HUD AWARDS $21.5 MILLION TO ASSIST THOUSANDS LIVING WITH HIV/AIDS

Read a summary of each of the grants announced today

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development today awarded grants totaling $21.5 million to provide housing assistance and support services to more than 4,600 low-income people with HIV/AIDS and their families.

The grants are part of HUD's Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) program that is distributing $257 million to metropolitan areas and states this year. Today's 22 awards will fund existing programs in 18 states and the District of Columbia.

"These programs are making a tremendous difference," HUD Secretary Mel Martinez said. "When people are sick, the last thing they need is to struggle for a decent place to live."

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, an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

The HOPWA renewal grants announced today are part of a competition to continue operating existing programs around the country. Later this year, HUD will announce approximately $4 million to fund new projects. President Bush is proposing an additional $20 million for the HOPWA program next year.

The 22 renewal projects are expected to provide housing assistance to 2,097 persons and support services to another 2,558 persons. The federal funds for these projects will generate nearly $30 million more in other public and private support - another $1.36 for each dollar of federal assistance.

Housing assistance and the support services funded by the HOPWA program are a vital part of the comprehensive system of care for those living with HIV/AIDS. A stable home environment is critically important for low-income persons, who have complex drug therapies and potential side effects from their treatments.

Martinez said, "HUD is proud to be a partner with these heroic programs that have a proven record in offering these crucial services.

The 22 HOPWA renewal grants announced today will be administered in collaboration with 44 nonprofit partners that provide housing and support services to clients. Nine faith-based organizations are among the nonprofit community groups to receive funding, totaling more than $4 million or nearly 19 percent of the total grants awarded.

The following is a breakdown of the HOPWA renewal grants awarded by state:

Alabama

AIDS Alabama, Inc. of Birmingham will receive a HOPWA renewal grant for $899,180 to continue the Alabama Rural AIDS Project(ARAP) to: (1) outreach to eligible HIV positive, low-income persons; (2) link them with medical and supportive services, and (3) house (ultimately permanently) those HIV-positive, low-income persons who are homeless or marginally housed in the state's 35 most rural counties. ARAP will house 300 low-income, homeless persons with HIV/AIDS and 300 additional family members and provide 1,400 persons with supportive services over the three years of the project. AIDS Alabama will partner in this project with AIDS Services Centers of Anniston, AIDS Action Coalition of Huntsville, Montgomery AIDS Outreach, Mobile AIDS Support Services, East Alabama AIDS Outreach of Auburn, and West Alabama AIDS Outreach of Tuscaloosa.

All partners are members of the AIDS Service Organization Network of Alabama. For information contact: AIDS Alabama, Inc. P.O. Box 55703; 3521 7th Avenue South Birmingham, AL 35222. Mr. Randall H. Russell, MSW, LGSW Executive Director; Phone: (205) 324-9822 Fax: (205) 324-9311 Email: randall@aidsalabama.org

Arizona

The Pima County, Community Services Department will receive a HOPWA renewal grant in the amount of $817,036 for continued support of Positive Directions. Positive Directions is a collaborative effort of Pima County and two project sponsors: the Southern Arizona AIDS Foundation (SAAF), and the City of Tucson. The project is designed to create a continuum of care for people who are low-income and HIV+, and their families, by filling gaps in both housing and services in Tucson and Pima County. Recognizing the importance of stable housing, the two primary goals of the Positive Directionsproject are: (1) to increase independence through subsidized, supportive housing; and (2) to maximize self-sufficiency through intensive, personalized services. The project addresses these through three key components: transitional housing; long-term rent subsidies; and support and referral services through intensive case management. For information contact: Pima County, Community Services Department, 32 North Stone Avenue, Suite 1600, Tucson, AZ 85701; Gary Bachman, (520) 740-5205 or by email:gbachman@csd.co.pima.az.us.

