HUD AWARDS $37 MILLION TO RENEW SUPPORT TO 32 LOCAL HIV-AIDS HOUSING PROGRAMS

HUD AWARDS $37 MILLION TO RENEW SUPPORT TO 32 LOCAL HIV-AIDS HOUSING PROGRAMS

By HIV.GOV

      In December, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development announced $37 million to assist more than 4,000 low-income persons living with HIV/AIDS and their families annually over a three-year period. The funding announced today is offered through HUD’s Housing Opportunities for Persons With AIDS Program (HOPWA) and will renew HUD’s support of 32 local programs. These grants provide a combination of housing assistance and supportive services for this vulnerable population. “We know there’s a strong connection between health and stable housing. Having a place to call home can make a world of difference to someone who is trying to not only manage their health but also to avoid experiencing homelessness,” said Secretary Ben Carson. “These grants will assist our partners on the ground who provide housing and care for low-income persons living with HIV/AIDS.”

Research shows that a stable home is critical to the well-being of persons living with HIV/AIDS, and results in better health and reduced transmission of the disease. In addition to housing assistance, these local programs will provide access to supportive services such as case management, mental health services, subtance abuse services, and employment training. The combination of housing assistance and supportive services are 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.

Since1992, HUD’s HOPWA Program, managed by the Office of HIV/AIDS Housing, has provided national leadership and resources that support the development and operation of high-quality supportive housing programs. Under the HOPWA Program, HUD makes grants to cities, states, and nonprofit organizations to provide housing assistance and supportive services to low-income persons living with HIV/AIDS and their families. By providing assistance with housing and related services, the HOPWA program helps persons living with HIV/AIDS 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.