Funding offers stable housing for individuals and families at risk of homelessness
WASHINGTON – The Office of HIV/AIDS Housing under the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has announced the allocation of $29,661,629 for Housing Opportunities for Persons With AIDS (HOPWA) Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) Renewal and Replacement Grants, and collectively, the states of Arizona, California, and Hawaii received $5,149,471. These grants assist with tenant-based rental assistance, supportive services, and other housing activities. The announcement is the first of two rounds of grants that will be made available.
Cochise County awarded a HOPWA permanent supportive housing renewal grant of $643,013. This collaborative effort of housing and supportive services will annually provide tenant-based rental assistance to 20 households, short-term rent, mortgage and utility assistance to 10 households, permanent housing placement to 4 households, housing information services to 90 households, and comprehensive supportive services and case management to 28 households.
Pima County is awarded a HOPWA permanent supportive housing renewal grant of $1,425,283 to continue providing 9 units of facility-based housing and tenant-based rental assistance (TBRA) to 40 households annually. Individualized comprehensive case management and supportive services will assist 49 households annually. The project is a collaborative effort with the Southern Arizona AIDS Foundation.
Alameda County is awarded a HOPWA permanent supportive housing renewal grant of $1,561,072 to continue providing Tenant Based Rental Assistance (TBRA) to 79 households and client centered case management services to101 households annually. The project is a collaborative effort with AIDS Project of East Bay and Bay Area Community Health
The Maui AIDS Foundation, a nonprofit organization based in Maui County, is awarded a HOPWA permanent supportive housing renewal grant of $1,520,103 to continue the provision of tenant-based rental assistance to 44 households annually. The program also provides 15 households with short-term rental assistance to prevent homelessness, 458 households with supportive services and housing information services annually. This project is an integral collaboration between the Maui AIDS Foundation, Malama Pono Health Services, and the Hawaii Island HIV/AIDS Foundation. A comprehensive case management approach allows persons living with HIV/AIDS to maintain housing stability and to prevent homelessness.
“Access to safe, stable, and affordable housing is a critical social determinant of health,” said HUD Secretary Marcia L. Fudge. “I am proud of the role HUD plays to prevent discrimination against people with HIV, expand access to HIV housing and services, and, ultimately, reduce stigma.”
Research shows that a stable home is critical to the well-being of people with HIV, and results in better health outcomes including viral suppression, and there is overwhelming evidence that has established an undetectable viral load means the virus is untransmittable. In addition to housing assistance, these local programs will provide access to supportive services such as case management, mental health services, substance use prevention, and employment training. The combination of housing assistance and supportive services is critical in sustaining housing stability, promoting better health outcomes, and increasing quality of life, which promotes self-sufficiency efforts for those able to transition to the private housing market.
Since 1992, HUD’s HOPWA Program has provided national leadership and resources that support developing and operating high-quality supportive housing programs. Under the HOPWA Program, HUD provides grants to cities, states, and nonprofit organizations to provide housing assistance and supportive services to low-income persons with HIV and their families. By assisting with housing and related services, the HOPWA program helps persons with HIV enter into housing, access and remain in medical care, and adhere to complex treatment regimens. More information on the HOPWA program is available at https://www.hudexchange.info/programs/hopwa/.
Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) Permanent Supportive Housing Renewal and Replacement Awards
To read the full grants’ project summaries, click here.
| State | Awardee | Award Amount |
| AZ | Cochise County | $643,013.00 |
| AZ | Pima County | $1,425,283.00 |
| CA | Alameda County | $1,561,072.00 |
| HI | Maui A.I.D.S. Foundation | $1,520,103.00 |