California

In Los Angeles, the West Hollywood Community Housing Corporation will receive a HOPWA renewal grant for $630,535. Funds will be used to continue the Los Angeles Consortium for Service-Coordinated AIDS Housing,a collaboration of four nonprofit agencies providing permanent, supportive housing to very low-income persons living with HIV/AIDS. The three other partner agencies are the Hollywood Community Housing Corporation, Project New Hope and the Skid Row Housing Trust. Funding supports an Enhanced Management Model program, as well as expand services that promote long-term residential stability with residential and vocational service coordinators and an on-site learning program focused on computer skills. The project makes use of life skills development, and employment training and placement opportunities with permanent affordable housing to reach residents in at least 468 units at 26 sites over this grant period. For information contact: West Hollywood Community Housing Corporation, 8285 Sunset Blvd., Suite 3 West Hollywood, CA 90046. Mr. Lee Meyers, Director of Resident Services; Phone: (323) 650-8771 x13; Fax: (323) 650-4745; Email: lee@whchc.org

The County of San Diego, Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) will receive a HOPWA renewal grant for $308,116 to continue the La Posada Project. DHCD works with the County Health and Human Services Agency and the Office of AIDS Coordination. The project provides service enriched housing opportunities throughout San Diego County to homeless and very low-income HIV positive women and their children who have not participated in either the HIV or the homeless service delivery systems. The program provides operating costs, addiction services coordination, resident services coordination, and longitudinal outcome evaluation. The original grant supported the rehabilitation of 24-units in apartment complexes, which focus on needs for women and their children. The project will also continue to provide services to a minimum of six to twelve families at Fraternity House, Inc., a licensed residential care facility, and 12 families at La Posada Apartments with services from South Bay Community Services. An additional 100 clients will receive out-patient addiction counseling and recovery services and case management support through Stepping Stone of San Diego, Inc., For information contact: County of San Diego Department of Housing and Community Development, 3989 Ruffin Road San Diego, CA 92134--1890. Ms. Marilee Hansen, Housing Program Analyst; Phone: (858) 694-8712 Email: mhanse@co.san-diego.ca.us.

In San Francisco, Lutheran Social Services of Northern California will receive a HOPWA renewal grant for $1,014,080 to continue The Bridge Project, a six-agency collaboration that provides transitional housing while addressing the complex service needs of indigent, multiply-diagnosed clients living with HIV/AIDS. The goals of the Bridge Project are threefold: (1) Increase the quantity and quality of housing for homeless, multiply-diagnosed persons with HIV/AIDS; (2) Provide direct access to health care, substance abuse counseling, mental health care, and benefits counseling for underserved multiply-diagnosed populations, and (3) Deliver these services through an integrated system of care which is cost-effective and meets the complex needs of the multiply-diagnosed client. With success in achieving its original goals, a renewal grant for one of the Multiple Diagnosis Initiative (MDI) Projects from HUD will enable this partnership to continue providing stable housing to current number of participants. For information contact: Lutheran Social Services of Northern California, 433 Hegenberger Road, #103 Oakland, CA 94621 Mr. Kevin Fautaux, Director of San Francisco Office; Phone: (415) 581-0891 ext.103 Fax: (415) 581-0898 Email: LSSkfaut@aol

In San Francisco, the Bernal Heights Neighborhood Center, Housing Services Affiliate will receive a HOPWA renewal grant for $692,648 to continue the operation of Positive MATCH. As one of the Multiple Diagnosis Initiative (MDI) Projects, this effort has provided a nationally significant model of integrated services and care for homeless multiply diagnosed mothers and children living with HIV. The innovative network of services and housing provides a specialized continuum of care for that addresses the needs of the family prior to and after the death of the infected parent. The project is an innovative collaborative project between a housing developer and four social service agencies skilled at providing social, legal, and mental health services for multiply diagnosed homeless women with HIV and their children. In October of 2001, the collaborative will complete the rehabilitation of the seven unit multi-bedroom permanent housing facility. Positive MATCH is seeking renewal funding to continue the provision of the integrated and replicable continuum of care that ensures permanent exits from homelessness. For information contact: Housing Services Affiliate-Bernal Heights Neighborhood Center 515 Cortland Ave., San Francisco, CA 94110. Ms. Mary Dorst, Housing Project Manager; Phone: (415) 206-2140 ext.147; Fax: (415) 648-0793; Email: bernaldev@aol.com

