AIDS' help out of sight, out of mind?

Over 10,000 Connecticut residents with the AIDS virus may soon no longer have access to the 'Drop-In' centers designed to help them live with the virus.

Advocates for people with HIV/AIDS call it an outrage that the Governor doesn't consider people infected with the virus to be vulnerable citizens.

Charles Capers, 57, has been living with AIDS for many years and considers the 'Connections AIDS Walk In Center' to be his life-line.

While, 50-year-old Roberto Butler was diagnosed in prison. He admits to bouncing in and out on drug and petty thievery charges most of his life and thinks this center will be his lifeline as well.

"It's like a safe haven," said Butler. Butler said if this place closes up, he'll just become another statistic.

"I'll just be another person walking the streets," said Butler.

Others have similar stories.

"Before I came here, I really had no place to go. No. As far as for counseling with stress and, you know, dealing with my disease," said Rolando Ortiz of Hartford.

With no state budget agreement, the Governor is running things by executive order and has cut funding to the half dozen walk-in centers around the state to zero.

The director of the AIDS center said they only have enough rent to last the summer.

"We will have to close up after September 1st if we don't receive any state money," said Julie Janiszewski of AIDS Project Hartford.

Because of that, representatives from several social service agencies spoke out in front of the Governor's mansion Monday; even though there apparently were no budget discussions going on.

"Simply put, there are no other agencies or funding sources that can, or will, provide these services," said Shawn Lang of CT AIDS Resource Coalition.

A good deal of state government was closed down Monday for another furlough day.