-angeles/ |access-date=2024-01-10 |website=www.cbsnews.com |language=en-US}}

AIDS Healthcare Foundation actively participates in the World AIDS Day to mobilize communities and promote a greater understanding of the impact of HIV/AIDS worldwide.{{Cite news|last=Emmanson|first=Jerry|date=2022-12-01|title=World AIDS Day: UNICEF, AHF Want More Investment In Youths|newspaper=Leadership News |url=https://leadership.ng/world-aids-day-unicef-ahf-want-more-investment-in-youths/|access-date=2023-07-06|language=en-US}} AHF hosted its 2022 World AIDS Day Concert on Wednesday, November 30, at the concert hall of The Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., where multi-Grammy Award-winning vocalists Patti LaBelle and Gladys Knight delivered performances.{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=2022-12-02|title=Patti LaBelle, Gladys Knight dazzle at AIDS Healthcare Foundation World AIDS Day Concert at Kennedy Center - Washington Blade: LGBTQ News, Politics, LGBTQ Rights, Gay News|url=https://www.washingtonblade.com/2022/12/02/patti-labelle-gladys-knight-dazzle-at-aids-healthcare-foundation-world-aids-day-concert-at-kennedy-center/,%20https://www.washingtonblade.com/2022/12/02/patti-labelle-gladys-knight-dazzle-at-aids-healthcare-foundation-world-aids-day-concert-at-kennedy-center/,%20https://www.washingtonblade.com/2022/12/02/patti-labelle-gladys-knight-dazzle-at-aids-healthcare-foundation-world-aids-day-concert-at-kennedy-center/|access-date=2023-07-06|website=www.washingtonblade.com|language=en-US}} In December 2023, AHF hosted its World AIDS Day Concert at NRG Arena in Houston, Texas, featuring Janet Jackson, Debbie Allen, and Blair Underwood.{{Cite web |last=Guerra |first=Joey |title=Janet Jackson gets 'together again' with Houston for sold-out World AIDS Day concert |url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/entertainment/music/article/janet-jackson-houston-world-aids-day-concert-18524860.php |website=The Houston Chronicle}} Underwood received the organization's Lifetime Achievement Award at the event.{{Cite web |last=Digital |first=FOX 26 |date=2023-12-02 |title=Janet Jackson performs at World AIDS Day concert in Houston |url=https://www.fox26houston.com/news/janet-jackson-performs-at-world-aids-day-concert-in-houston |access-date=2023-12-08 |website=FOX 26 Houston |language=en-US}}

The organization paid $110,000 to Kevin de León for consultancy work in the period after he won election to the Los Angeles City Council, but before he took office. Once in office, De León allegedly pressured his staff not to investigate various health and code violations at properties owned by the foundation in De León's district.{{Cite web |date=2023-03-10 |title=Inside the financial ties between a controversial housing nonprofit and Kevin de León |url=https://www.latimes.com/homeless-housing/story/2023-03-10/kevin-de-leon-aids-healthcare-foundation-financial-ties |access-date=2023-10-03 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}} Internal communications revealed by the L.A. Times showed that De León told a staff member that angry messages are "coming from the top" about a staff member's visit to one of the foundation's properties. Ethics experts expressed concerns about conflicts of interests in the relationship between the two and the failure to disclose the payment.{{Cite web |date=2023-03-10 |title=Inside the financial ties between a controversial housing nonprofit and Kevin de León |url=https://www.latimes.com/homeless-housing/story/2023-03-10/kevin-de-leon-aids-healthcare-foundation-financial-ties |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}

De León's consulting contract with AHF ended before taking office as a council member.{{Cite web |last=Staff |first=T. R. D. |date=2023-03-13 |title=Did de León, AIDS Healthcare have improper relationship? |url=https://therealdeal.com/la/2023/03/13/did-kevin-de-leon-aids-healthcare-foundation-have-improper-relationship/ |access-date=2023-10-30 |website=The Real Deal |language=en}} He maintains he showed no favoritism to AHF in addressing tenant complaints, showing that his staff monitored concerns and referred tenants to city enforcement officials. According to Pete Brown, a de León spokesman, his meetings with city officials on AHF's behalf were only intended as briefings.

In 2023, AHF organized a "We The People" national rally in response to bills introduced in state legislatures that the organization claims discriminate against women, immigrants, LGBTQ individuals, and others.{{Cite web |date=2023-07-02 |title=Thousands march in Fort Lauderdale against 'hateful' laws, Gov. DeSantis |url=https://www.wlrn.org/news/2023-07-02/thousands-march-in-fort-lauderdale-against-hateful-laws-gov-desantis |access-date=2024-06-25 |website=WLRN |language=en}} More than 4,000 people marched in Fort Lauderdale, Florida in July 2023, including activist organizations and individuals like David Hogg and Debbie Allen.{{Cite web |last=Jaquith • • |first=Olivia |date=2023-07-02 |title=Thousands gather for Fort Lauderdale 'We The People' march |url=https://www.nbcmiami.com/news/local/thousands-gather-for-fort-lauderdale-we-the-people-march/3064571/ |access-date=2024-06-25 |website=NBC 6 South Florida |language=en-US}} Labor leader and civil rights activist Dolores Huerta also joined the rally.

AHF hosts global events to both commemorate those lost to HIV/AIDS and educate the public about the importance of safer sex with condom use. Each year on December 1, AHF marks World AIDS Day with a series of international events throughout many of the countries where AHF operates. It is an opportunity to reflect on the progress made in battling HIV/AIDS over the years and be a reminder of the work left to be done amid the 1.7 million new HIV infections every year.{{Cite web |last=Conway |first=Jeff |date=2021-12-02 |title=Hollywood Headliners Show Up Big For World AIDS Day |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/jeffconway/2021/12/02/hollywood-headliners-show-up-big-for-world-aids-day/ |access-date=2022-11-22 |website=Forbes |language=en}}

International Condom Day, which is celebrated on February 13, was established by the AIDS Healthcare Foundation.{{Cite web|last=Welle|first=Deutsche|date=2023-02-13|title=International Condom Day: A brief history of rubbers|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/lifestyle/health/international-condom-day-a-brief-history-of-rubbers-101676279314200.html|access-date=2023-07-06|website=Hindustan Times|language=en}}{{Cite web|editor-last=Roth|editor-first=Clare|title=International Condom Day: A brief history of rubbers – DW – 02/13/2023|url=https://www.dw.com/en/international-condom-day-a-brief-history-of-rubbers/a-64668190|access-date=2023-07-06|website=dw.com|language=en}} As a part of their advocacy efforts, AIDS Healthcare Foundation offers free condoms to the public at their International Condom Day (ICD) events and year around at their pharmacies, healthcare centers, and wellness centers.{{Cite news|date=February 13, 2017|title=World Condom Day: Foundation distributes 1.5m pieces|work=The Nation|url=https://thenationonlineng.net/world-condom-day-foundation-distributes-1-5m-pieces/|access-date=July 6, 2023}}{{Cite web|last=Simon|first=Stephanie|date=2023-02-10|title=Foundation advocates the use of condom against sexually transmitted Infections|url=https://von.gov.ng/foundation-advocates-the-use-of-condom-against-sexually-transmitted-infections/|access-date=2023-07-06|website=Voice of Nigeria|language=en-US}}

