Division of STI/HIV/AIDS, Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) Program

The Chicago Department of Public Health, Division of STI/HIV/AIDS (The Division) receives support for its HIV/AIDS Housing programs from two federal sources: U. S. Department Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) funds, HUD Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds. The Division has served as the HOPWA Formula grantee for the Chicago Eligible Metropolitan Statistical Area (EMSA) since 1993. The Chicago EMSA includes Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Grundy, Kane, Kendall, McHenry and Will counties.

The HOPWA program was established by HUD in 1992 to address the specific housing needs of People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). Under the HOPWA program, housing services needed by PLWHA are supported through the provision of funds to agencies that provide effective strategies to prevent homelessness and facilitate access to a range of needed treatment and supportive services. The Division uses HOPWA resources to fund not-for-profit, community-based organizations located within the above outlined geographic area that have experience in providing these services for PLWHA in the following categories: