March 2009
In this Issue
Regional Cooperation Reduces Homelessness in Virginia
A Response to Limited Space for Affordable Housing
Housing for Families Affected by HIV/AIDS
After the Storm: How Universities are Furthering Reconstruction
In the next issue of ResearchWorks
Housing for Families Affected by HIV/AIDS
Congress enacted the AIDS Housing Opportunities Act of 1990 to address the special housing needs of people with HIV/AIDS. HUD subsequently established Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA), the only federal housing program that targets community-based housing programs serving very-low-income people living with HIV/AIDS and their families. In Fiscal Year 2008, HUD budgeted $300 million to help local communities provide permanent housing support for 21,000 such households. Another 41,000 households received support for short-term and transitional housing. HUD awards 90 percent of HOPWA funds to cities and states using a formula that's based on the number of AIDS cases reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Other HOPWA awards are competitive to identify model projects or programs, and some grants are awarded to underwrite technical assistance that will strengthen the capacity of service providers.
In December 2008, HUD awarded $10.4 million in HOPWA funds to organizations in nine states, anticipating that nearly 300 families will benefit from a range of critically needed housing and social services. Grant recipients can use program funds to cover program planning and development costs, housing, health care and mental health services, chemical dependency treatment, nutritional services, case management, and programs that assist with daily living. The summaries that follow describe how the nine recipients intend to use their 3-year HOPWA grants to improve the lives of those facing multiple — and often quite formidable — challenges.
Alabama
The Health Services Center in Hobson City, Alabama was awarded $997,838 to implement its Permanent Housing Plus (PH+) program, which will provide six permanent supportive housing units to chronically homeless and low-income individuals living within an 11-county service area in rural Alabama. The program will supply short-term rent, mortgage, and utility assistance to 20 households per year, ensuring that they remain stably housed. Sixty households will receive permanent housing.
California
The Salvation Army received $660,795 to support its Confidential Services Overlay Model, which integrates a set of supportive services with emergency shelter and transitional housing for chronically homeless people living with HIV/AIDS. The program will operate out of the Salvation Army Bell Shelter and the Harbor Light Center in Los Angeles, and will provide transitional housing and residential substance abuse treatment for 47 homeless households annually. The Salvation Army will assess the cost-effectiveness of the housing model, taking the residents' quality of life, health, and well-being into consideration.
Florida
Broward House in Fort Lauderdale received $1.4 million to implement its Recently Incarcerated Substance Abuse Housing II program, which will provide transitional housing and substance abuse treatment to recently incarcerated individuals living with HIV/AIDS. The program will support nine housing units and serve a minimum of 18 households each year.
Illinois
Heartland Human Care Services in Chicago received $1.1 million to continue its First Step sobriety-based transitional housing program. First Step provides chronically homeless and low-income persons living with HIV/AIDS access to permanent housing and ongoing medical care, as well as assistance with substance abuse recovery. Located in the city's Edgewater neighborhood, the program will provide 15 units of transitional housing, along with supportive services for 28 households annually. This unique program relies on a system of peer counseling through "buddy" and "sponsor" relationships.
Maryland
The AIDS Interfaith Residential Services (AIRS) received $1.37 million to implement AIRS Permanent Housing, which will provide tenant-based rental assistance to approximately 26 households in the Baltimore metro area, in addition to supportive services focusing on medical adherence, income stabilization and growth, and family support. In addressing tenant needs, AIRS will draw on an extensive network of partnerships with local organizations.
Minnesota
Clare Housing was awarded $1 million to support low-income people living with HIV/AIDS and residing in the Clare Midtown facility, a 45-unit apartment building in Minneapolis. This housing facility targets those with HIV/AIDS who are also chronically homeless or at significant risk of homelessness. The program will provide project-based rental assistance to 26 residents annually and 39 households over the 3-year grant period. Residents will have access to mental health counseling, medical assistance, and home-delivered meals.
Mississippi
Grace House was awarded $1.27 million to provide transitional housing and tenant-based rental assistance to chronically homeless individuals with HIV/AIDS. This program will operate within three scattered-site locations in the West Central Mississippi Rural Renewal Community, which includes Hinds, Madison, Copiah, and Warren Counties. Residents will have access to onsite supportive services through provider linkages, including individual and group counseling, rehabilitative services, and medical support. Grace House will provide tenant-based rental assistance to approximately 24 homeless individuals annually.
New York
Bailey House in New York City received $1.36 million to implement its Success Through Accessing Rental Assistance and Support (STARS) program. The STARS program will offer permanent housing by providing tenant-based rental assistance to 34 young adults between the ages of 18 and 24 who are struggling with substance abuse and/or mental illness. This program will connect individuals living within the Bronx neighborhoods of Hunts Point, Morrisania, and Mott Haven to medical care and a range of supportive services.
Texas
The city of Dallas received $1.2 million to provide transitional housing to 62 households. The program will operate out of a state-of-the-art homeless assistance center, a centralized access point to multiple services for the chronically homeless called The Bridge. Residents will have access to ongoing rental assistance and transitional housing for a period not to exceed 24 months while they work to become independent and obtain permanent housing on their own.
Although these nine recipients share the HOPWA funding source, their programs are diverse and unique. Each grantee uses its own community-based approach to target households affected by HIV/AIDS. Additional information and points of contact for each of the award winners are available at www.hud.gov/news/release.cfm?content=pr08-181.cfm.
