OREGON WINS $3.6 MILLION TO SUPPORT LOCAL HIV/AIDS HOUSING PROGRAMS
Three of 29 grants nationwide are awarded to Oregon to provide stable housing for individuals and families at extreme risk for homelessness

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has awarded three grants to Oregon organizations totaling $3,613,408 to continue to provide permanent housing to 101 extremely low-income Oregon households living with HIV/AIDS.

Today's grants are among 29 three-year renewal grants awarded nationwide totaling $30.2 million. Our House of Portland was awarded$1,016,934 and the behavioral health department of Oregon Department of Human Services
was awarded $1,223,181 and its re-entry department was awarded $ $1,373,293.

The funding announced today is offered through HUD's Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS Program
(HOPWA) and will renew HUD's support of 29 local programs in 19 states.

"These programs are a critical source of support to local programs on the front lines of helping families stay healthy," said HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan. "A stable home can make all the difference to the wellbeing of these families, many of whom have been homeless or at extreme risk of homelessness."

These projects have estimated that about 40% of the households to be assisted will involve persons who have been homeless. The grants announced today also support the Obama Administration's new strategic plan to prevent and end homelessness, an unprecedented initiative announced last week at the White House.

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.

The HUD grants will continue to support the following services in Oregon:

• Our House of Portland is awarded a HOPWA permanent supportive housing renewal grant of $1,016,934 to
  continue providing 14 units of facility based housing and Tenant-Based Rental Assistance (TBRA) to nine
  households. Supportive services will assist 30 households annually. In addition, six households will receive
  permanent housing placement. The program is a collaborative partnership with the Cascade AIDS Project and
  The Partnership Project.
  
  
• Oregon Department of Human Services - (Behavioral Health), Oregon Housing and Behavioral Health
  Initiative, is awarded a HOPWA permanent supportive housing renewal grant of $1,223,181 to continue
  providing scattered-site Tenant-Based Rental Assistance (TBRA) to 20 households. The program is a
  collaborative partnership with the Cascade AIDS Project and Cascadia Behavioral Healthcare in the provision
  of housing assistance, housing information, and supportive services to those living with HIV/AIDS who have
  co-occurring mental illness.
  
  
• Oregon Department of Human Services - (Re-entry), Oregon Statewide Supportive Community Re-entry
  (OSSCR) program, is awarded a HOPWA permanent supportive housing renewal grant of $1,373,293 to
  continue providing scattered-site Tenant-Based Rental Assistance (TBRA) to 45 households. The program is
  a collaborative partnership with the Cascade AIDS Project in the provision of housing assistance, housing
  information, and supportive services to post incarcerated individuals living with HIV/AIDS. In addition, this
  program coordinates with the Oregon Department of Corrections in the identification and referral of potential
  clients and with the Ryan White CARE Act program for pre/post-release case management services.

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 123 local and
state jurisdictions, which coordinate AIDS housing efforts with other HUD and community resources. Up eight
percent from last year, HUD is making available a record $335 million in HOPWA funds this year to help communities provide housing for this special needs population. Overall, these resources assist 58,367 households annually to promote stable housing and reduced risks of homelessness for those living with HIV and other challenges.

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HUD is the nation's housing agency committed to sustaining homeownership; creating affordable housing opportunities for low-income Americans; and supporting the homeless, elderly, people with disabilities and people living with AIDS. The Department also promotes economic and community development and enforces the nation's fair housing laws. More information about HUD and its programs is available on the Internet at www.hud.gov and espanol.hud.gov.