HUD AWARDS $3.3 MILLION TO SAN FRANCISCO AND SAN JOSE FOR HIV-AIDS HOUSING PROGRAMS
Funding supports stable housing for individuals and families at extreme risk for homelessness

WASHINGTON - Today, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development announced $3.3 million in grant awards to assist extremely low-income persons and families living with HIV/AIDS in San Francisco and San Jose. The grant awards will provide these households with a stable living environment, which is essential to accessing healthcare and HIV related services. In addition to these grant programs will provide access to the needed supportive services in assisting beneficiaries with a path to self-sufficiency such as life skills, job readiness services and employment training.

The funding announced today is offered through HUD's Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS Program (HOPWA) and will renew HUD's support of 30 local programs in 20 states. HUD grants will renew support to the following programs in the City and County of San Francisco and the City of San Jose.

"These grants will provide our local partners with crucial funding that is necessary to provide individuals and families living with HIV/AIDS a place to call home," said Secretary Shaun Donovan. "The comfort of knowing that you have a roof over your head makes a huge difference in the wellbeing of families and gives hope to those who might otherwise end up living on the streets."

"In addition to providing necessary funding for housing, HOPWA funds will also be used for health care and mental health services, chemical dependency treatment, nutritional services, case management, assistance with daily living and other supportive services," said HUD Regional Administrator Ophelia Basgal. "These three renewal grants will provide stability and needed assistance to over 200 households impacted by HIV/AIDS."

Project descriptions:

City of San Jose, Housing Department, is awarded a HOPWA permanent supportive housing renewal grant of $1,309,810 to continue providing 19 households with Tenant-Based Rental Assistance (TBRA) and supportive services to 75 households in Santa Clara County. The project is a joint collaboration with The Health Trust in providing an array of supportive services including case management, substance abuse recovery, housing search, housing placement, public benefits counseling, and independent living education.

For more information contact: Ms. Jessica Scheiner, Senior Development Officer, City of San Jose, 200 East Santa Clara Street, San Jose, CA 95113. Phone: (408) 975-4417, and Email: Jessica.scheiner@sanjoseca.gov.

San Francisco Mayor's Office of Housing, is awarded a HOPWA permanent supportive housing renewal grant of $1,461,622 to continue providing short-term Tenant-Based Rental Assistance (TBRA) to 105 rent burdened households. In addition, each household receives supportive services, including employment and vocational training, in order to sustain their housing stability. The project is a joint collaboration with the Catholic Charities/Catholic Youth Organization.

For more information contact: Mr. Brian Cheu, Director of Community Development, San Francisco Mayor's Office of Housing, One South Van Ness Avenue, 5th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94103. Phone: (415) 701-5584, and Email: brian.cheu@sfgov.org.

Housing Service Affiliate, Bernal Heights Neighborhood Center, is awarded a HOPWA permanent supportive housing renewal grant of $526,667 to continue the Rita Da Cascia Positive MATCH program which provides Short-Term Rent, Mortgage, and Utility (STRMU) assistance to 10 households. Integrated supportive services will assist 80 households annually, targeting women and their children. The project is a joint collaboration with the Catholic Charities/Catholic Youth Organization.

For more information contact: Ms. Justine Lauderback, Deputy Director, Bernal Heights Neighborhood Center, 515 Cortland Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94110. Phone: (415) 206-2140 ext. 160, and Email: jlstrebler@bhnc.org.

Many of the projects receiving renewed funding provide for specialized models in outreach and service delivery, including efforts that target help to persons who have been homeless or are at extreme risk of becoming homeless. The awarded programs are designed to increase coordination with the homeless assistance grant programs as well as other federal resources provided at the local level. These grants offer innovations in HIV care to increase job readiness and employment opportunities for persons in stabilized care. The grants announced today also support the Obama Administration's Opening Doors (www.usich.gov/PDF/OpeningDoors_2010_FSPPreventEndHomeless.pdf), strategic plan to prevent and end homelessness, and National HIV AIDS Strategy, that identifies Housing as a key component to preventing the spread of HIV.

In addressing goals under these strategies, HUD will contribute a variety of housing resources to promote better integration of housing interventions into comprehensive HIV care systems. Housing assistance and related services funded by HOPWA are an essential part of the comprehensive system of care for low-income persons living with HIV/AIDS. A stable home environment is also vital for these households in allowing them to access consistent medical care and maintain their health. Furthermore, secure housing can be a platform for improved quality of life.

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 138 local and state jurisdictions, which coordinate AIDS housing efforts with other HUD and community resources. Overall, these resources assist over 60,000 households annually to provide stable housing and reduced risks of homelessness for those living with HIV and other challenges.

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