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 Columbus $2,584,130 on September 23, 2025, under the Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) program (CFDA 14.241) to provide housing assistance, supportive services, program planning, and development costs for low-income individuals with HIV/AIDS and their families. The award covers a three-year period of performance through September 22, 2028, with place of performance in Columbus, Ohio.

HOPWA formula funding supports permanent housing through tenant-based and facility-based rental assistance, as well as transitional and short-term housing assistance. The program focuses on establishing stable housing, reducing homelessness risk, and improving access to healthcare and supportive services. Recipients must identify eligible HOPWA activities in their Consolidated Plan and Annual Action Plan and submit annual performance reports documenting grant expenditures, activities undertaken, accomplishments, and household outcomes related to housing stability, homelessness prevention, and access to care and support.

The City of Columbus passed through HOPWA funding to four sub-recipients for the 2026 calendar year: Equitas Health Inc., a Columbus-based nonprofit healthcare organization serving LGBTQ+ communities and individuals with HIV/AIDS; Lancaster Fairfield Community Action Agency, providing services in Fairfield County; Faith Mission Inc. Homeless Services Division, serving homeless individuals in Columbus; and Licking County Coalition For Housing, delivering permanent supportive housing and rapid rehousing services in Licking County and Newark. Sub-award agreements were executed between March 23 and April 15, 2026, for the period January 1 through December 31, 2026.

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.