HUD ANOUNCES 32 MILLION IN HIV/AIDS HOUSING AID TO HELP 31 AIDS PROGRAMS NATIONWIDE
Two Alabama grantees to receive over $1.7 million in funding

BIRMINGHAM, AL - More than 2,200 persons who are living with HIV/AIDS and at high risk for homelessness will
find a stable home and receive the services they need because of $32.1 million in funding awarded today by Housing and Urban Development Secretary Alphonso Jackson. HUD grants will help 31 programs in 21 states to provide their clients with three years of permanent supportive housing. Alabama grantees in Birmingham and Anniston will receive total funding of $1,741,187 under this announcement to provide housing assistance to individuals living with
HIV/AIDS in the state.

The funding announced today is part of HUD's Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) Program.
Housing assistance and related services funded by HOPWA are a vital part of the comprehensive system of care for those living with HIV/AIDS. A stable home environment is critical for low-income persons managing complex drug therapies and potential side effects from their treatments.

"Having a stable home can make all the difference in staying healthy and living with this disease," said Jackson. "These grants will help provide more than just homes to thousands of families with HIV/AIDS who might otherwise
be facing homelessness."

In 2008, President Bush is seeking a record $300 million for HUD's HOPWA program, an increase of $14 million over current funding levels. These resources are expected to assist an estimated 70,500 households annually.

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. HUD's formula grants are managed by 120 local and
state jurisdictions, which coordinate AIDS housing efforts with other HUD and community resources. This year, HUD
is making available a total of $286.1 million in HOPWA funds to help communities provide housing for this special
needs population.

HUD is providing $27.3 million to 27 existing projects and more than $4.8 million to support four new HIV/AIDS
housing programs. These projects indicate they will assist approximately 2,200 households. Combined, these HUD-supported programs will leverage an additional $41.8 million from other public and private sources to provide related services in assisting their clients, representing $1.28 for every HOPWA dollar awarded.

The following local projects are being funded through HUD's HOPWA Program. For a complete project summary of
the funding announced today, visit HUD's website:

Summary of the FY2007 Alabama HOPWA Grant Awards

AIDS Alabama, Inc. of Birmingham is awarded a HOPWA renewal grant of $879,963 to continue the Alabama Rural AIDS Project.  This permanent housing support reaches 27 households through the use of small housing facilities operated by local providers in the state's 35 most rural counties.  AIDS Alabama will continue this housing
partnership with AIDS Action Coalition; East Alabama AIDS Outreach; Montgomery AIDS Outreach; Mobile AIDS Support Services; and West Alabama AIDS Outreach as collaboration under the AIDS Service Organization Network
of Alabama.  For more information contact:

Kathie M. Hiers, Chief Executive Officer,
AIDS Alabama Inc.
P.O. Box 55703, Birmingham, AL 35255
(205) 324-9822
Email: Kathie@aidsalabama.org

Health Services Center, Inc. of Alabama is awarded a new HOPWA Special Project of National Significance grant
of $861,224 to provide transitional and permanent housing support to twenty-two (22) households.  The program
will provide outreach and supportive housing to homeless individuals and families in the rural 11-county area of east central Alabama.  The award will enable Health Services Center, Inc. to initiate a partnership with the Family
Services Center; Anniston Housing Authority; Greater Gadsden Housing Authority; City of Gadsden; Homeless
Coalition of Northeast Alabama; and AIDS Alabama.  For more information contact: 

Rita Flegel, Housing Program Coordinator,
Health Services Center, Inc.
P.O. Box 1347
Anniston, AL 36202
(256) 832-0100
Email: Rhflegel@aol.com

For HUD information, please contact Hollis Wormsby at (205) 731-2617

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