The Housing Opportunities for People with AIDS (HOPWA) program is managed by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Office of HIV/AIDS Housing. HOPWA funding

may be used for a wide range of housing, social services, program planning, and development costs. These include, but are not limited to, the acquisition, rehabilitation, or new construction of housing units; costs for facility operations; rental assistance; and short-term payments to prevent homelessness. An essential component in providing housing assistance for this targeted special needs population is the coordination and delivery of support services. Consequently, HOPWA funds also may be used for services including (but not limited to) assessment and Case Management, chemical dependency treatment, mental health treatment, nutritional services, job training and placement assistance, and assistance with daily living. (HUD)

The program allocates “90 percent of its [funds] using a statutory formula that relies on AIDS statistics (cumulative AIDS cases and area incidence from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention” (HUD). For the 2018 Fiscal Year, the City of Paterson is approved for a HOPWA grant of $1,500,000 by the Office of Community Planning and Development (CPD) formula allocation. The grant currently funds not only the Bergen-Passaic Ryan White Grants Division but also the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs. Individuals enrolled under CAPCO’s case management services may qualify for the following entitlement services:

        • Housing Case Management to stabilize housing issues
        • Housing Assistance
            • Short-term rental assistance for those at risk of eviction
            • Permanent housing and security deposits
            • Linkage to emergency shelter
        • Utility Assistance: heat, electricity, water
        • Transportation Assistance: bus tickets or taxi vouchers for medical appointments and social service appointments
        • Nutritional Assistance: food vouchers for local supermarkets

Schedule an appointment with the CAPCO office in order to assess your present financial situation. One of our case managers can help determine whether you qualify for HOPWA assistance.

Advertisement