Connecticut

The City of Bridgeport, Central Grants Office, will receive a HOPWA renewal grant for $1,312,821. The City will be coordinating with seven (7) project sponsors, in continuing support to 50 households under one of the Multiple Diagnosis Initiative (MDI) Projects. Under the Bridgeport AIDS/HIV Housing Initiative, the seven project sponsors include Prospect House, Bethel Recovery Center, and Alpha Home who are the housing providers; Helping Hand Center, Catholic Family Services, and Evergreen Network who are support service providers, and the Connecticut AIDS Residence Coalition which provides technical assistance and resource identification services. Based on the number of people served from the original HOPWA grant, these organizations anticipate that it will provide emergency services to a minimum of 175 multiple diagnosed persons with HIV/AIDS, and provide housing services to 60 multiply diagnosed individuals and families, through the project's unique Transitional Living Program (TLP). For information contact: City of Bridgeport, Central Grants Office, 999 Broad Street, Bridgeport, CT 06604; Kathleen Hunter, Assistant Director, Social Services; Phone (203) 576-8475, Fax (203) 567-8405; Email: huntek0@ci.bridgeport.ct.us.

District of Columbia

The Whitman-Walker Clinic, Inc. of Washington, DC will receive a HOPWA renewal grant for $1,139,255 to continue the Bridge Back Program a residential treatment facility for multiply diagnosed men and women with HIV/AIDS, substance abuse, and persistent mental illness. DC Bridge Back offers six months of intensive addiction treatment, medical, and psychosocial services for up to eight residents at a time. Bridge Backis a safe and supportive link back to appropriate housing in the community for people living with HIV/AIDS who suffer from severe substance abuse and chronic mental illness. Staff and clients work collaboratively to establish a treatment plan while in the program, and a discharge plan including appropriate housing and accessibility of supportive services in the community upon leaving the program. For information contact: Whitman-Walker Clinic, Inc., 1407 S. Street, NW, Washington, DC 20009. Ms. Mary L. Bahr, Associate Executive Director; Phone: (202) 797-3515; Fax: (202) 797-3504 Email: mbahr@wwc.org.

Florida

The City of Key West Community Development Office will receive a HOPWA renewal grant for $1,188,500 to continue their housing voucher program for persons living with HIV/AIDS in Monroe County. The City partners with AIDS Help, Inc. in providing assistance to clients in this high cost housing market. This Special Project of National Significance was modeled after HUD's Section 8 program with support to provide for independence and self-determination for clients. The program serves an estimated 50 households each year through tenant-based rental assistance and residency in housing facilities. Additionally, for disabled persons who experience improved health due to medical treatment advances, support from other sources includes back to work training in collaboration with the Florida Keys Employment and Training Council. For information contact: City of Key West Community Development Office, 1403 12th Street, Key West, FL 33040. Ms. Lee-Ann Broadbent, Program Administrator; Phone: (305) 292-1221; Fax (305) 292-1162.

Georgia

The City of Savannah, Community Planning and Development Division, will receive renewal funding of $1,229,636 to continue operating Project House Call. The City partners with Union Mission, Inc., and two project partners - Georgia Legal Services Program and Hospice Savannah - and operate activities within the 10-member Savannah-Chatham AIDS Continuum of Care. Assistance is based on the use of a 10-unit community residence and short-term housing payments for 75 households. Under the original grant, this program prevented homelessness for 213 unduplicated individuals with HIV/AIDS who enrolled in Project House Call and received the provision of home-based services. The program provides services in the homes of PLWA/A's who might not otherwise have access to services within the Chatham/Effingham County areas. Project House Call is a lifeline for the population it serves, linking them with primary medical care, legal services, transportation assistance, substance abuse counseling, group therapies, and hospice services. For information contact: Community Planning and Development Division, Office of the City Manager, P.O. Box 1027, Savannah, GA 31402. Ms. Taffanye Young, Director; Phone: (912) 651-6520; Fax: (912) 651-6525; Email: Taffanye_Young@ci.savannah.ga.us.

