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 awarded the City of Jacksonville, Florida $3.096 million under the Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) program on January 6, 2026, for a three-year period of performance ending January 5, 2029.

The award funds housing assistance, supportive services, and case management for low-income individuals living with HIV/AIDS and their families across Duval, Clay, St. Johns, and Nassau counties in Northeast Florida. HOPWA activities include permanent housing through tenant-based and facility-based rental assistance, transitional or short-term housing assistance, housing needs assessments, budgeting services, and connection to medical and supportive services.

The City of Jacksonville passes HOPWA funds to five sub-recipients. Northeast Florida Aids Network, Inc. receives support through two sub-awards to provide short-term rent, mortgage, and utility assistance serving approximately 320 persons living with HIV across the four-county region, with up to 245 months of rental assistance and 415 months of utility assistance, and permanent housing placement assistance covering rental deposits for up to 95 clients. Catholic Charities Bureau, Inc. delivers short-term rental, mortgage, and utility assistance for up to 184 individuals or 123 households for up to five months, and transitional housing for up to 36 individuals or 24 households, along with housing needs assessments and case management. Lutheran Social Services of Northeast Florida, Inc. provides emergency rent, mortgage, and utility assistance for up to 500 clients, plus mental health resources, financial coaching, and connections to medical, dental, pharmacy, and employment services. Gateway Community Services Inc. operates an HIV/AIDS Healthy Promotion Program connecting up to 50 homeless individuals with substance use disorders to affordable housing upon discharge.

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.