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 Tennessee Department of Health $2.333 million 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 in Nashville, Tennessee.

HOPWA formula funding supports permanent housing through tenant-based scattered-site and facility-based subsidized rental assistance, as well as transitional or short-term housing assistance. The program establishes stable housing, reduces homelessness risk, and improves access to healthcare and supportive services. Recipients must submit consolidated plans and annual action plans identifying eligible HOPWA activities to be implemented, then 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 September 23, 2025, through September 22, 2028. The Tennessee Department of Health distributes HOPWA funds to sub-recipients delivering direct services: Positively Living, Inc. (doing business as Parkridge Harbor), a recognized HIV/AIDS Center of Excellence providing medical care, support, and housing assistance for persons with AIDS; Nashville Cares, a nonprofit providing HIV testing, prevention, treatment, and supportive services; Columbia Cares, Inc., delivering housing assistance for individuals living with AIDS; Chattanooga C.A.R.E.S., Inc. (doing business as Cempa Community Care), providing primary and dental care, housing assistance, and HIV prevention education; Frontier Health (operating as Watauga Behavioral Health), supplying behavioral health and mental health services; and Children & Family Services, Inc., offering housing assistance and related social services.

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.