Illinois

Cornerstone Services, Inc., of Joliet, will receive a HOPWA renewal grant of $789,160 to continue to provide scattered site permanent housing with supportive services for 16 households with persons living with HIV/AIDS who also have mental illness and who may be homeless. The program is located in Joliet and Cornerstone has partnered with the AIDS Ministry of Illinois (AMI), Stepping Stones (substance abuse treatment center) and Metro Infectious Disease Consultants (MIDC) to provide persons with HIV/AIDS and mental illness by offering a comprehensive array of services promoting choice, dignity, and the opportunity to live and work in the community. For information contact: Cornerstone Services, Inc., 777 Joyce Road, Joliet, IL 60436. Ms. Bette J. Reed Phone: (815) 741-6743; Fax: (815) 723-1177; Email: breed@cornerstoneservices.org

Kentucky

The Division of Community Development for the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government will received $1,362,860 to continue the AVOL AIDS Housing Program. This program provides housing, related case management, education and referrals, as well as transitional and supportive housing services for persons living with HIV/AIDS in Central and Eastern Kentucky. Activities are based at two housing facilities, Rainbow Apartments and Solomon House. Rainbow Apartments is a transitional housing program designed to respond to persons with HIV/AIDS who are homeless or at risk of homelessness and in need of a spectrum of supportive services while they work through issues that may have contributed to their homelessness. Solomon House is a community residence for individuals who require personal care, supervision and supportive services following an acute medical episode or who are in the advanced stages of their illness. Over the three year grant period, this program will serve 75 persons with HIV/AIDS through the housing facilities and an additional 300 individuals will receive housing information services. For information contact: Division of Community Development, Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government, 200 East Main Street Lexington, KY 40507. Ms. Irene Gooding, Grants Manager; Phone: (859) 258-3079; Fax: (859) 258-3081; Email: ireneg@lfucg.com

Louisiana

UNITY for the Homeless of New Orleans will receive a HOPWA renewal grant for $1,216,896 to continue a program by six sponsor agencies, working within the community's extensive and well-established homeless continuum of care system to provide an integrated range of services and housing for persons with HIV/AIDS and their families who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. The Sponsors are the New Orleans AIDS Task Force, Project Lazarus, Children's Hospital FACES, Volunteers of America, Belle Reve and United Services for AIDS Foundation. The range of assistance to be provided includes: case management, mental health counseling, outreach services, day services, specialized employment services for person able to return to work, in-home and center-based respite care and residential substance abuse treatment for 18 individuals and two families. Direct housing support includes: residence at a care facility for 24 persons who are at the end stage of their illness, short-term rent, mortgage, utility assistance for 60 persons, and emergency shelter for 30. These AIDS housing efforts are also integrated with other homeless assistance programs operated by 45 agencies and coordinated through the City's continuum of care. For information contact: UNITY for the Homeless 2475 Canal Street, Suite 300 New Orleans, LA 70119. Ms. Margaret Reese, Executive Director; Phone: (504) 821-4496 ext.107; Fax: (504) 821-4709; Email: pegreese@aol.com

Massachusetts

The AIDS Housing Corporation of Boston will receive a grant of $928,752 to continue SHARE 2000+, a cooperative partnership designed to meet the needs of HIV/AIDS housing programs and consumers in Greater Boston. SHARE 2000+ consists of four components: the Direct Care Relief Program, the Staff Development Program, the Donations Assistance Program, and the Staff Training Program. First funded in 1995, the program design is an innovative approach to capitalizing on existing expertise in the HIV/AIDS provider community and sharing resources to augment the efficiency and capacity of HIV/AIDS housing programs. Over the course of the grant period, SHARE 2000+ will provide services to 980 individuals and offer 4,000 hours of relief staffing. Share 2000+ consists of four core program components, representing four non-profit human service agencies: Direct Care Relief Program: Justice Resource Institute/JRI Health; Donations Assistance Program: Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless; Staff Development Program: Victory Programs, Inc.; and Staff Training Program: AIDS Action Committee. For information contact: AIDS Housing Corporation, 29 Stanhope Street Boston, MA 02116. Joe Carleo, Executive Director; Phone: (617) 927-0088 x31; Fax: (617) 927-0852; Email: jcarleo@ahc.org

