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 Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and Development awarded the Parish of East Baton Rouge (doing business as Baton Rouge City Office of the Treasurer) $2,254,865 on February 4, 2026, under the Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) program (CFDA 14.241).

The award funds tenant-based and facility-based rental assistance and supportive services for low-income individuals with HIV/AIDS and their families in East Baton Rouge Parish. Tenant-based assistance provides scattered-site rental subsidies; facility-based assistance provides subsidized payments on specific buildings, units, or projects. Eligible activities under the award also include transitional and short-term housing assistance, program planning, and development costs, contingent upon HUD approval of the recipient's Consolidated Plan and Annual Action Plan. The recipient must identify specific eligible HOPWA activities at 24 CFR 574.300 for implementation and report annually on grant expenditures, activities undertaken, program accomplishments, and household outcomes related to housing stability, homelessness prevention, and access to care and support.

The period of performance runs from February 4, 2026, through February 3, 2029. Place of performance is Baton Rouge, LA 70802. This is a formula grant awarded as an annual entitlement to jurisdictions meeting HOPWA eligibility criteria: principal cities in metropolitan statistical areas with populations exceeding 500,000 and at least 2,000 documented HIV/AIDS cases, or states with more than 2,000 cases outside eligible metropolitan areas.

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.