Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS
(HOPWA)
Department of Housing and Urban DevelopmentPeople living with HIV/AIDS at risk of homelessness; ~70% of PLWHA face housing instability
What This Program Does
The Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) program provides housing assistance and supportive services to people living with HIV/AIDS who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. Established by Congress in 1992, it is the only federal program dedicated specifically to the housing needs of this population. It funds rental assistance, short-term housing, and related support services through grants to cities, states, and nonprofit organizations.
Who Would Be Affected
The program serves people living with HIV/AIDS and their families across the United States, with approximately 70% of people living with HIV/AIDS experiencing housing instability. HOPWA provides assistance to tens of thousands of households each year through formula grants to over 100 metropolitan areas and states, as well as competitive grants to local organizations. Loss of the program's $0.5 billion in annual funding would directly affect low-income individuals who depend on these housing services to maintain stable living situations and access to medical care.
What This Cut Would Mean
Dedicated housing assistance, rental subsidies, and supportive services specifically designed for people living with HIV/AIDS would end. The administration argues that these individuals can be served through broader general housing programs such as Housing Choice Vouchers and homeless assistance grants. However, independent health policy experts and housing advocates have raised concerns that general programs lack the specialized case management and medical linkages that HOPWA provides, and that people with HIV/AIDS may face longer wait times or fall through the cracks in already oversubscribed housing programs. Research has consistently linked stable housing to better health outcomes and medication adherence for people living with HIV/AIDS.
Administration's Stated Rationale
“Housing assistance for HIV+ individuals to be folded into broader housing programs.”