Maryland

The City of Baltimore, Department of Housing and Community Development, Office of Homeless Services will receive a HOPWA renewal grant for $1,363,136 to continue Back to Basics (B2B), a comprehensive case management program serving families in the Baltimore, MD who are dealing with the issues of HIV/AIDS, who are newly diagnosed (or newly disclosing their HIV status), who are in crisis, and who voluntarily elect to participate in an intensive case management program. Begun with the support of a 1998 SPNS grant, the goal is to empower families by helping them initially to meet their basic needs, such as food, clothing, and housing. Over time, help will be extended to develop client resources and skills to access the necessary healthcare and services to function as a unit, to maintain housing and economic stability in a safe environment and to live productive lives, for as long as possible. For information, contact: Baltimore Office of Homeless Services, 417 E. Fayette Street Room 1211 Baltimore, MD 21202. Ms. Leslie Leitch Director, Phone: (410) 396-3757; Fax: (410) 625-0830; Email: leslie.leitch@baltimorecity.gov.

New Hampshire

Harbor Homes, Inc. of Nashau, New Hampshire will receive a HOPWA renewal grant for $447,057 to continue a HOPWA program that serves Hillsborough County, with the exception of Manchester. This area has an estimated 500 persons living with HIV/AIDS. The Southern New Hampshire HIV/AIDS Task Force, the only HIV/AIDS service provider in the area, is the designated Project Sponsor. The program will continue to provide emergency rental and utility assistance and supportive services, including barrier reduction, to a minimum of 391 persons living with HIV/AIDS over the three year period of the grant. Preference will be given to those who are homeless, in imminent danger of homelessness and/or those with dual or multiple diagnoses. For information contact: Harbor Homes, Inc., 12 Amherst Street, Nashau, NH, 03064. Peter Kelleher, Executive Director, Phone (603) 882-3616; Fax (603) 595-7414; Email kelleher@harhomes.org.

New Mexico

The Santa Fe Community Housing Trust will receive a HOPWA renewal grant for $1,286,000 to continue a Reentry Housing Strategies Program to assist persons living with HIV/AIDS (PLWAs) to transition back into a productive life. The program makes use of homeownership support for 14 households each year and recognizes that for some clients, the longevity and future life expectancy of PLWAs has changed significantly with the advent of new medical treatments. The purpose of the reentry program is to strategize a permanent solution to housing and income stabilization by assisting people to design their own reentry plan. It covers job training, educational prospects, and one-on-one counseling is provided to assist the clients to contact creditor and clean up credit issues. The reentry program makes homeownership possible and affordable through a mutual self help savings effort for downpayments and through leveraging community bank assistance for home purchases. The Trust issues loans or notes and has leveraging arrangements for over $8 million through area banks. Under the original grant, homeownership has been shown to be a significant incentive for clients in encouraging them to adhere to their difficult medical regimen, to pursue employment opportunities, and to transition into mainstream living. For information contact: Santa Fe Community Housing Trust, P.O. Box 713, Santa Fe, NM 87504-0713; Ms. Sharron L. Welsh, Executive Director; Phone: 505 989-3960; Fax: (505) 982-3690; Email: sfcht505@aol.com

New York

The Hudson Planning Group, Inc. will receive a HOPWA renewal grant for $451,700 to continue a resource identification program of shared financial management services for a New York City network of AIDS housing agencies and other service providers. The project, Management Services Organization (MSO), is presently serving two housing providers, Harlem United Community AIDS Center and Housing Works, Inc., through shared staff and technology that improves the infrastructure of nonprofit management. The use of MSO management tools, standard assessment, operating and reporting procedures, has resulted in more efficient use of management resources and higher levels of budgeting and planning advice in making use of financial data. The continuing project will include support for other non-profit, community based AIDS Services Organizations (ASOs), such as the Callen Lorde Community Health Center, the AIDS Day Services Association of New York (VidaCare subsidiary) and Hope Community, Inc., and is expected to reach nine providers over the next three years. This shared services model will also be tested for replication in other communities to promote similar management collaborations to establish, coordinate and develop housing assistance resources in those areas. In New York City, approximately 2,500 persons with HIV/AIDS will be served by the agencies participating in this project. For information contact: Hudson Planning Group, Inc., 180 Varick St., 16th Floor, New York, NY 10014; Mr. David Terrio, Managing Director; Phone: (212) 627-7900 x219; Fax: (212) 627-9247; Email: Dterrio@BurchmanTerrio.com

