HUD AWARDS $2.7 MILLION TO MASSACHUSETTS 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 $2.7 million in grant awards to assist extremely low-income persons and families living with HIV/AIDS in Massachusetts. The grant awards will provide these households with a stable living environment, which is essential to accessing healthcare and HIV related services. In addition, this funding 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). HUD grants will renew support to the following programs in Massachusetts:

"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."

Action, Inc., is awarded a HOPWA permanent supportive housing renewal grant of $1,284,452 to continue providing 26 households with Tenant-Based Rental Assistance (TBRA) and 46 individuals with supportive services in Essex County. The project serves a particularly challenging population of post-incarcerated substance abusers with who have experienced long periods of homelessness. Action, Inc. provides comprehensive supportive services, including residential and outpatient substance abuse treatment, mental health services, job training and placement, literacy training and medical care.

Justice Resource Institute, Inc. (JRI), is awarded a HOPWA permanent supportive housing renewal grant of $1,437,212 to continue providing 36 households with Tenant-Based Rental Assistance (TBRA) and 72 households with supportive services in communities throughout Plymouth, Bristol, and Northern Essex counties. JRI will continue its collaborative partnership with its project sponsors North Shore Community Action Program, Seven Hills Behavioral Health, Community Teamwork Inc., South Shore Housing Development Corporation, and the Regional Housing Authorities. In addition to helping clients find and maintain housing, JRI's case managers strive to help clients become self-sufficient by helping them access income supports and other mainstream benefits, vocational and educational services, and budgeting/financial management training.

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 (http://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.

For general information on the HOPWA program, contact Rhonda Siciliano, Rhonda.m.sicliano@hud.gov (617) 994-8335

For detailed information on Action, Inc., contact Timothy L. Riley,
triley@actioninc.org (978) 282-1000 ext. 100.

For detailed information on the Justice Resource Institute, Inc., contact Sue Buoncuore, sbuoncuore@jri.org (617) 457-4142.

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