International Condom Day is an AHF holiday celebrated on February 13. It was created to promote safer sex and provide access to condoms and free Rapid Testing. AHF uses World AIDS Day and International Condom Day as fun ways to engage with people, get them tested for HIV, and get them connected to care if they need it.{{Cite web |last=Kiani |first=Tamkeen |date=2022-02-08 |title=International Condom Day |url=https://nationaltoday.com/international-condom-day/ |access-date=2022-11-22 |website=National Today |language=en-US}}

In 2014, the organization was noted as being unique amongst H.I.V.-prevention groups in advocating against pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), a drug that greatly reduces the risk of contracting H.I.V.{{Cite news |last=Barro |first=Josh |date=2014-11-16 |title=AIDS Group Wages Lonely Fight Against Pill to Prevent H.I.V. |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/17/upshot/aids-group-wages-lonely-fight-against-pill-to-prevent-hiv.html |access-date=2023-09-01 |issn=0362-4331 | quote=As for driving people away from condoms, the iPrEx researchers have found that giving people Truvada has not led to riskier behaviors. That's surprising, but it's explained in part by the fact that baseline condom use among gay men is already often poor, PrEP or no PrEP. While Mr. Weinstein and his foundation worry about damage to the condom culture, the failure of a condom culture to stop the epidemic among gay and bisexual men is one of the main reasons H.I.V. professionals are excited about PrEP.}} AHF does, however, prescribe PrEP, and as of 2022 is the largest provider of PrEP in the U.S.{{Cite news |title=After a Pair of Failures at the Ballot Box, Michael Weinstein Still Has Affordable Housing on His Agenda |language=en |work=LAmag - Culture, Food, Fashion, News & Los Angeles |url=https://lamag.com/featured/michael-weinstein-affordable-housing |access-date=2023-09-20 | quote=In the court of public opinion, Weinstein is still slammed for calling the HIV prevention drug PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) a "party drug," which people thought unfairly stigmatized the treatment. In fact, AHF dispenses PrEP after a medical checkup to ensure the client should take it and is advised about side effects and accompanying condom use, per medical protocol.}}{{Cite web |author=Staff reports |date=2022-03-09 |title=AIDS Healthcare Foundation opens first Healthcare Center in Virginia |url=https://www.washingtonblade.com/2022/03/09/aids-healthcare-foundation-opens-first-healthcare-center-in-virginia/ |access-date=2023-10-19 |website=www.washingtonblade.com |language=en-US}} According to AHF's founder and president, Michael Weinstein in 2019, "It's a mischaracterization to say that we were opposed to PrEP." He stated that "PrEP would help individuals who were certain not to use condoms," and "We said that we did not believe it would be a successful public health strategy."{{Cite web |last=Ocamb |first=Karen |date=2019-12-06 |title=Special Report: The arc of Michael Weinstein's moral outrage from AIDS to homelessness |url=https://www.losangelesblade.com/2019/12/06/special-report-the-arc-of-michael-weinsteins-moral-outrage-from-aids-to-homelessness/ |access-date=2023-09-20 |website=Los Angeles Blade |language=en-US | quote=Weinstein has been excoriated for calling PrEP a "party drug," which was translated into his opposition to the drug. In fact, AHF dispenses PrEP after a medical checkup to ensure the client should take it and is advised about side-effects and accompanying condom use. }}

Weinstein's opposition to PrEP and his calling it a "party drug" made him disliked by many within the anti-AIDS space.{{ r | NYT_2014-11-16 | LAMag_2021-03-18 | LABlade_2019-12-06 }} He believes that usage of PrEP will reduce the use of condoms (what he calls "condom culture") and thereby increase new AIDS cases.{{ r | NYT_2014-11-16 }} The global clinical trial for PrEP found that usage did not lead to riskier sex, which was explained by the fact that condom use among gay men is generally low.{{ r | NYT_2014-11-16 }}

AHF engages in public advocacy for government programs to address the HIV/AIDS epidemic, including efforts to reduce drug costs. The organization has filed lawsuits against pharmaceutical companies regarding the pricing of HIV treatments, such as tenofovir.{{Cite web |title=AIDS Healthcare Foundation Files Additional Lawsuits Against Gilead over TDF Toxicity Concerns |url=https://www.biospace.com/article/aids-healthcare-foundation-files-additional-lawsuits-against-gilead-over-tdf-toxicity-concerns/ |access-date=2023-10-20 |website=BioSpace |date=May 9, 2018 |language=en-US}} In November 2006, AHF asked Indian anti-HIV drug manufacturer Cipla to reduce the price of its combination drug Viraday from its launch price of about Rs 62,000 per year. Cipla CEO Y. K. Hamied cited taxes and custom duties on raw materials as reasons for the high price, but agreed to a price cut.{{cite news|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/money/report_cipla-cuts-aids-drug-price_1064299|last=Balakrishnan|first=Reghu|title=Cipla cuts AIDS drug price|work=Daily News and Analysis|date=15 November 2006|accessdate=16 March 2013}}

In January 2007, AHF filed suit in Los Angeles over Pfizer's direct-to-consumer marketing of Viagra, accusing Pfizer of promoting off-label, recreational use of Viagra, and suggesting a link between Viagra, methamphetamine, and unsafe sex. Pfizer denied AHF's claims, and mentioned that AHF had recently asked Pfizer to fund an educational program about meth.{{cite news|url=http://ebar.com/news/article.php?sec=news&article=1504|last=Roehr|first=Bob|title=Pfizer sued over Viagra ads|work=Bay Area Reporter|date=25 January 2007|accessdate=16 March 2013}}

In August 2007, AHF began purchasing full-page ads in Indian newspapers accusing Cipla of overpricing. According to AHF, a year's worth of Viraday cost Rs 54,000 when sold in India, but only Rs 21,000 when exported to Africa.{{cite news|url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/MRTPC_lens_on_Ciplas_AIDS_drugs_for_Africa/articleshow/2296369.cms|title=MRTPC lens on Cipla's AIDS drugs for Africa|work=The Economic Times|date=21 August 2007|accessdate=17 March 2013}} Some NGOs declined to join AHF in criticizing Cipla's drug prices, citing a potential conflict of interest: Cipla's opposition to the patent application for Viread, a component of Viraday, filed by AHF contributor Gilead Sciences. Gilead denied involvement in AHF's complaint, and an AHF regional chief stated that AHF also opposed Gilead's patent application for Viread.{{cite news|url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/News_By_Industry/Healthcare__Biotech/Pharmaceuticals/Anti-AIDS_blitz_sees_pharma_firms_locked_in_ugly_battle/rssarticleshow/2328352.cms|last=Singh|first=Khomba|title=Anti-AIDS blitz sees pharma firms locked in ugly battle|work=The Economic Times|date=1 September 2007|accessdate=17 March 2013}}