Rhode Island

The Rhode Island Housing and Mortgage Finance Corporation (RIH), will continue its highly successful operations of a multi-faceted housing and supportive service program for persons living with HIV/AIDS (PLWAs) through a HOPWA renewal grant for $1,212,153. The grant sponsors, House of Compassion (HOC) located in northern RI, and AIDS Care Ocean State (ACOS) located in Providence will maintain a continuum of care for single adults and families affected by HIV/AIDS. The program provides supportive services, housing, and housing information services. Specific programs include the operation of two group homes, 12 scattered site apartments, and supportive services for all clients of both agencies. The past HOPWA grant has enabled the development of a seamless delivery of services ranging from housing referral to independent living and then supportive housing and related services. For information contact: Rhode Island Housing and Mortgage Finance Corporation; 44 Washington Street Providence, RI 02903. Ms. Susan Bodington, Director of Housing Policy; Phone: (401) 457-1286 Fax: (401) 457-1140 Email: sbodington@rihousing.com

Washington

The Bailey-Boushay House project of the Virginia Mason Medical Center will receive a HOPWA renewal grant for $950,000 to sustain supportive services for people living with HIV/AIDS. Bailey-Boushay House is a nationally recognized care facility, which has provided intensive residential nursing health care and adult day care to more than 2,500 individuals since l992. The goal of the project is to maintain and/or improve the behavioral stability of program participants and residents of the facility, enhancing their ability to obtain medical treatment and live independently in the community. The project will support mental health and substance abuse treatment for residents and program consumers, enhance clinical and management information systems, and assist the facility in developing capacity to conduct structured evaluations of the services. For information contact: Virginia Mason Medical Center, Bailey-Boushay House; 2720 East Madison Seattle, WA 98112; Ms. Leslie V. Ravensberg; Phone: (206) 720-3307 Fax: (206) 720-2299 Email: leslie.von.ravensberg@vmmc.org

West Virginia

The State of West Virginia, Office of Economic Opportunity (OEO), will receive $1,085,928 of renewal funds for the continued operation of HOPWA assistance throughout the State. OEO is the supervising agent of a non-profit collaborative - the West Virginia Housing and Advocacy Coalition for People with AIDS, Inc. (Coalition), which consists of three partners: Covenant House, Inc. in Charleston; Caritas House, Inc. in Morgantown; and Community Networks, Inc. in Martinsburg. The Coalition is a statewide non-profit organization created to establish a comprehensive and effective delivery of services to a homeless population with special needs associated with living with HIV/AIDS. The HOPWA program initiatives provide housing, supportive services, technical assistance, and resource identification to people living with HIV/AIDS and their family members. This project funding includes the continued operation of five (5) houses in which people with HIV/AIDS live, and the continuation of services to a growing number of over 350 persons infected with HIV and their affected family and household members. For information contact: West Virginia Office of Economic Opportunity, 950 Kanawha Blvd. East, 3rd Floor, Charleston, WV 25301. Mr. Essa R. Howard Director; Phone: (304) 558-8860 Fax: (304) 558-4210 Email: ehoward@oeo.state.wv.us

Wisconsin

The AIDS Resource Center of Wisconsin will receive a HOPWA renewal grant for $1,218,576 to continue providing intensive housing case management, rent assistance, and supportive services to persons living with HIV disease and who are also diagnosed with chronic drug abuse or mental illness issues and residing anywhere in the state of Wisconsin. In it's first two years of operations, ARCW's programs served 134 clients and reduced homelessness, increased adherence to medical, mental health and substance abuse treatment, reduced criminal behavior, and improved access to other HIV services. This support improved the client's quality of life, increased independence and reduced utilization of emergency medical care. The renewal funding will serve 195 people living with HIV/AIDS and allow for a 28 percent increase in the number of clients to be served. For more information: AIDS Resource Center of Wisconsin; P.O. Box 92487 Milwaukee, WI 53202. Mr. Doug Nelson, Executive Director; Phone: (414) 273-1991 Fax: 414-273-2357 Email: doug.nelson@arcw.org.