The Need for HIV/AIDS Housing Assistance In the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 2002 HIV/AIDS Surveillance Report, approximately 384,906 persons are known to be living with AIDS and an additional 195,401 persons are known to be living with HIV infection. The HIV/AIDS Surveillance Report says that since many States are not yet reporting on HIV and these figures are incomplete. The CDC estimates that 800,000 to 900,000 Americans are actually living with HIV and AIDS. Throughout many communities, persons living with HIV or AIDS risk losing their housing due to compounding factors, such as increased medical costs or limited ability to keep work due to AIDS. The lack of affordable and medically appropriate housing for persons living with HIV/AIDS and their families is an ongoing concern for AIDS housing providers, policy makers, and advocates across the country. Stable housing promotes improved health status, sobriety or decreased use of nonprescription drugs, and a return for some persons with AIDS to productive work and social activities. Stable housing is the cornerstone of HIV/AIDS treatment.
Recent studies confirm that persons living with HIV/AIDS must have stable housing to access comprehensive healthcare and adhere to complex HIV/AIDS drug therapies. Even though stable housing has been shown to be a necessary link to medical and supportive services, accessing housing is difficult as the wait for affordable housing increases in many communities across the country. Compounding the problem of waiting lists is access to housing with the services to care and treat the increasing number of persons living not only with HIV/AIDS but also with histories of homelessness, mental illness, and substance abuse.
HUD's Response In recognition of the unique effect HIV/AIDS has on housing for persons with HIV/AIDS and their families, HUD established the Office of HIV/AIDS Housing. The mission of the Office is to ensure that each HUD program and initiative is responsive to the needs of persons living with HIV/AIDS. The office performs policy, program, liaison, outreach, and program evaluation functions.
One of the primary functions of the Office of HIV/AIDS is to manage the Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) program. The HOPWA program is the only Federal program dedicated to the housing needs of persons living with HIV/AIDS and their families.
In addition to HOPWA, HUD has other programs designated to serve persons with a variety of needs that can be used to serve persons living with HIV/AIDS. HUD programs such as HUD's Homeless Assistance Programs, Programs for Persons with Disabilities, and HOME Initiatives can be directed to persons living with HIV/AIDS and their families.
Housing Options Persons living with HIV/AIDS and their families may require housing that provides emergency, transitional, or long-term affordable solutions. A variety of HUD programs and projects provide such housing; however, this housing often is not the typical structure we think of as a "house." HIV/AIDS housing includes short- and long-term rental assistance, live-in medical facilities, and housing sites developed exclusively for people living with AIDS.
Community Planning Options An additional resource for communities striving to meet the housing needs of persons living with HIV and AIDS is the HOPWA National Technical Assistance Program. The HOPWA National TA Program provides assistance to communities in developing strategies and plans to address the housing needs of persons living with HIV and AIDS. Through comprehensive needs analysis, HOPWA TA providers in partnership with community leaders, providers, and consumers develop needs assessments to determine existing projected housing needs for persons living with HIV/AIDS. Through these assessments, communities may address the housing needs of persons living with HIV and AIDS through a holistic approach, which maximizes resources and provides a continuum of housing options.