In March 2008, AHF petitioned drug manufacturers including Abbott, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Gilead, GSK, Merck, Pfizer, Roche and Tibotec to freeze the price of their HIV drugs in the U.S, stating that as a result of regular drug price increases "HIV/AIDS assistance programs will essentially be flat funded and unable to provide access to additional people in need of lifesaving drugs."{{Cite press release|title = Boehringer Ingelheim, Gilead Agree to AIDS Drug Price Freeze {{!}} Business Wire|url = http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20080603006295/en/Boehringer-Ingelheim-Gilead-Agree-AIDS-Drug-Price#.Vei0WtNVhBc|website = www.businesswire.com|accessdate = 2015-09-03}}

In September 2013, AHF filed a lawsuit in California against GSK alleging that the company "...{{nbsp}}failed to fully satisfy its obligations with respect to discounts for drugs it sold to AIDS Healthcare Foundation over a period of many years," under the 340B Drug Pricing Program, a federal drug discount program designed to stretch scarce federal resources as far as possible for community healthcare providers such as AHF.{{Cite web|title = AIDS Healthcare Foundation {{!}} HIV/AIDS Testing, Treatment, & Advocacy|url = http://www.aidshealth.org/#/archives/17090|website = AIDS Healthcare Foundation|accessdate = 2015-09-03}} The organization is a participant in the 340B Program, claiming it improves the "clinical outcomes of vulnerable Americans" while "cost[ing] the American taxpayer nothing."{{Cite web |last=Taylor |first=Nick Paul |title=AIDS advocates say 'No Way O'Day' as yearlong attack on Gilead's 'profiteering' gets personal |url=https://www.fiercepharma.com/marketing/aids-advocates-say-no-way-oday-yearlong-attack-gileads-profiteering-gets-personal |website=Fierce Pharma|date=June 21, 2023 }}{{Cite web |last=Hassell |first=John |date=2023-08-08 |title=Don't believe drug companies: 340B is a program worth saving |url=https://thehill.com/opinion/healthcare/4141891-dont-believe-drug-companies-340b-is-a-program-worth-saving/ |access-date=2023-10-06 |website=The Hill |language=en-US}}

In 1999, AHF filed a lawsuit against the City of Los Angeles over the mismanagement of AIDS Housing Funds. Following a state legislator's audit, the Los Angeles City Controller revealed that more than $17 million in federal funds for people with AIDS went unspent as an AIDS homeless crisis raged in Los Angeles.{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-may-11-me-36092-story.html|title = Archives|website = Los Angeles Times| date=11 May 1999 }}

In 2004, Darren James and three other adult film actors tested positive for HIV. In response to the outbreak, AHF began lobbying in favor of laws requiring condom use by male actors during sex scenes in adult films.{{cite journal|url=http://www.laweekly.com/2010-01-28/news/rubbers-revolutionary-aids-healthcare-foundation-s-michael-weinstein/|last=McDonald|first=Patrick Range|title=Rubbers Revolutionary: AIDS Healthcare Foundation's Michael Weinstein|journal=LA Weekly|date=28 January 2010|accessdate=11 March 2013}}

In 2010, AHF unsuccessfully sued the Los Angeles County government to compel its health department to mandate condom use in adult film productions.

In 2012, AHF supported a Los Angeles city ordinance requiring condoms in certain adult films.{{cite web|last=O'Neill|first=Stephanie|url=http://blogs.kqed.org/election2012/2012/10/12/los-angeles-measure-b-mandating-condom-use-in-adult-films/|title=Los Angeles Measure B: Mandating Condom Use in Adult Films|work=The California Report|publisher=KQED|date=12 October 2012|accessdate=9 March 2013|archive-date=February 11, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130211084117/http://blogs.kqed.org/election2012/2012/10/12/los-angeles-measure-b-mandating-condom-use-in-adult-films/|url-status=dead}} Later the same year, the organization spent US$1,654,681 funding the successful campaign to pass Measure B, a ballot initiative that expanded the condom requirement countywide.{{cite web|url=http://votersedge.org/los-angeles/ballot-measures/2012/november/measure-b|title=Measure B: Safer Sex in The Adult Film Industry|work=Voter's Edge|accessdate=9 March 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130406074408/http://votersedge.org/los-angeles/ballot-measures/2012/november/measure-b|archive-date=6 April 2013|url-status=dead}}

AHF again sued the Los Angeles County government, alleging that an August 2012 audit conducted by the county was an illegal retaliation for AHF's support for Measure B.{{cite web|url=http://file.lacounty.gov/Auditor/audit_reports/Public%20Health/cms1_182682.pdf |last=Watanabe |first=Wendy L. |title=Audit of AIDS Healthcare Foundation |publisher=Los Angeles County Auditor-Controller |date=16 August 2012 |accessdate=11 March 2013 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130329112932/http://file.lacounty.gov/Auditor/audit_reports/Public%20Health/cms1_182682.pdf |archivedate=29 March 2013 }}{{cite news|url=http://www.courthousenews.com/2012/12/10/52965.htm|last=Reynolds|first=Matt|title=AIDS Group Says L.A. County Has Vendetta|work=Courthouse News Service|date=10 December 2012|accessdate=11 March 2013}} In 2013, AHF began collecting signatures for a ballot measure to create a Los Angeles city health department that would take over part of the county health department's jurisdiction.{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/health/la-me-health-wars-20130311,0,1602563.story|last1=Linthicum|first1=Kate|last2=Gorman|first2=Anna|title=AIDS group wants L.A. to break with county health department|work=Los Angeles Times|date=10 March 2013|accessdate=11 March 2013}} The City of Los Angeles and County of Los Angeles oppose the measure, and the city has filed a lawsuit seeking to invalidate the measure.{{cite web |url=http://www.scpr.org/blogs/politics/2013/09/30/14864/city-of-la-asks-court-to-block-public-health-initi/ |title=City of LA asks court to block public health initiative; read the full complaint |last=Stoltze |first=Frank |work=Represent! |publisher=Southern California Public Radio |date=30 September 2013 |accessdate=4 October 2013}}

In August 2014, the AIDS Healthcare Foundation filed a formal complaint with Nevada OSHA,{{cite web|url=http://www.reviewjournal.com/business/vegas-porn-shoot-draws-condom-complaint|title=Vegas Porn Shoot Draws Condom Complaint|date=8 August 2014}} against Cybernet Entertainment LLC, which does business as Kink.com and related spin-offs. The complaint alleges the California porn company did not require its actors to use condoms during an adult film shoot in Las Vegas.

