The housing opportunities for persons with aids (HOPWA) program was authorized through the aids housing opportunity act (42 USC CH. 131) and created to address the housing needs of low-income…

The Department of Housing and Urban Development's Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and Development awarded $5.265 million to the California Department of Public Health on December 9, 2025 under the Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) program (CFDA 14.241), a formula grant supporting housing assistance and supportive services for low-income individuals with HIV/AIDS and their families.

The award funds HIV/AIDS housing assistance delivered through tenant-based and facility-based rental assistance, transitional housing, and short-term housing assistance, along with supportive services, program planning, and development costs. CDPH administers the grant statewide across California with administrative oversight in Sacramento, with a period of performance through December 8, 2028.

CDPH distributes funding to 20 sub-recipients including county health departments, local health jurisdictions, nonprofits, and healthcare providers. Sub-recipients delivering HIV/AIDS housing assistance and supportive services include the County of Nevada, County of Plumas Public Health Agency, Madera County, County of Ventura, Merced County Community Action Board, Housing Authority of the County of Marin, Humboldt County Department of Health & Human Services, Imperial County, Family Services of Tulare County, Community Care Management Corporation, Access Support Network (Monterey Division), Community Impact Central Valley, County of Santa Cruz Health Services Agency, Change And New Beginnings, County of San Joaquin, ST. Joseph Health Northern California LLC, County of Kings Probation, and Ampla Health.

HOPWA formula funding requires grantees to submit consolidated plans and annual action plans identifying eligible activities, and recipients must report annually on expenditures, activities, program accomplishments, and household outcomes related to housing stability and access to care.

Activities

Hopwa formula awards are contingent upon the submission and approval by HUD of a jurisdiction's consolidated plan and annual action plan. Grantees must identify the eligible hopwa activities at 24 code of federal regulations (CFR) 574.300 that will be implemented with grant funding in the jurisdiction's consolidated plan and annual action plan. Housing assistance can be provided in the form of permanent housing which includes tenant-based (scattered site) and facility-based (subsidized payment on a specific building, unit, or project) rental assistance, or through transitional or short-term housing assistance.

Expected outcomes

Hopwa program activities focus on establishing stable housing, reducing risk of homelessness, and improving access to healthcare and supportive services. Hopwa formula grantees are required to submit annual performance reports on grant expenditures, activities undertaken, program accomplishments, and household outcomes related to housing stability; homelessness prevention, and access to care and support. Hopwa formula program grantees must annually submit reporting form HUD-4155: consolidated annual progress report and consolidated annual performance and evaluation report to HUD 90 days after the end of each program or operating year. Hopwa performance profiles are generated quarterly for all agencies receiving hopwa grants, and are accessible here: https://WWW.hudexchange.info/programs/hopwa/hopwa-performance-profiles/

Intended beneficiaries

Eligibility for hopwa is limited to individuals and families who have: (1) at least one person with an HIV diagnosis. This includes families where the only eligible person is a minor. Medical verification of status is required; and 2) a total household income that does not exceed 80% of the area median income (AMI), as defined by HUD. A person with HIV or a family member regardless of income is eligible to receive hopwa housing information services. Any person living in proximity to a community residence is eligible to participate in that residence's community outreach and educational activities regarding HIV/aids.

Subrecipient activities

The subrecipient activities are unknown at the time of award.