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 City of El Paso $1.185 million under the Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) formula grant program on September 17, 2025. The award funds housing assistance and supportive services for low-income individuals with HIV/AIDS and their families through September 16, 2028, with performance occurring in El Paso, Texas.

The City of El Paso passes $1.185 million through to Project Amistad, a nonprofit sub-recipient, to provide 60 unduplicated HOPWA-eligible clients with tenant-based rental assistance and supportive services. Tenant-based rental assistance covers security deposits up to two months of rent and long-term rental and utility assistance up to 12 months to achieve housing stability for at least three months. Supportive services include intensive case management and access to health, mental health, and employment support to enable clients to maintain housing and improve health outcomes.

The HOPWA program funds housing assistance, supportive services, program planning, and development costs to address the supportive housing needs of low-income persons and families living with HIV/AIDS. Grantees must identify eligible HOPWA activities in their consolidated plan and annual action plan and report annually on grant expenditures, activities undertaken, accomplishments, and household outcomes related to housing stability, homelessness prevention, and access to care and support.

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.