Now Available – FY 2024-2025 HOPWA Application

The HOPWA program was established by the AIDS Housing Opportunity Act and remains the only federal housing program solely dedicated to providing rental housing assistance for persons and their families living with HIV/AIDS. The program provides states and localities with resources and incentives to devise long-term comprehensive strategies for meeting the housing needs of low-income persons living with HIV/AIDS. HOPWA housing support enables these special-needs households to

• Establish or maintain stable housing,
• Reduce their risks of homelessness, and
• Improve their access to healthcare and other support.

Housing assistance provides the foundation from which these individuals and their families may participate in advances in HIV treatment and related care. These resources help clients maintain housing stability, avoid homelessness, and improve access to HIV/AIDS treatment and related care while placing a greater emphasis on permanent supportive housing.

The City of Columbia administers HOPWA funding as a formula entitlement for the Columbia Eligible Metropolitan Statistical Area (EMSA) which are the following counties: Calhoun, Fairfield, Kershaw, Lexington, Richland, and Saluda.

All City of Columbia HOPWA Grant awards are made through a competitive application process based on client needs, gaps in services, and ability of agency to successfully implement the program.  The City HOPWA funding process opens in the fall for the fiscal year funding beginning the following July 1st.  HOPWA funding allocated each year for the City’s 2020-2024 priority order of funding HOPWA services:

1.  Permanent Housing Program
2.  Permanent Housing Vouchers
3.  Emergency Housing Assistance
4.  Supportive Services