Failing the sick in an ailing city
While the sick languished in alleyways and on park benches in the city with the nation's highest AIDS rate, D.C. government allowed widespread waste and mismanagement to overwhelm the city's AIDS services. A three-part documentary explores some of these groups and the lives impacted by a lack of care. Watch Video »
Part Three
'OK to pay'
City paid felon to supply HIV/AIDS services despite vague business records.
- Invoice: City official signs off
Interactive
A closer look at groups
![[DC Map]](http://media.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/special/metro/aids-funding/map-icon.gif){kind=icon}
A breakdown of where the money went, highlighting questionable spending throughout the city.
The Series
Part One
Epidemic failure
One in three of D.C.’s AIDS dollars earmarked for small groups went to organizations marked by financial problems and questionable services.
- Sidebar: A Mother's Struggle
Part Two
A house of miracles
An in-depth look at Miracle Hands, an AIDS group plagued by service and cost complaints but still awarded $4.5 million.
- Sidebar: Well-Regarded Groups Struggle
Reader Response
Live Q & A
Post reporter Debbie Cenziper answered reader questions in an online conversation Monday, Oct. 19th at 11 a.m. Read the transcript.
Share your experiences
Are you a staff member, volunteer, or patient at these or other area AIDS organizations? Share your experiences in a comment or send them to us at investigations@washpost.com.
- To report HIV/AIDS and health care fraud, contact the FBI.
Photo Gallery
Video & Audio
About this Investigation
Over ten months, the Washington Post analyzed the spending, services, and finances of every specialized AIDS organization funded by D.C.'s HIV/AIDS Administration from 2004-2008, an estimated 90 groups, building a database from tax returns, audits, lawsuits, real estate records, D.C. Council records, and corporate and police reports. The Post also obtained grant agreements, invoices and government correspondence for about 60 of these groups. The newspaper interviewed dozens of people with HIV or AIDS patients, their families and service providers, and visited more than a dozen offices across the city.
