HOPWA (Housing Opportunities for Person with AIDS/HIV)
The Housing Authority of the City of Frederick (HACF) Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS/HIV (HOPWA) Program provides housing assistance and supportive services to low-income persons living with AIDS/HIV and their household. HOPWA was establish to deliver services to assist program participants in finding and/or maintaining affordable and stable housing, reducing their risk of homelessness, and improving their access to health care and supportive services.
HACF authorizes the following program services:
• Tenant-based rental assistance (TBRA) – TBRA is a rental subsidy used to help households obtain permanent housing, including assistance for shared housing arrangements, in the private rental housing market. TBRA works like the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program in that the assistance pays the difference between the contractual rent to the owner and the household’s calculated rent payment. The gross rent of the proposed unit must be at or below the lower of the rent standard or the reasonable rent.
• Short-term rent, mortgage, and utility assistance (STRMU) – STRMU provides short-term, rent, mortgage, and utility payments for households experiencing a financial crisis as a result of their HIV health condition or a change in their economic circumstances. STRMU is designed to prevent households from becoming homeless by helping them remain in their own dwellings.
• Permanent housing placement (PHP) – PHP may be used to help households establish permanent residence in which continued occupancy is expected. Eligible costs include application fees, related credit checks, utility connection fees and deposits, and reasonable security deposits necessary to move persons into permanent housing. Security deposits must be returned to the agency upon completion of the rental agreement.
• Supportive Services – The HACF HOPWA Program limits the use of Supportive Service funds to housing case management. Supportive Services should be used to complement housing assistance services (TBRA, STRMU, and PHP) and promote housing stability, but may be provided as a standalone service.
HOPWA Program Eligibility:
o At least one of your household members must be living with HIV.
o Your household annual gross income cannot exceed 80% of area median income for Frederick County.
o Your household must reside within the Housing Authority of the City of Frederick’s Service Delivery Area.
Additional Service Requirements:
• To receive Tenant-Based Rental Assistance (TBRA) services:
o Your household can be housed or homeless;
o At least one of your household members must be named on the current lease or utility bill;
o Your gross rent must be at or below the lower of the rent standard or the reasonable rent.
• To receive short-term rent, mortgage, or utility assistance services:
o Your household must already be housed;
o Your household must provide proof of recent short-term emergency situation that jeopardizes your housing stability;
o At least one of your household members must be named on the current lease, mortgage, or utility bill;
o Your household can receive only 21 weeks’ worth of assistance in a 52-week period (alternate caps may be in effect).
• To receive permanent housing placement services:
o Your household can be housed or homeless;
o Your household must locate housing;
o At least one of your household members must be named on the PHP Intent to Lease Worksheet
• To receive any form of housing assistance services:
o Your housing must meet minimum Habitability Standards;
o HACF must obtain the owner’s Internal Revenue Service Form W-9 before a check is issued for rent.
HOPWA Waiting List:
The HOPWA Waiting List applicants are organized through an assessment/scoring system. The waiting list is always open and fully confidential.
TO APPLY FOR THE HOPWA WAITING LIST
Please contact the
Frederick County Housing Management Coordinator
at (240) 578-0165
or send an email by clicking HERE.
Garrett, Alleghany, and Washington Counties Housing Management Coordinator
at (240) 910-6957
or send an email by clicking HERE.
Forms:
- Short-term rent, mortgage, and utility assistance (STRMU) Application
- Permanent housing placement (PHP) Application