In 2013, AHF found itself entangled in dual lawsuits when AHF allegedly attempted to use its clout to force the City of Los Angeles to develop health services independent from the county. Health officials in affected departments filed responsive suits, arguing massive wastes would result in a transition or duplication of services.{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-health-department-lawsuit-20140124-story.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140228203857/http://articles.latimes.com/2014/jan/24/local/la-me-ln-health-department-lawsuit-20140124|url-status=live|archive-date=February 28, 2014|title=Archives|website=Los Angeles Times|date=24 January 2014 }}

In 2014, the AIDS Healthcare Foundation filed suit against the City of San Francisco. AHF claimed that city restrictions on chain stores targeted them unfairly when the organization attempted to open a retail store.{{cite web|url=http://blog.sfgate.com/cityinsider/2014/08/06/aids-healthcare-foundation-sues-sf-over-chain-store-rules/|title=AIDS Healthcare Foundation sues SF over chain store rules|first=John|last=Coté|date=6 August 2014}}{{cite web |url=http://sfist.com/2014/08/05/aids_healthcare_foundation_suing_ci.php |title=AIDS Healthcare Foundation Suing City over Castro Pharmacy Snub: SFist |accessdate=2015-04-02 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150121030838/http://sfist.com/2014/08/05/aids_healthcare_foundation_suing_ci.php |archivedate=2015-01-21 }}

In 2014, the AIDS Healthcare Foundation filed suit against the County of Dallas. AHF claimed that the County did not give the agency a fair chance to bid for federal AIDS funding.{{cite web| url = http://www.dallasnews.com/news/local-news/20150331-aids-healthcare-foundation-sues-to-get-portion-of-federal-funds.ece| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150402165407/http://www.dallasnews.com/news/local-news/20150331-aids-healthcare-foundation-sues-to-get-portion-of-federal-funds.ece| archive-date = 2015-04-02| title = AIDS Healthcare Foundation sues to get portion of federal funds {{!}} Dallas Morning News}}

In 2014, AHF was audited by Los Angeles county and billed $1.7 million for duplicated services. AHF filed suit, arguing that they were targeted on the basis of their political actions in the 2013 lawsuit. The lawsuit filed by AHF was thrown out by a judge.{{Cite web|url=http://www.dailynews.com/general-news/20140212/us-court-throws-out-aids-healhcare-foundation-suit-against-la-county|title = U.S. Court throws out AIDS Healhcare Foundation suit against L.A. County|website = Los Angeles Daily News|date = 13 February 2014}} The billing case was dismissed, finding AHF had not billed the county for $6 million in allowable services with neither the foundation nor the county having to repay funds.{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-aids-healthcare-foundation-lawsuit-20170630-story.html|title=AIDS Healthcare Foundation claims victory as court throws out lawsuit over its billing of L.A. County|website=Los Angeles Times|date=14 July 2017}}

In 2015, a whistleblower lawsuit was filed by three former AHF managers. The employees allege AHF engaged and even documented kickback processes for positive HIV test results for social workers.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/aids-healthcare-foundation-accused-scamming-medicare-medicaid-millions/|title = Lawsuit: AIDS foundation scammed feds for millions|website = CBS News| date=April 8, 2015 }} AHF ultimately won the case.{{Cite web |title=Carrel v. AIDS Healthcare Foundation, Inc., No. 17-13185 (11th Cir. 2018) |url=https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/appellate-courts/ca11/17-13185/17-13185-2018-08-07.html |access-date=2023-10-30 |website=Justia Law |language=en}}

In 2016, the AIDS healthcare foundation filed suit against East Baton Rouge Parish in Louisiana, claiming it was discriminated against in the awarding of healthcare contracts. The suit specifically targeted funds given to longstanding local AIDS service organizations such as HIV/AIDS Alliance for Region Two, Family Service of Greater Baton Rouge, and others.{{Cite web|url=https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/article_f2fd40a1-2ea5-5a10-849f-2d8f72411463.html|title=AIDS healthcare group sues city-parish, non-profits; complains federal funds not distributed fairly|first=andrea|last=gallo|website=The Advocate|date=April 2016 }}{{Cite news |last=King |first=Mark S. |date=April 6, 2016 |title=Louisiana HIV Agencies Respond to 'Shocking' AHF Lawsuit |work=TheBody |url=https://www.thebody.com/article/louisiana-hiv-agencies-respond-to-shocking-ahf-law |access-date=2022-11-21}} The suit was settled with funding left unchanged.{{Cite web|url=https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/article_340eee67-78f8-54cc-9f7f-62b478fff469.html|title=UPDATE: HIV healthcare group's lawsuit over funding settled, suit spurred protest Tuesday|first=andrea|last=gallo|website=The Advocate|date=April 20, 2016 }}

The AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) filed suit against the City of Los Angeles, alleging that the city violated laws and the city charter when it approved the development of two residential towers that are expected to be up to 30 stories tall. The City Council changed existing zoning and height limitations to allow the development, which would be next to AHF's Hollywood headquarters. A spokesperson for the development accused Michael Weinstein of filing the suit to maintain the view from his office, but Weinstein countered that opposing "luxury housing" development is part of AHF's mission.{{cite news | url=https://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-aids-nonprofit-sues-hollywood-towers-20160421-story.html | title=AIDS nonprofit sues L.A. over planned Hollywood towers | last=Alpert Reyes | first=Emily | newspaper=Los Angeles Times | date=2016-04-22 | accessdate=2018-05-11 | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160531033027/http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-aids-nonprofit-sues-hollywood-towers-20160421-story.html | archive-date=2016-05-31 | url-status=live }} In 2019, the California Supreme Court refused to hear the case, leaving in place a lower court decision against the foundation.{{cite news | url=https://urbanize.la/post/california-supreme-court-declines-hear-appeal-hollywood-palladium-development | title=California Supreme Court declines to Hear Appeal Against Hollywood Palladium Development }}

In 2019, AHF filed a lawsuit with the American Arbitration Association against Caremark LLC, a CVS subsidiary, over unfair reimbursement practices.{{Cite web |last=Tepper |first=Nona |title=AIDS Healthcare Foundation intervenes in CVS class-action |url=https://www.modernhealthcare.com/law-regulation/aids-healthcare-foundation-intervenes-cvs-class-action |website=Modern Healthcare|date=October 29, 2021 }} CVS was eventually ordered to compensate AHF $23 million.{{Cite web |title=PBM Ordered to Pay Aids Healthcare Foundation (AHF) $23 million [Weekly Roundup] |url=https://transparentrx.com/pbm-ordered-to-pay-american-healthcare-foundation-ahf-23-million |access-date=2023-10-30 |website=transparentrx.com|date=September 18, 2022 }}

In 2022, the AHF sued to block Los Angeles's Housing Element, which is a new strategy by the L.A. City Council to increase housing supply in L.A. with a goal of producing 500,000 new housing units by 2030, with 200,000 of those being affordable units.{{Cite news |title=L.A. has a new plan for creating more housing. An AIDS nonprofit wants it thrown out| url=https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2022-01-03/la-housing-plan-aids-healthcare-foundation-lawsuit | url-status=live| last=Zahniser | first=David | date=2022-01-03 | newspaper=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220103131749/https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2022-01-03/la-housing-plan-aids-healthcare-foundation-lawsuit |archive-date=2022-01-03 | quote=AIDS Healthcare has a track record of challenging planning decisions at City Hall. It backed a ballot measure in 2017 to place new limits on large-scale development projects, which voters defeated. The group has also attempted to block the construction of high-rises in Hollywood, downtown and elsewhere.}} AHF argued that city officials did not properly assess the environmental impacts of their strategy.{{Cite web |last=Sharp |first=Steven |date=2022-01-08 |title=AHF sues to overturn L.A. housing element, SCAG wants state housing bills thrown out, and more |url=https://la.urbanize.city/post/weekly-headlines-january-8-2022 |access-date=2023-09-27 |website=Urbanize LA |language=en}}

{{Main | 2012 Los Angeles Measure B }}

AHF spent $2.3 million sponsoring an initiative that requires the use of condoms in all vaginal and anal sex scenes in pornography productions filmed in Los Angeles County, California.{{ cite web | url=http://votersedge.org/los-angeles/ballot-measures/2012/november/measure-b | title=Measure B: Safer sex in the adult film industry | last= | first= | work=VotersEdge | date=2012-10-22 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130406074408/http://votersedge.org/los-angeles/ballot-measures/2012/november/measure-b | archive-date=2013-04-06 | url-status=dead }}{{ cite news | url=https://www.politico.com/states/california/story/2019/08/19/powerhouse-aids-organization-faces-scrutiny-for-use-of-federal-money-1147976 | title=Powerhouse AIDS organization faces scrutiny for use of federal money | last1=Marinucci | first1=Carla | last2=Colliver | first2=Victoria | newspaper=Politico | date=2019-08-19 }} It passed 57% – 43%.

{{Main | 2016 California Proposition 60 }}

AHF spent $5.0 million (almost ten times what the total opposition spent) as the only financial backer of a statewide initiative that would have allowed Cal/OSHA to prosecute an enforcement action any time a condom is not visible in a pornographic film.{{Cite news | url=https://ballotpedia.org/California_Proposition_60,_Condoms_in_Pornographic_Films_(2016) | title=California Proposition 60, Condoms in Pornographic Films (2016) - Ballotpedia|access-date=2016-10-11 | quote=As of February 1, 2017, the support campaign for this initiative raised $5,047,809.19, more than nine times what the opposition campaign had raised. Support - One hundred percent of the total contributions in support of this initiative were in-state donations provided by the AIDS Healthcare Foundation. }} It failed, 54% to 46%.

In 2013 AHF sponsored Proposition D in the City of San Francisco, which required the city to negotiate directly with drug manufacturers and set a city policy to request that state and federal lawmakers create laws that would reduce drug prices.{{ r | BP_2013_PropD }} It passed 80% – 20%.{{ cite web | url=https://ballotpedia.org/Prescription_Drug_Purchasing,_Proposition_D_(November_2013) | title=Prescription Drug Purchasing, Proposition D (November 2013) | last= | first= | work=Ballotpedia | date= | access-date=2022-09-13 }}

{{Main | 2016 California Proposition 61 }}

AHF spent $19.5 million as the almost sole supporter of the California Drug Price Relief Act, (the opposition spent $110 million, making this the most expensive ballot measure to date across California and the United States) a statewide 2016 ballot initiative that would have revised California law to require state programs to pay no more for prescription medications than the prices negotiated by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (notwithstanding any other provision of law and insofar as permissible under federal law), while exempting managed care programs funded through Medi-Cal.{{ cite web | url=https://ballotpedia.org/California_Proposition_61,_Drug_Price_Standards_(2016) | title=California Proposition 61, Drug Price Standards (2016) | last= | first= | work=Ballotpedia | date= | access-date=2022-09-13 | quote=Proposition 61 fueled the most expensive ballot measure battle in California and the nation in 2016. As of February 1, 2017, the opposition campaign, backed by several large pharmaceutical companies, received almost six times the contributions provided to the support campaign. No on Prop 61 raised $109,106,160.61, while Yes on Prop 61 and Consumer Watchdog - Yes on 61 received $19,170,609.60. }}{{ r | Politico_2019-08-19 }} It failed by a 6% margin.{{cite news|last=Sernoffsky|first=Evan|title=California voters reject drug-price measure Prop 61|date=November 9, 2016|work=SFGate|url=http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/California-voters-reject-drug-price-measure-Prop-10604256.php|access-date=December 7, 2016}}

{{Main|Ohio Drug Price Relief Act}}

AHF spent $18 million as the almost exclusive sponsor of the Ohio Drug Price Relief Act (the opposition raised $59 million).{{ cite web | url=https://ballotpedia.org/Ohio_Issue_2,_Drug_Price_Standards_Initiative_(2017) | title=Ohio Issue 2, Drug Price Standards Initiative (2017) | last= | first= | work=Ballotpedia | date= | access-date=2022-09-15 }} According to the Ohio petition language, "The Ohio Drug Price Relief Act would ... require that notwithstanding any other provision of law and in so far as permissible under federal law, the State of Ohio shall not enter into any agreement for the purchase of prescription drugs or agree to pay, directly or indirectly, for prescription drugs, including where the state is the ultimate payer, unless the net cost is the same or less than the lowest price paid for the same drug by the U. S. Department of Veterans Affairs."{{cite web|title=AHF: Advocates Submit 171,205 Signatures for 2016 Drug Pricing Ballot Measure in Ohio|url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20151222006046/en/AHF-Advocates-Submit-171205-Signatures-2016-Drug|website=Business Wire|accessdate=1 February 2018|date=22 December 2015}} The initiative failed, 79% – 21%.{{ r | BP_2017_OhioI2 }}

{{Main | 2017 Los Angeles Measure S }}

In 2016, the foundation sponsored and provided more than 95% of the funding ($5.5 million){{cite news |last=Reyes |first=Emily Alpert |date=2017-03-03 |title=Here are the biggest spenders in the battle over building restrictions in L.A. |url=https://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-money-measure-s-20170301-story.html |url-status= |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170409023535/http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-money-measure-s-20170301-story.html |archive-date=2017-04-09 |accessdate=2018-05-11 |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |quote=Real estate development company Crescent Heights has been at odds with the AIDS Healthcare Foundation over its plans to build two towers next to the foundation headquarters on Sunset Boulevard. So far, Crescent Heights has contributed more than $2.5 million to oppose Measure S. The AIDS Healthcare Foundation, in turn, has chipped in more than $5.5 million to support it.}} for an anti-development ballot initiative, Measure S, which was rejected with 70.4% voting against.{{ cite web | title=Los Angeles County Election Results | url=http://rrcc.co.la.ca.us/elect/17032619/rr2619p02.htm#5019 | publisher=Los Angeles County Clerk's Office | date=March 7, 2017 | accessdate=March 23, 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170503010430/http://rrcc.co.la.ca.us/elect/17032619/rr2619p02.htm#5019 | archive-date=2017-05-03 | url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Chandler |first=Jenna |date=2017-03-07 |title=A decisive defeat for Measure S: LA voters reject anti-development measure |url=https://la.curbed.com/2017/3/7/14850898/live-election-results-2017-measure-s-la |access-date=2024-01-08 |website=Curbed LA |language=en}} Real estate developers and others spent over $8 million opposing Measure S.{{Cite web |last1=Reyes |first1=Emily Alpert |last2=Poston |first2=Ben |last3=Zahniser |first3=David |date=2017-03-08 |title=Measure S defeated after a heated, costly battle over future L.A. development |url=https://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-measure-s-20170307-story.html |access-date=2024-01-08 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}} This initiative would have imposed a two-year moratorium on spot zoning as well as developments requiring height and density variances and other changes that would, it claimed, prevent the city from gentrifying and growing too fast. "As we work to house patients in L.A., City Hall focuses on approving $3,500 apartments that sit empty," Weinstein wrote in a Los Angeles Times op-ed.{{cite news |last=Weinstein |first=Michael |date=March 2, 2017 |title=Why the AIDS Healthcare Foundation is behind Measure S |url=https://www.latimes.com/opinion/op-ed/la-oe-weinstein-measures-housing-20170302-story.html |url-status= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170304044959/http://www.latimes.com/opinion/op-ed/la-oe-weinstein-measures-housing-20170302-story.html |archive-date=2017-03-04 |accessdate=March 23, 2017 |newspaper=Los Angeles Times}} Opponents, who included many advocacy groups for the homeless as well as the city's business community, building trades unions, and developers, said that while the measure addressed some real problems, it went too far and would have not only prevented the construction of new affordable housing but made the city's overall quality of life worse by aggravating an existing housing shortage.{{cite news |last=Phillips |first=Shane |date=January 17, 2017 |title=Don't listen to the backers of Measure S. Los Angeles isn't overdeveloped; we're in a housing slump |url=https://www.latimes.com/opinion/livable-city/la-oe-phillips-housing-slump-measure-s-20170117-story.html |url-status= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170126223346/http://www.latimes.com/opinion/livable-city/la-oe-phillips-housing-slump-measure-s-20170117-story.html |archive-date=2017-01-26 |accessdate=March 24, 2017 |newspaper=Los Angeles Times}} They questioned whether the money spent by the AIDS Healthcare Foundation to get the initiative on the ballot was related to the foundation's mission.{{cite news |last=The Times Editorial Board |date=February 25, 2017 |title=An AIDS advocacy foundation is bankrolling L.A.'s draconian anti-development measure. How is this social justice? |url=https://www.latimes.com/opinion/editorials/la-ed-aids-healthcare-development-20170225-story.html#nt=storygallery |url-status= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180509151452/http://www.latimes.com/opinion/editorials/la-ed-aids-healthcare-development-20170225-story.html |archive-date=2018-05-09 |accessdate=March 24, 2017 |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |quote=... the AIDS Healthcare Foundation has never been a significant voice advocating for more affordable housing and homeless housing in L.A. Nor has the group played a role in planning and land-use issues — at least not until a developer proposed building two 30-story towers right next to Weinstein's office.}}{{cite news |last1=Reyes |first1=Emily Alpert |last2=Zahnhiser |first2=David |date=February 24, 2017 |title=So why is an AIDS nonprofit suing to halt construction and pushing for Measure S? |url=https://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-aids-foundation-political-spending-20170221-story.html |url-status= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180125235219/http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-aids-foundation-political-spending-20170221-story.html |archive-date=2018-01-25 |accessdate=April 6, 2017 |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |quote=Opponents of Measure S accuse Weinstein of using millions in nonprofit money to pursue a personal grudge over a building that would block his office views. Weinstein, they say, is just another NIMBY obstructionist, restricting the supply of new housing and jacking up rents across the city...."Measure S is a blatant abuse of the resources of AIDS Healthcare Foundation, considering it has absolutely nothing to do with the mission of the organization," said Eisman, who worked closely with the foundation as part of a volunteer group until 2015. ... In an interview with The Times, Weinstein refused to say whether his nonprofit is bankrolling a lawsuit by Friends of the Neighborhood Integrity Initiative seeking to overturn the city's approval of a 1,210-unit residential complex on Jefferson Boulevard. Weinstein also would not disclose whether his group is paying for a legal challenge against the Martin Cadillac project, which would bring offices, stores and 516 apartments to Olympic Boulevard on the Westside. In addition, he declined to say how many lawsuits over L.A. real estate development his group is funding. "Whatever we're doing is between us and our lawyers," he said.}}

In an interview with The Advocate in 2016, regarding Measure S, Weinstein stated: "Why isn't there development in South L.A.? Why isn't there development in Boyle Heights? Why concentrate all this development in Hollywood? You have a [transit line] in the Valley and a [transit line] in South L.A."{{ r | Advocate_2016-01-13 | Advocate_2017-03-08 }} Dana Cuff, an urban planning professor at the University of California, Los Angeles stated that Weinstein's opposition to the Palladium Residences (behind the Hollywood Palladium) and other upscale developments "is not understandable" and "a misuse of [AHF's] funds," saying the organization "couldn't possibly be concerned about affordable housing" by stopping the Palladium towers.{{cite news |last=Broverman |first=Neal |date=2016-01-13 |title=AHF's Michael Weinstein Has a New Fight, and It's Not About HIV |url=https://www.advocate.com/hiv/2016/1/13/ahfs-michael-weinstein-has-new-fight-and-its-not-about-hiv |newspaper=The Advocate (LGBT magazine)}}{{cite news |last=Broverman |first=Neal |date=2017-03-08 |title=World's Largest AIDS Organization Just Flushed Millions Down the Toilet - The AIDS Healthcare Foundation poured $5.5 million into a Los Angeles ballot initiative that has little to do with HIV. After AHF's measure went down in flames Tuesday, the organization has some explaining to do. |url=https://www.advocate.com/hiv/2017/3/08/worlds-largest-aids-organization-just-flushed-millions-down-toilet |newspaper=The Advocate (LGBT magazine)}} That and other similar statements by Weinstein led opponents to characterize him as a NIMBY who opposes such development because it would add traffic to his commute and block the views from his office building, rather than because he cares about the plight of low-income renters or people with HIV (Weinstein denies ever discussing his office views).{{r|LAT_2017-02-24|Advocate_2016-01-13}}{{r|Advocate_2017-03-08|p=1|q="Why isn't there development in South L.A.?" he said. "Why isn't there development in Boyle Heights? Why concentrate all this development in Hollywood? You have a [transit line] in the Valley and a [transit line] in South L.A." It's because of statements like the one above that Weinstein is often called a deep-pocketed NIMBY ("not in my backyard") more concerned with his own commute and views than the plight of renters in Los Angeles -- or people with HIV.}} Weinstein argues that upscale developments like the Palladium towers command exorbitant rents that price out working-class people.{{Cite web |title=AHF's Michael Weinstein Has a New Fight, and It's Not About HIV |url=https://www.advocate.com/hiv/2016/1/13/ahfs-michael-weinstein-has-new-fight-and-its-not-about-hiv |access-date=2025-03-12 |website=www.advocate.com |language=en}} He said, "You can't call people like me NIMBYs for being against luxury housing. If we were against a school, a hospital, a homeless shelter, or an affordable housing project, you can call us NIMBYs all day long."{{Cite web |title=AHF's Michael Weinstein Has a New Fight, and It's Not About HIV |url=https://www.advocate.com/hiv/2016/1/13/ahfs-michael-weinstein-has-new-fight-and-its-not-about-hiv |access-date=2025-03-12 |website=www.advocate.com |language=en}}

{{main|2018 California Proposition 10}}

AHF contributed $22.5 million to the campaign for Proposition 10, a ballot initiative which sought to repeal the 1995 Costa-Hawkins Act.{{ Cite web | url=https://ballotpedia.org/California_Proposition_10,_Local_Rent_Control_Initiative_(2018)| title=California Proposition 10, Local Rent Control Initiative (2018)| website=Ballotpedia | language=en | access-date=2019-04-21 }} The measure would have allowed local governments to adopt rent control on any kind of building. Costa-Hawkins is a state law which disallows local governments (cities and counties) from enacting rent control on buildings constructed after 1995, all single-family homes (regardless of construction date), and disallows laws that keep a property under rent control when tenants change (vacancy control).{{ r | SJMN_RC_failed | p=1 | q=Prop. 10 took aim at a decades-old state law that prohibits cities from enforcing certain types of rent control. Without that law, cities would have had the power to place price caps on rented single family homes, condominiums and apartment buildings constructed after 1995 — or in the case of cities with older rent-control policies, such as Oakland and San Francisco, apartments built after the late 1970s or early 1980s. Under current state law, those units cannot be subject to rent control. ... In addition to expanding the types of properties that would fall under rent control, Prop. 10 would have let cities permanently cap the price of an apartment, allowing only modest increases even after tenants move out. That policy, known as vacancy control, was used decades ago in a handful of cities including Berkeley, East Palo Alto and Santa Monica before California passed the Costa-Hawkins law banning it. Currently, landlords can raise prices to market rates after a tenant in a rent-controlled unit leaves. Vacancy control would have immediately taken effect in Berkeley if Prop. 10 passed, as it has remained on the books, unenforced, for more than two decades.}}

The proposition failed, 59% to 41%.{{ cite web | url=https://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/sov/2018-general/sov/92-ballot-measures.pdf | title=State Ballot Measures | publisher=Secretary of State of California | accessdate=2019-03-03 | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20190108200833/https://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/sov/2018-general/sov/92-ballot-measures.pdf | archive-date=2019-01-08 | url-status=live | quote=State Totals 4,949,543 7,251,443 Percent 40.6% 59.4% }}

{{main|2020 California Proposition 21}}

In 2019, the California legislature passed and the governor signed AB 1482, which created a statewide rent cap for the next 10 years.{{ r | LAT_2019-10-08 }} The Tenant Protection Act of 2019 caps annual rent increases at 5% plus regional inflation, pegged to the rental rate as of March 2019.{{ r | LAT_2019-10-08 }} The new law does not apply to buildings built within the prior 15 years, or to single-family homes (unless owned by corporations or institutional investors) and retains "vacancy decontrol," meaning that rents can increase to market rate between tenants.{{ cite news | url=https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2019-10-08/california-rent-cap-tenant-protections-signed | title=California will limit rent increases under bill signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom | last=Dillon | first=Liam | work=Los Angeles Times | date=2019-10-08 | quote=The Los Angeles-based AIDS Healthcare Foundation is currently collecting signatures for a measure to appear on the November 2020 statewide ballot that would, among other things, limit how much a landlord could increase rents when a new tenant moves in — something now prohibited under state law. Michael Weinstein, the foundation's president, opposed the rent cap legislation because he believed its protections were inadequate.}}

In 2020, Michael Weinstein, AHF's founder, sponsored and financed a second ballot initiative to allow more rent control, because he felt that AB 1482 (above) did not provide enough tenant protections, such as limiting rent increases between tenants.{{ r | LAT_2019-10-08 }}

AHF spent $40 million (99.8% of the supporters' funding) in support of Proposition 21 (the opposition spent $85 million). It appeared on the ballot on November 3, 2020 and would have allowed local governments to establish rent control on residential properties that have been occupied for over 15 years. It would also have allowed landlords who own no more than two homes to exempt themselves from such policies, and would also have capped rent increases between tenancies at 15% over three years (vacancy control).{{cite web |url=http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/ballot-measures/qualified-ballot-measures/ |title=Qualified Statewide Ballot Measures |publisher=Secretary of State of California |access-date=July 2, 2020}}{{cite web |url=https://ballotpedia.org/California_Local_Rent_Control_Initiative_(2020) |title=California Local Rent Control Initiative (2020) |publisher=Ballotpedia |access-date=June 27, 2020 | quote=The ballot measure would have required local governments that adopt rent control to allow landlords to increase rental rates by 15 percent during the first three years following a vacancy.}}{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/projects/props-california-2020-election-money/ |title=Billions have been spent on California's ballot measure battles. But this year is unlike any other |last1=Menezes |first1=Ryan |last2=Moore |first2=Maloy |last3=Do |first3=Phi |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |date=2020-11-03 |quote=Proposition 21 - $125,436,982 - Supporters $40M - Supporters AIDS Healthcare Foundation $40,187,371 California Nurses Assn. $50,000 California Democratic Party $27,025}} Proposition 21 was rejected by 60% of California voters, like Proposition 10 (above) before it.{{cite web|last=Hooks|first=Chris Nichols, Kris|title=What We Know About California Proposition Results|url=https://www.capradio.org/158690|access-date=2020-11-11|website=www.capradio.org}}

{{main|2024 California Proposition 33}}

AHF sponsored and has contributed more than $47 million to the "Justice for Renters Act," a 2024 ballot measure in California (Proposition 33) that would repeal the Costa–Hawkins Rental Housing Act and allow localities to enact rent control on single-family homes, apartments built after 1995, and to control rent increases between tenancies, all currently banned by Costa-Hawkins.{{Cite web |last=Asch |first=Andrew |date=2023-07-28 |title=Justice for Renters Qualifies for 2024 California Ballot |url=https://therealdeal.com/la/2023/07/28/justice-for-renters-qualifies-for-californias-november-2024-ballot/ |access-date=2023-09-27 |website=The Real Deal |language=en}}{{ r | LAT_2024-07-05 }} California currently limits rent increases to 10 percent a year for tenants living in apartments built before 1995; Proposition 33 would allow cities and counties to create local rent control laws for any form of housing no matter when it was constructed.{{Cite web |date=2024-09-26 |title=With Proposition 33 voters could give counties and cities more power to limit rent increases. Should they? |url=https://www.kpbs.org/news/racial-justice-social-equity/2024/09/26/proposition-33-voters-could-give-counties-and-cities-more-power-to-limit-rent-increases-should-they |access-date=2024-10-04 |website=KPBS Public Media |language=en}}{{ r | LAT_2024-07-05 }} This would include rent increase caps on newer buildings not covered under Costa-Hawkins.{{Cite web |date=2024-07-05 |title=Your guide to Proposition 33: Effort to expand rent control |url=https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2024-07-05/2024-california-election-proposition-33-rent-control-voter-guide |access-date=2024-10-04 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}

Proposition 33 is supported by labor and tenant organizations such as Unite Here Local 11, the California Nurses Association, the California Alliance for Retired Americans, the Coalition for Economic Survival, Consumer Watchdog, Tenants Together, and Veterans' Voices.{{Cite web |last=Chavez |first=Isidra |date=2024-08-14 |title=Prop 33: California Rent Control Measure Addresses Housing Shortage and Affordability |url=https://couragecalifornia.org/2024-ballot-prop-33/ |access-date=2024-10-04 |website=Courage California |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=klow |title=2024 California Voter Guide: Proposition 33 {{!}} KQED |url=https://www.kqed.org/voterguide/california/proposition-33 |access-date=2024-10-08 |website=www.kqed.org |language=en}} Organizations like the California Democratic Party, the California Working Families Party, and the ACLU of California have also endorsed the measure, in addition to Los Angeles County and San Francisco County.{{Cite web |last=Nixon |first=Nicole |title=Proposition 33 explained: What California's rent control ballot measure is asking you |url=https://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/election/voter-guide/article291231935.html |website=The Sacramento Bee}}{{Cite web |last1=Jeong |first1=Helen |last2=Nolan • • |first2=Conan |date=2024-10-08 |title=Prop 33: Contentious California ballot measure over rent control |url=https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/california-prop-33-contentious-state-ballot-measure-rent-control/3530059/ |access-date=2024-10-08 |website=NBC Los Angeles |language=en-US}}

In April 2024, Michael Weinstein attended a two-day strategy session with other housing activists in Los Angeles, including Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, Sen. Bernie Sanders, and Rep. Ro Khanna.{{Cite web |title=A Tale of Two Labor Candidates in the East Bay |url=https://jacobin.com/2024/04/east-bay-state-senate-election |access-date=2024-05-07 |website=jacobin.com |language=en-US}} During the session, Weinstein claimed the Justice for Renters campaign is a "battle for the poor and working-class people" who find housing in California unaffordable. He stated that the primary reason for his and AHF's involvement in affordable housing is that "housing is the largest predeterminant of health," calling housing a "human right."{{Cite web |title=Three-Day Sanders Institute Event Details the Case: 'Housing Is a Human Right' {{!}} Common Dreams |url=https://www.commondreams.org/news/housing-crisis-sanders-institute-gathering |access-date=2025-03-12 |website=www.commondreams.org |language=en}} AHF also refers to Proposition 33 as a "social justice issue" for unhoused and low-income communities.{{Cite web |last=Foster |first=Tim |date=2024-09-30 |title=Special Episode: Propositions 33 & 34 - Rent Control and AIDS Healthcare Foundation Rules |url=https://capitolweekly.net/special-episode-propositions-33-34-rent-control-and-aids-healthcare-foundation-rules/ |access-date=2024-10-04 |website=Capitol Weekly |language=en-US}}

Proposition 33 is opposed by California state senator Toni Atkins, San Diego mayor Todd Gloria, and other local leaders.{{r|KPBS_2024-09-26}} Opponents state that it will reduce housing construction, thereby worsening California's housing shortage.{{r|RD_2023-07-28|LAT_2024-07-05|KPBS_2024-09-26}}

Proposition 33 was defeated 62 to 38 percent.{{cite web|url=https://www.sfgate.com/politics/article/california-rejects-prop-33-rent-control-19887353.php|title=California voters reject Prop. 33, the measure to expand rent control|work=SF Gate|date=November 6, 2024|first=Alec|last=Regimbal|accessdate=November 12, 2024}} Weinstein blamed the defeat on California Governor Gavin Newsom, claiming the initiative was more popular before the governor voiced his opposition.{{Cite web |last=Trombola |first=Nick |date=2024-11-06 |title=California's Rent Control Initiative Fails at Ballot Box |url=https://commercialobserver.com/2024/11/proposition-33-fails-california/ |access-date=2024-11-13 |website=Commercial Observer |language=en-US}} In Weinstein's words: "Big real estate gave [Newsom] millions over the years, and they called in their chits."

{{main|2024 California Proposition 34}}

In an effort to prevent AHF from continuing to use its profits (money that AHF receives under the 340B Drug Pricing Program intended for healthcare providers to expand their services to disadvantaged groups) to fund the above-mentioned three rent-control initiatives, the California Apartment Association (CAA) sponsored and funded Proposition 34.{{ r | TRD_2024-11-19 | Politico_2023-08-30 }}{{Cite news |last=Kendall |first=Marisa |date=2024-11-05 |title=California voters weigh in on healthcare spending via Prop. 34 |url=https://calmatters.org/politics/elections/2024/11/california-election-results-prop-34-health-care-spending/ |access-date=2024-12-05 |work=CalMatters |language=en-US}} This law would require certain California healthcare providers to spend 98% of that revenue on direct patient care.{{ cite news | url=https://therealdeal.com/la/2024/11/19/with-prop-34-california-landlords-notch-win-against-ahf/ | title=With Prop. 34, California landlords notch last victory against AHF - Results show 51% of voters support ending nonprofit's flow of healthcare cash into politics | last=Nehring | first=Abigail | newspaper=The Real Deal | date=2024-11-19 }} News reports have said the only organization seemingly affected by the law is AHF.{{ cite web | url=https://calmatters.org/california-voter-guide-2024/propositions/prop-34-patient-spending/ | title=Require certain providers to use prescription drug revenue for patients | work=CalMatters | date=2024-11-05 | last1=La | first1=Lynn }}{{ cite news | url=https://www.politico.com/news/2023/08/30/california-proposal-ballot-measure-00113475 | title= California proposal would sideline a prolific ballot measure player - The ballot initiative would block one man from using his nonprofit to fund his political agenda. | last=Cadelago | first=Christopher | newspaper=Politico | date=2023-08-30 | quote=AHF relies on the decades-old federal drug discount program designed to help hospitals and other healthcare nonprofits treat low-income patients. Known as 340B, it allows the organization to purchase prescriptions at a deep discount and charge public programs the standard amount. AHF has long argued that it spends 340B funds for their intended purpose and that the foundation is allowed to spend a certain percentage on political activity. But its spending on campaigns, a growing portfolio of property and to bring in paid consultants such as former California Senate Pro Tem Kevin de León, now a member of the Los Angeles City Council, has drawn persistent scrutiny. }} The proposition passed, 51% to 49%.{{cite web |title=Statement of Vote - General Election - November 5, 2024 |url=https://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/sov/2024-general/sov/complete-sov.pdf |publisher=California Secretary of State |pages=62-64}}

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• Adult Industry Medical Health Care Foundation
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{{cite news | url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2018/11/06/californias-rent-control-measure-defeated/ | title=California's rent-control measure defeated | last=Murphy | first=Katy | newspaper=San Jose Mercury News | date=2018-11-06 | accessdate=2018-11-25 | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20181117055416/https://www.mercurynews.com/2018/11/06/californias-rent-control-measure-defeated/ | archive-date=2018-11-17 | url-status=live }}

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