Housing Opportunities for Persons With AIDS (HOPWA) Formula Grants
Type
Capital, Operating, Services
Source
Federal
Procurement Agency
New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH), New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA)
Total Annual Award
Total allocations in 2010 were $61,192,823 for New York State.
Eligible Populations
Low-income individuals with HIV/AIDS and their families. Eligible individuals generally have incomes at or below 80% area median income (AMI).
Eligible Projects
Housing projects run by local communities, local governments or nonprofit organizations that benefit the eligible population.
Funding Award Details
HOPWA is the primary federal funding source for HIV/AIDS housing. Funds are split between HOPWA's federal Competitive Program (10%) and its Formula Program (90%). The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) awards HOPWA Formula Program grants annually to eligible cities and states for local distribution. Cities and states are eligible to request HOPWA grants within their consolidated plans if they have a population of at least 500,000 and at least 1,500 cases of HIV/AIDS (as determined by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention).
Cities are awarded grants to serve their surrounding localities or Eligible Metropolitan Statistical Areas (EMSA). Allocations are proportional to the number of HIV/AIDS cases, both past and present. All localities that do not fall within an EMSA receiving HOPWA funding are eligible for state HOPWA grants through OTDA.
Rate Details
In FY 2009, HOPWA funds were distributed to 91 EMSAs and 40 states. In addition to the HOPWA formula grant received by New York State, the following New York localities have independent HOPWA programs: New York City, Islip, Rochester, Buffalo, Albany and Poughkeepsie (see below for contact information).
In 2009 and 2010, HUD allocated $58,611,305 and $61,192,823 in HOPWA formula funds to New York State programs, respectively. In New York City, DOHMH allocates its HOPWA formula funds directly to providers as well as blending the funding with city tax levy dollars to fund supportive housing programs for people living with HIV/AIDS. This latter is done via a pass-through to the NYC Human Resources Administration HIV/AIDS Services Administration (HRA HASA).
In 2009, $32.5 million went to HASA, $2.7 million went to the Lower Hudson counties and $16 million was awarded directly by DOHMH through 24 contracts supporting 667 units.
Term of Service/Length of Grant
Terms of subsidy vary among procurement agencies. Most give priority to renewal applications over new applicants. Contracts are awarded and renewed annually. Most procurement agencies have reporting requirements. HOPWA formula grants do not have matching requirements.
Limitations
New York State does not allocate HOPWA funds for new construction, acquisition, rehabilitation or conversion of residences. Instead, capital development funds are available through State resources like the Homeless Housing and Assistance Program (HHAP).
Network Notes
For providers funded under the New York City EMSA (Eligible Metropolitan Statistical Area), DOHMH solicits community input for the HOPWA portions of its Consolidated Plan submissions to HUD. Providers are encouraged to take part in this collaborative planning process to secure the needed New York City HOPWA funding. To encourage collaboration, DOHMH meets with the Housing Advisory Working Group and other community participants and holds regular meetings with HOPWA-funded agencies.
While DOHMH awards HOPWA funding for a number of housing projects, it prefers funding permanent rather than transitional housing. For New York State HOPWA applicants, activities like rental assistance, support services and short-term utility costs to prevent homelessness are ranked as high priority while technical assistance, operating costs, placement and repair services are lower priority. In both the State and the City, short-term housing is not a priority. Projects are considered stronger applicants if they are cost-effective, feasible, in high need of funding, run by experienced organizations and will substantially increase the number of HIV/AIDS supportive housing units amongst geographically underserved populations.
For More Information
For general information about HOPWA, visit HUD's website.
To find more information about procurement agencies for formula HOPWA grants, see here.
Each individual procurement agency manages its RFP process. Reach out to an agency contact for additional RFP information.
Contact
Albany, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady and Schoharie Counties
Kailin Murphy
City of Albany
(518) 434-5240
murphyK@ci.albany.ny.us
City of Buffalo, Erie and Niagara Counties
Carla Kosmerl
City of Buffalo
(716) 851-5922
ckosmerl@city-buffalo.com
City of Poughkeepsie, Dutchess and Orange Counties
Linda MacIsaac
City of Poughkeepsie
(845) 451-4021
lmacisaac@cityofpoughkeepsie.com
New York City, Putnam, Richmond, Rockland and Westchester Counties
John Rojas
DOHMH
(347) 396-7428
jrojas@health.nyc.gov
Town of Islip, Nassau and Suffolk Counties
Salvadore Matera
Town of Islip
CDA
(631) 665-1185
smatera@islipcda.org
For the rest of New York State
Caroline Wilcox
OTDA
(518) 474-3100
caroline.wilcox@otda.state.us
Richard Umholtz
OTDA
(518) 474-3080
richard.umholtz@otda.state.us
Last updated: 09/20/2011
Did you know…
In Denver, it costs $25,000 more per year to leave a person homeless than to give him supportive housing.