Guide to Financing Supportive Housing:
Department of Housing and Urban Development-Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDs (HOPWA)

INTRODUCTION
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
REGULATIONS/GUIDELINES
ADMINISTRATIVE AGENCIES
ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION
GRANT/LOAN TERMS
APPLICATION PROCESS
AWARD HISTORY
CFDA CODE
AUTHORIZING LEGISLATION/STATUTE
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

HOPWA is the leading federal source of capital for the development of housing that serves persons with HIV or AIDS, and is principally allocated to cities and states based on the incidence of AIDS in their community.  HOPWA grant funds are typically combined with other sources of capital; however, in localities with the highest numbers of AIDS cases (e.g., New York City), HOPWA may be the sole source of funding.  Participation in the local HOPWA planning process is encouraged, which is usually part of the Consolidated Plan and Ryan White local plan.  Technical assistance is also available for sponsors of HOPWA housing.  (See links under Additional Resources below.) Among the Technical Assistance Providers is AIDS Housing of Washington, an organization with which CSH collaborates.

The purpose of the HOPWA Program is to provide States and localities with the resources and incentives to devise long-term comprehensive strategies for meeting the housing needs of persons with AIDS or related diseases and their families.  

The program includes both a formula and a competitive grant component.  Approximately 90% of the funding is distributed to states and cities in formula grants, while the remaining 10%  is available competitively on an annual basis for model projects or programs.  Competitive grants are also available for technical assistance for sponsors of HOPWA-funded housing.

States and cities often establish their own competitive process for awarding of HOPWA funds to sub-grantees. 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

HUD webpage on AIDS Housing:  http://www.hud.gov/offices/cpd/aidshousing/index.cfm

HOPWA programs state-by-state

24 CFR Part 574

HOPWA Regulations: http://www.hud.gov/offices/cpd/aidshousing/lawsregs/regs/index.cfm

Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Community Planning and Development, Office of HIV/AIDS Housing  (202) 708-1934  http://www.hud.gov/offices/cpd/aidshousing/programs/index.cfm

This HUD page links to lists of recipients of HOPWA formula grants

Eligible Target Populations:  Low-income persons with HIV or AIDS and their families

Eligible Projects/Programs:

• Transitional housing

• Permanent supportive housing

• Short-term and long-term rental assistance programs

• Emergency assistance programs

• Support services programs, including Information and Referral or housing counseling programs

Eligible Use of Funds and Use Restrictions:

• New construction (for SRO dwellings and community residences only)

• Acquisition, rehabilitation, lease and repair of facilities to provide housing and services

• Operating costs for housing

• Project- or tenant-based rental assistance

• Short-term rent, mortgage and utility payments

• Housing information services

• Technical assistance

• Administrative Expenses

• Other activities as approved by HUD (competitive grants only)

• Support 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 and assistance in accessing benefits)

Eligible Applicants/Sponsors:

Formula Grants

State and cities with the largest numbers of cases of AIDS are eligible to receive a Federal allocation of HOPWA formula funds. States receive an allocation for those communities that do not quality for a direct formula allocation. 

HOPWA formula funds are awarded to specific cities within a given state, and each State also receives an allocation to serve those communities that do not qualify for their own allocation.  There are a total of 108 HOPWA formula grant recipients nationwide.

States and cities are required to expend formula HOPWA funds in sub-grants to

• Local governments

• Non-profit organizations

Cities must serve the eligible metropolitan statistical area (EMSA) in which they are located (e.g. San Francisco’s allocation is spent for programs that serve San Francisco, Marin and San Mateo counties).

HOPWA Formula Allocations (2000-2005)
http://www.hud.gov/offices/cpd/aidshousing/programs/formula/grants/index.cfm


Competitive Grants

Eligible applicants include:

• States

• Local governments

• Non-profit organizations

Minimum/Maximum Awards:   N/A

Average Awards:  N/A

Term of Awards:  Grants of formula funds to sub-grantees are generally awarded on a one-year basis and may be renewed.  Competitive grants are renewable for one additional term.  Renewals get priority over new applications in the funding process.  One term of the competitive grant is usually three years long.

 

 

Matching Requirements:  There are no matching requirements for formula grants. For competitive grants, the capacity to leverage resources (including in-kind contributions) is one of five standard factors considered in the applicant selection process.

 

Formula:  Formula HOPWA funds are allocated using a formula based on population size and the number of people living with HIV/AIDS as confirmed by the CDC. 

Formula Grants

States and cities receive their allocation of funds on an annual basis.   They must submit a Consolidated Plan to HUD in order to receive the HOPWA funds for which they are eligible (see Introduction for further discussion of Consolidated Plans).  There is no mandatory process for sub-granting funds to projects and programs.  Some states and cities spend the funds directly on housing and services; some award the funds using a competitive application process, some use the funds to renew existing contracts with housing and service providers.

Competitive Grants

HUD issues a NOFA annually as part of the SuperNOFA process.  Applicants for competitive funds submit proposals directly to HUD. The May 14, 2004 NOFA says that "HOPWA competitive funds will only go to renewals which are providing permanent supportive housing.  If there is any money left over, HUD will issue another NOFA inviting new applicants for competitive funds."

In FY 2002, 25 competitive grants were awarded.

HOPWA Appropriations and Grant Awards (1992-2004)
http://www.hud.gov/offices/cpd/aidshousing/budget/index.cfm

HOPWA Competitive Awards (1992-2004)
http://www.hud.gov/offices/cpd/aidshousing/programs/competitive/grants/index.cfm

AIDS Housing Opportunity Act, Public Law 101-624

AIDS Housing of Washington: http://www.aidshousing.org (includes list of HUD's regional HOPWA administrators and HOPWA formula grantees).

National AIDS Housing Coalition: http://www.nationalaidshousing.org

HUD-funded Technical Assistance (links to HUD site)

Evaluation of HOPWA Program (links to HUD site)

             
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