Acting Secretary Jackson yesterday announced the Department has awarded more than $31 million to help local housing programs across the country that serve people with HIV/AIDS and their families. The funding will go to 117 local and state jurisdictions, which coordinate AIDS housing efforts with other HUD and community resources.

Ninety percent of HOPWA funds are distributed by formula to cities and states based on the number of AIDS cases reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Eleven new or continuing programs will receive more than $11.8 million in funding, including five projects that demonstrate how to assist chronically homeless people with HIV/AIDS and one new program to provide housing support for people with HIV/AIDS in the southern Colonias border region.

More than $14 million in support will be awarded to 14 existing HOPWA grantees to help some 2,400 people maintain stable housing and services during the next three years.

Another $1.5 million will go to four organizations that help AIDS housing programs nationwide maintain quality housing support. The technical assistance will help local projects administer programs more effectively and will enhance an organization's ability to weather financial hardship.

Finally, the Department and CDCP will award more than $3.5 million in rental assistance to people with HIV/AIDS and will study the impact of stable housing on the health of persons these programs serve. Los Angeles, Chicago and Baltimore are sites for the study.

The funding is part of the Department's Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) Program.