HUD allocates $26 million for national efforts against HIV epidemic

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has awarded $26 million in funding through the Housing Interventions to End the HIV Epidemic program. This initiative will benefit 11 communities nationwide, providing housing assistance and supportive services for eligible individuals and families, as well as coordination and planning activities, grants management, and administration. The announcement was made by HUD Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and Development Marion McFadden alongside local leaders from Volunteers of America in Los Angeles.

"HUD is addressing homelessness and housing instability for the populations most impacted by the HIV epidemic," said HUD Acting Secretary Adrianne Todman. "This funding will provide grantees and their stakeholders the opportunity to complement local efforts to end the HIV epidemic."

The Housing Interventions (HINT) to End the HIV Epidemic program is part of HUD's Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) program. Unlike most HOPWA funding distributed through annual formula allocations, HINT is a competitive award aimed at promoting best practices in the field.

"Earlier this year, HUD provided $455 million to 130 grantees through the HOPWA program to connect people with HIV/AIDS to housing and support," said Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary McFadden. "The awards announced today allow communities to continue driving forward best practices and sharing successes with the field."

Each awarded project will:

- Use Housing First principles to provide housing and services to low-income people with HIV and their families.

- Align with new or existing local initiatives to end the HIV epidemic by promoting housing as a key strategy.

- Improve use of available community resources and coordination among local housing and service providers.

- Increase the amount of quality data collected and used for decision-making with an emphasis on stable housing, positive health outcomes, and equity.

- Assess and document replicable practices that ensure equitable access and cultural humility in providing housing and services for populations of people with HIV experiencing service gaps.

- Prioritize sustainable, effective, and equitable approaches to providing housing and services to people with HIV that can be continued past the funded project's period of performance.

By the end of the grant period, each grantee will create a HOPWA Special Projects of National Significance (SPNS) Grant Model. This model will showcase effective practices using housing to combat the HIV epidemic. These models will be shared publicly, influencing national policies.

HUD joins its federal colleagues in efforts to end the HIV epidemic by contributing to action items in both the National HIV/AIDS Strategy and Ending the HIV Epidemic initiative through these HOPWA HINT SPNS grants.

Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) Competitive Grant: Housing Interventions (HINT) Awardees:

State Applicant Award Amount

CA Volunteers of America of Los Angeles $2,500,000

CA WestCare California, Inc. $2,500,000

CO Vivent Health, Inc $2,000,329

GA AID Atlanta Inc $2,500,000

GA Positive Impact Health Centers $2,500,000

MA Justice Resource Institute, Inc. $1,803,438

MN Clare Housing $2,5000,

NJ The Center in Asbury Park $2,

OR Oregon Health Authority $

TX AIDS Outreach Center Inc $