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HOPWA (housing help for people living with HIV/AIDS): who qualifies, what you get, how to apply, and what happens next

HOPWA pays for rental assistance, short-term rent, mortgage and utility help, and supportive housing for low-income people living with HIV and their families. In California, 40 mid-size and rural counties are served through the state Office of AIDS and the other 18 through local HUD grantees. People apply through the local HOPWA provider.

What HOPWA (Housing Opportunities for Persons With AIDS) is, in one paragraph

HOPWA, Housing Opportunities for Persons With AIDS, is a HUD program that pays for housing help for low-income people living with HIV and their families (rule:who_eligible). It can pay rental assistance, short-term rent, mortgage and utility bills to prevent homelessness, and supportive housing, always with supportive services (rule:strmu, rule:rental_assistance, rule:services_required). In California the state Office of AIDS funds providers in 40 mid-size and rural counties; the other 18 counties are served by local HUD grantees (rule:ca_40_counties, rule:ca_other_18). What is offered differs by county.

80%
of area median income: the HOPWA low-income line (HUD, rule:income_80)

Who may qualify

TestLineRule
DiagnosisMedically diagnosed with HIV/AIDS (the person and their family are eligible)rule:who_eligible, rule:eligible_person
IncomeAt or below 80% of area median incomerule:income_80
Housing (California Office of AIDS counties)Homeless or at risk of homelessnessrule:ca_three_tests

Housing information is open to anyone with HIV/AIDS and their family at any income (rule:info_any_income). A person who does not qualify may get housing services through the HIV Care Program (rule:hcp_alternative).

Rent. In HOPWA rental assistance the person pays the higher of 30% of monthly adjusted income or 10% of monthly income, or the welfare housing amount (rule:resident_rent, rule:resident_rent_10). Short-term rent, mortgage and utility payments cover no more than 21 weeks in any 52 (rule:strmu_21_weeks).

How to apply, and what happens after

Go to the local HOPWA provider for the county: the Office of AIDS provider list for its 40 counties, or the HUD Exchange grantee for the other 18. Ask an HIV care provider or case manager to refer.

StageWhat happensDeadlineWhat loses people the help
IntakeDiagnosis, income and housing status checkedAs soon as a rent, mortgage or shut-off notice arrivesWaiting until after a court case starts
HelpPayments to landlord, lender or utility, or a rental subsidyShort-term help up to 21 weeks in 52Running out of short-term weeks
ReexaminationIncome and household reviewedEvery 12 months (rule:annual_reexam)Missed review
GrievanceUnder the provider's policyUNKNOWNNot asking
The procedure, stage by stage, as data
JSONThe procedure, stage by stage, as data
10 items
10 keys
"id""stage:discover"
"order"1
"name""Discover"
"what_happens""Person learns HOPWA exists and which provider serves the county"
"who_acts""Person / HIV care provider"
"timeline""No deadline"
"evidence""None"
"failure_mode""Not knowing whether the county is a state or a local-grantee county"
"model_role""Name the route by county (rule:ca_40_counties, rule:ca_other_18)"
"automation_class""A"
10 keys
"id""stage:screen_eligibility"
"order"2
"name""Screen eligibility"
"what_happens""HIV diagnosis, income at or below 80% of area median, homeless or at risk"
"who_acts""Model + person"
"timeline""Minutes"
"evidence""Diagnosis, income, housing status"
"failure_mode""Assuming income disqualifies when only housing information is needed (rule:info_any_income)"
"model_role""State the three tests by rule id"
"automation_class""A"
10 keys
"id""stage:gather_documents"
"order"3
"name""Gather documents"
"what_happens""Proof of HIV diagnosis, income, lease or mortgage, utility bills, eviction or shut-off notices"
"who_acts""Person with model checklist"
"timeline""Before intake"
"evidence""Medical letter, income proof, lease, notices"
"failure_mode""Missing proof of diagnosis"
"model_role""Build the checklist"
"automation_class""A"
10 keys
"id""stage:submit"
"order"4
"name""Submit"
"what_happens""Intake with the local HOPWA provider"
"who_acts""Person + provider"
"timeline""As soon as a notice arrives"
"evidence""Intake record"
"failure_mode""Waiting until after an eviction is filed"
"model_role""Prepare the intake facts"
"automation_class""C - provider intake is human"
10 keys
"id""stage:decision"
"order"5
"name""Decision"
"what_happens""Provider decides the type of help and amount"
"who_acts""Provider"
"timeline""Per provider"
"evidence""Provider notice"
"failure_mode""Not asking what the decision covers"
"model_role""Explain the decision"
"automation_class""A"
10 keys
"id""stage:issuance_use"
"order"6
"name""Issuance / use"
"what_happens""Payments to the landlord, lender or utility; rent share set at the higher of 30% of adjusted or 10% of gross monthly income"
"who_acts""Provider"
"timeline""Short-term help limited to 21 weeks in 52 (rule:strmu_21_weeks)"
"evidence""Payment records"
"failure_mode""Running out of short-term weeks"
"model_role""Count the weeks used"
"automation_class""D"
10 keys
"id""stage:report_changes"
"order"7
"name""Report changes"
"what_happens""Report income and household changes to the provider"
"who_acts""Person"
"timeline""As the provider requires"
"evidence""Proof"
"failure_mode""Unreported income"
"model_role""Remind the person"
"automation_class""A"
10 keys
"id""stage:renew_recertify"
"order"8
"name""Renew / recertify"
"what_happens""Yearly reexamination of income and household"
"who_acts""Provider + person"
"timeline""Every 12 months (rule:annual_reexam)"
"evidence""Income documents"
"failure_mode""Missed reexamination"
"model_role""Calendar the date"
"automation_class""B"
10 keys
"id""stage:denial_response"
"order"9
"name""Denial response"
"what_happens""Ask the provider for the reason; check the HIV Care Program"
"who_acts""Model + person"
"timeline""Immediately"
"evidence""Provider notice"
"failure_mode""Stopping at a HOPWA no"
"model_role""Route to the HIV Care Program (rule:hcp_alternative)"
"automation_class""A"
10 keys
"id""stage:appeal_fair_hearing"
"order"10
"name""Appeal / grievance"
"what_happens""Grievance under the provider's policy"
"who_acts""Person"
"timeline""UNKNOWN (set by each grantee)"
"evidence""Notice"
"failure_mode""Not asking"
"model_role""Ask the provider for its grievance policy"
"automation_class""B"

