The African American Planning Commission, Inc. (AAPCI) has been awarded an annual $625,000 grant by the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene ("DOHMH"). The funds will be used by AAPCI to provide supportive services to families and elderly couples living with HIV/AIDS once AAPCI completes development of its Edwin's Place residence, a new state-of-the-art permanent housing program with onsite support services in the East New York community of Brooklyn.

"Southern Brooklyn has been one of the hardest neighborhoods hit by the HIV epidemic, and due in part, to a lack of sufficient supportive housing and services. The area we serve has one of the highest mortality rates for the disease." said Matthew Okebiyi, founder and Executive Director of the Commission.

"Edwin's Place will be the first and largest supportive residence in East New York offering affordable housing to single adults, elderly couples and families living with HIV/AIDS," said Okebiyi. "Units will include studio-, one-, two- and three- bedroom apartments. Onsite services will include: counseling services, elder services, youth services, vocational enrollment, basic computer skills classes, independent living skills training, healthcare referrals and follow-up services, just to name a few."

Supporters and donors will also be able to purchase personalized engraved bricks and have it inscribed in memory of a loved one or relative or use it as an opportunity to leave a personalized message at Edwin's Place.

To learn more about Edwin's Place or how you can purchase a personalized engraved brick, visit: http://aapci.org/services/edwin.html