Housing Opportunities for People with AIDS

The Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) program is authorized by AIDS Housing Opportunity Act (AOHA) and amended by the Housing and Community Development Act of 1992 (Pub. L. 102-550 approved October 28, 1992).  It is designed to provide eligible applicants with program and administrative resources for meeting the housing needs of persons with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome or related diseases and their families.

HOPWA funds may be used to assist all forms of housing designed to prevent homelessness including emergency housing, shared housing arrangements, apartments, single room occupancy (SRO) dwellings, and community residences.  Appropriate services must be provided as a part of any HOPWA assisted housing, but HOPWA funds may also be used to provide services independent of any housing activity.

Any non-profit organization or governmental housing agency is an eligible applicant.  There are specific requirements for participation by religious organizations.  The Division of Housing and Community Development administers the application and contract process (including the required Environmental Impact Assessment), monitors the work of grant recipients and files required reports with the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

The following activities may be carried out with HOPWA funds:

• Housing information services including counseling and referral to assist eligible persons to locate, acquire, finance and maintain housing.
• Resource identification to establish, coordinate and develop housing assistance resources for eligible persons.
• Acquisition, rehabilitation, conversion, lease and repair of facilities to provide housing and services and SRO or community residence new construction.
• Project or tenant based rental assistance, including assistance for shared housing arrangements. Short term rent, mortgage and utility payments to prevent the homelessness of tenants or mortgagers of dwellings.
• Supportive services including, but not limited to, health, mental health, assessment, permanent housing placement, drug and alcohol abuse treatment and counseling, day care, nutritional services, intensive care when required and assistance in gaining access to local State and Federal government benefits and services.
• Technical assistance in establishing and operating a community residence.

Grant award recipients must comply with federal requirements in 24 CFR part 574 -- Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS.  These include standards for supportive services and housing quality as well as non-discrimination and equal opportunity requirements.

Approximately $400,000 is available for HOPWA programs annually.  In the balance of state area funds are distributed in response to an application process.  Contracts are scheduled to start October 1 of each year and they may be multi-year agreements.

Information regarding the HOPWA Program may be obtained by contacting Judy Wilcox at (608) 266-9388.