The same facts open other programs

Diagnosis, income, housing status and county are the facts a HOPWA provider asks. The same facts open:

References (6)

Those connections are read from the California benefits graph, the object that holds all 80 programs, the life events that trigger them and the facts they share.

What this article shares with the graph
JSONWhat this article shares with the graph
6 keys
"program_id""B039"
"graph""california-benefits-graph"
"related_program_ids" 6 items
"B078"
"B079"
"B035"
"B011"
"B001"
"B023"
"related_programs" 6 keys
"B078""HIV/AIDS services: Ryan White + ADAP"
"B079""Continuum of Care shelters + Coordinated Entry"
"B035""Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8)"
"B011""Medi-Cal (Medicaid)"
"B001""CalFresh (SNAP)"
"B023""SSI + California SSP"
"triggered_by_events"
"shares_facts_with" 2 keys
"household.size" 6 items
"B001"
"B003"
"B011"
"B021"
"B045"
"B049"
"household.income.annual" 4 items
"B012"
"B049"
"B050"
"B056"

Official addresses

Related pages
Beside
Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program and California ADAP (free HIV medication, insurance premium help, and HIV care services): who qualifies, what you get, how to apply, and what happens nextContinuum of Care shelters and Coordinated Entry (the front door to homeless housing in each county): who qualifies, what you get, how to apply, and what happens nextHousing Choice Voucher (Section 8) (rent help paid to a private landlord): who qualifies, what you get, how to apply, and what happens nextMedi-Cal (California Medicaid health coverage): who qualifies, what you get, how to apply, and what happens nextCalFresh (California food benefits): who qualifies, what you get, how to apply, and what happens nextSSI and California SSP (monthly cash for people 65 or older, blind or disabled with very low income): who qualifies, what you get, how to apply, and what happens next
References (18)
  1. HOPWA Eligibility Requirements — HUD Exchange (U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development)“Low-income persons (at or below 80 percent of area median income) that are medically diagnosed with HIV/AIDS and their families are eligible to receive HOPWA-funded assistance.”
  2. HOPWA Eligibility Requirements: formula and competitive — HUD Exchange (U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development)“The annual HOPWA appropriation is divided between the two programs – 90 percent for formula program grants and 10 percent for competitive program grants.”
  3. Programs of HUD: HOPWA — U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development“Appropriate supportive services must be provided in conjunction with any HOPWA-assisted housing.”
  4. HOPWA Program: who is eligible — California Department of Public Health, Office of AIDS“To be eligible for HOPWA services, individuals must be (1) HIV positive, (2) low income as defined by HUD, and (3) be homeless or at risk of being homeless.”
  5. HOPWA Program: where services are provided — California Department of Public Health, Office of AIDS“Services are provided locally by funded health departments, housing authorities, and community-based organizations in 40 mid-size and rural counties.”
  6. HOPWA Program: the other counties — California Department of Public Health, Office of AIDS“The remaining 18 counties, please go to the HUD Exchange website.”
  7. HOPWA Program: services differ by county — California Department of Public Health, Office of AIDS“The availability of services may differ from county to county.”
  8. HOPWA Program: what we provide — California Department of Public Health, Office of AIDS“Services may include short-term emergency rent, mortgage, and utility assistance to prevent homelessness, housing information, tenant-based or project-based rental assistance, and other support services.”
  9. HOPWA Program: HIV Care Program — California Department of Public Health, Office of AIDS“Individuals who are not eligible for HOPWA services may be eligible for housing services through the HIV Care Program”
  10. 24 CFR 574.3: eligible person — Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (Office of the Federal Register)“Eligible person means a person with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome or related diseases who is a low-income individual, as defined in this section, and the person's family.”
  11. 24 CFR 574.3: housing information regardless of income — Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (Office of the Federal Register)“A person with AIDS or related diseases or a family member regardless of income is eligible to receive housing information services”
  12. 24 CFR 574.300: eligible activities — Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (Office of the Federal Register)“Short-term rent, mortgage, and utility payments to prevent the homelessness of the tenant or mortgagor of a dwelling;”
  13. 24 CFR 574.300: rental assistance — Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (Office of the Federal Register)“Project- or tenant-based rental assistance, including assistance for shared housing arrangements;”
  14. 24 CFR 574.310: resident rent payment — Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (Office of the Federal Register)“30 percent of the family's monthly adjusted income;”
  15. 24 CFR 574.310: ten percent — Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (Office of the Federal Register)“Ten percent of the family's monthly income; or”
  16. 24 CFR 574.310: annual reexamination — Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (Office of the Federal Register)“grantees will conduct a reexamination and redetermination of family income and family composition every year.”
  17. 24 CFR 574.330: short-term limits — Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (Office of the Federal Register)“may not be provided to such an individual for these costs accruing over a period of more than 21 weeks in any 52 week period.”
  18. 24 CFR 574.330: short-term supported housing — Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (Office of the Federal Register)“A short-term supported housing facility may not provide residence to any individual for more than 60 days during any six month period.”