HUD AWARDS $1.4 MILLION TO HIV/AIDS HOUSING PROGRAMS IN VERMONT
Funding supports stable housing for individuals and families at extreme risk for homelessness

BURLINGTON - Today, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development awarded $1,430,000.00 to the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board, a grantee of HIV/AIDS housing programs in Vermont. This supportive housing grant will offer critically needed housing and support services to extremely low-income persons living with HIV/AIDs. During each of the next three years, this HUD funding will help provide permanent supportive housing so they can manage their illnesses while receiving critically needed support services.

The funding announced today is offered through HUD's Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS Program (HOPWA) and will renew HUD's support of these previously funded projects in Vermont (see project description below).

"These grants are a vital source of support to the local programs that are on the ground working to keep families healthy," said New England Regional Administrator Barbara Fields. "Knowing that you have a place to call home can make all the difference to the wellbeing of families living with HIV/AIDS, many of whom have been on the brink of homelessness."

These projects have estimated that about 40 percent 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 (www.usich.gov/PDF/OpeningDoors_2010_FSPPreventEndHomeless.pdf) to prevent and end homelessness, an unprecedented initiative announced last June at the White House. In February 2011, HUD released its plan to guide the agency's actions under the National HIV/AIDS Strategy. As the nation's housing agency, 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 124 local and state jurisdictions, which coordinate AIDS housing efforts with other HUD and community resources. HUD is making available a record $334 million inHOPWA funds this year to help communities provide housing for this special needs population. Overall, these resources assist 60,669 households annually to promote stable housing and reduced risks of homelessness for those living with HIV and other challenges.

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HOPWA FY2011 Permanent Supportive Housing Renewal Grant Summaries

Vermont

The Vermont Housing and Conservation Board (VHCB) is awarded a HOPWA permanent supportive housing
renewal grant for $1,430,000 to continue a statewide HIV/AIDS housing and supportive services program. This innovative program provides long-term rental assistance, short-term emergency housing assistance, and the
provision of supportive services and case management through regional AIDS service organizations. The program integrates housing, health care, and a range of supportive services, into a single statewide delivery system. This project will support 30 individuals annually with tenant-based rental assistance and 108 households with short-term rent, mortgage and utility assistance. Additionally, 251 individuals will receive supportive services annually. This collaborative partnership includes the following organizations: Vermont Committee for AIDS Resources, Education and Services, AIDS Project of Southern Vermont, Vermont State Housing Authority, and HIV/HCV Resource Center.

For more information contact:
Ms. Willa Darley Chapin, Federal Housing Programs Manager Vermont Housing and Conservation Board, 149 State Street, Montpelier, VT 05602.
Phone: (802) 828-5061
Email: willa@vhcb.org