HUD AWARDS $757,675 TO HELP ALASKANS LIVING WITH HIV/AIDS

ANCHORAGE - Colleen Bickford, Anchorage Field Office Director for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, announced today a grant of $757,675 to Alaska Housing Finance Corp. to provide housing support to people and families living with HIV/AIDS under the Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) Program.

"This grant is part of a national award of $18.8 million to organizations across the country that provide housing assistance and related services to people living with AIDS and their families," Bickford said. "We are very pleased
that AHFC is able to use this grant to help some of our most at-risk individuals and families."

The Alaska grant is a renewal grant that will continue a wide range of housing support activities to persons living
with HIV/AIDS in rural areas of the northern interior and southeastern areas of Alaska. AHFC works in partnership
with the Interior AIDS Association and the Alaskan AIDS Assistance Association to coordinate affordable, permanent housing for clients in these rural areas.

Housing activities include permanent housing, homeless prevention, comprehensive case management, and
supportive services that include housing placement and transportation support. AHFC will provide housing and
services to approximately 30 persons each year, will provide 40 households with supportive services, and will provide six households with permanent placement housing services.

"HOPWA provides housing support to some of the most vulnerable Americans," said HUD's Secretary Alphonso
Jackson. "We know that a stable home environment helps persons living with HIV/AIDS to better care for
themselves, and when that happens, people live longer."

HUD is the nation's housing agency committed to increasing homeownership, particularly among minorities; creating affordable housing opportunities for low-income Americans; and supporting the homeless, elderly, people with disabilities and people living with AIDS. The Department also promotes economic and community development as well as enforces the nation's fair housing laws. More information about HUD and its programs is available on the Internet and espanol.hud.gov.

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