HUD Awards $30 Million for HIV/AIDS-Specific Housing Needs

The struggles of those infected with HIV and living in poverty are getting the attention they need. With continued attention, more funding should follow to address the persistent problem.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) recently announced that $30.2 million in grant money will be distributed to state HIV housing programs. The funding is through HUD's Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS Program (HOPWA), which aims to protect those HIV+ individuals who are  living in poverty and who are at risk of becoming homeless. HOPWA funding can be used for a variety of services and interventions, including rental assistance, to ensure that HIV+ individuals maintain stable housing, a key component of managing the disease.

The idea is that if a person's basic needs are met, she can then better care for her health. Prevention, that is the key.  Being proactive (by providing an eviction prevention grant) instead of reactive (adding another shelter bed once an individual becomes homeless) can ensure a person has a safe and stable place to better care for his or her HIV. Not to mention, this model also can save the government thousands of dollars.

HOPWA was enacted in 1992 as it became clear that people living with HIV have unique and varied housing needs. Housing still remains one of the greatest unmet needs for this population. This is what advocates have been supporting for years. We have argued on this blog that HIV is a manageable disease only when a person has stable housing and access to effective and consistent resources. If a person is HIV+ and struggling with poverty, his health may be at risk of declining rapidly. Often the push is for more treatment for HIV and more medical interventions. While these are certainly needed, they cannot come at the expense of ignoring other basic needs such as housing. New York state has learned this lesson the hard way; now it seems as if the nation is aware of it as well.

This announcement falls in line with two new strategic plans of the Obama administration: the Federal Strategic Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness and the National HIV/AIDS Strategy (pdf). This is big news for advocates on both sides. Some HIV housing advocates would argue that this is not enough money to adequately address this important need. Money is also an issue when it comes to the national strategy for HIV. The Obama Administration outlines an ambitious plan to more effectively treat those who are HIV+, yet no additional funding is allocated. The news is big in theory, yet in practice, there will clearly be challenges.

HOPWA is a vital program in the fight against homelessness, however, and for the effective care and treatment of persons living with HIV.  We're pleased that these issues continue to receive funding and national attention. With the exposure and the tireless efforts of advocates on all fronts, one day more realistic funding will match the battle cries.

Photo credit: dbking