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's Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and Development awarded the City of Seattle Human Services Department $3.754 million under the Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) formula grant program on January 21, 2026. The award funds housing assistance and supportive services for low-income individuals living with HIV/AIDS and their families in Seattle through January 20, 2029.

HOPWA formula funding supports permanent housing through tenant-based (scattered site) and facility-based rental assistance, as well as transitional and short-term housing assistance. The program also covers supportive services, program planning, and development costs. Activities funded under the award are contingent upon HUD approval of Seattle's Consolidated Plan and Annual Action Plan, which identify eligible HOPWA activities under 24 CFR 574.300.

The City of Seattle passes funding to sub-recipients to deliver housing and case management services. Virginia Mason Medical Center, operating as Bailey-Boushay House, received a sub-award signed January 15, 2026, to prevent homelessness among low-income people with HIV/AIDS diagnoses and assist them in securing and maintaining stable permanent housing.

Performance outcomes focus on establishing stable housing, reducing risk of homelessness, and improving access to healthcare and supportive services. The recipient must 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 through HUD Form 4155.

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.