HUD Archives: News Releases

HUD AWARDS $1.3 MILLION TO IMPROVE HOUSING AND SERVICES FOR THOSE LIVING WITH AIDS IN FLORIDA
Grants provided by HUD's Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) Program

MIAMI - Today, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development awarded $1,353,743 to River Region Human Services, Inc. in Jacksonville, Florida as part of a national effort to offer permanent and transitional housing and support services to more than 200 households with families and individuals living with HIV/AIDS. Provided through HUD's Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) Program, these projects will also develop new cross program approaches in HIV care by creating an Integrated HIV/AIDS Housing Plan in their communities.

"These resources will allow public agencies, nonprofits and housing authorities to forge new partnerships so that together, we can deliver comprehensive housing solutions and services for low-income families dealing with HIV," HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan said. "These communities will be innovating to more effectively and efficiently assist vulnerable households with HIV and serve as models for others to improve health outcomes and reduce risks of homelessness."

HUD's grant will support River Region Human Services, Inc. in providing tenant based rental assistance and supportive services for 40 households headed by homeless persons living with HIV/AIDS in the Jacksonville, FL metropolitan area. The Forging Useful Systems to Empower (FUSE) project will provide service coordination for clients through a partnership with Ability Housing of Northeast Florida, Inc., in offering housing assistance in coordination with rehabilitative services and health impact assessments.

Grants funded under this initiative advance HUD's implementation of the National HIV/AIDS Strategy (NHAS) and will demonstrate models for a next generation of improved coordination of housing and care for a vulnerable population. This better integration of housing support will also help achieve the Obama Administration's Opening Doors Strategy
to prevent and end homelessness.

The project was selected through a national HOPWA competition to identify Special Projects of National Significance that will help advance understanding and improve the delivery of housing and care for persons with HIV. HUD
received 46 proposals under this competition. Seven were selected and will receive $8.8 million in funding. The projects will provide housing assistance to eligible persons in their communities during the next three years. Planning efforts will also concurrently examine new approaches for comprehensively integrating local services and in coordinating and streamlining where possible the delivery of those services in their community.

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HUD's mission is to create strong, sustainable, inclusive communities and quality affordable homes for all. HUD is working to strengthen the housing market to bolster the economy and protect consumers; meet the need for quality affordable rental homes: utilize housing as a platform for improving quality of life; build inclusive and sustainable communities free from discrimination; and transform the way HUD does business. More information about HUD and its programs is available on the Internet at www.hud.gov and http://espanol.hud.gov. You can also follow HUD on twitter @HUDnews, on facebook at www.facebook.com/HUD, or sign up for news alerts on HUD's News Listserv.