More than 150 Portland, Maine residents who are living with HIV/AIDS and who might otherwise be living on the street, will now be able to find a stable home and receive the services they need thanks to more than $2.6 million in funding.

HUD Regional Director Taylor Caswell (center) presents checks to Patti Capouch, Executive Director, Frannie Peabody Center, and Douglas Gardner, Director of Health and Human Services Department, City of Portland.

New England regional director Taylor Caswell visited Portland to announce two grants awarded under HUD's Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) program. The City of Portland was awarded $1.4 million, and the Frannie Peabody Center was awarded $1.2 million.

"These grants offer a stable home and critically needed services to persons living with this disease so they can devote themselves to staying healthy," said Caswell. "Through our dedicated partners - the Frannie Peabody Center and the City of Portland - HUD is not only helping to provide homes and help, but we are offering hope to people at risk of living on our streets."

The Portland Social Services Division (http://www.ci.portland.me.us/hhs/socialservices.asp) will use its grant to provide rental assistance for 33 households. The Haven's Outreach to Racial and Ethnic Minorities is a permanent supportive housing project for chronically homeless persons and families living with HIV/AIDS. The project will provide direct client support service to persons who have cultural and language issues as immigrants or refugees in accessing assistance. Case management support will assist residents in accessing other support services and health care.

The Frannie Peabody Center (http://www.peabodycenter.org/), a community-based organization in Portland, will use its grant to continue providing 124 units of short-term rent, tenant based rental assistance, and facility-based housing placement services for low-income individuals living with HIV/AIDS. A combination of supportive services will be provided through mainstream community resources and will compliment housing support through access to HIV/AIDS case management, volunteer assistance, life skills education training and medical care.