PDF Version of NAHC Press Release June 23, 2022
Yesterday, June 22, 2022, the House Transportation-HUD Subcommittee released their fiscal year 2023 (FY23) funding bill (text is here). The subcommittee has allocated $600 million for the HOPWA (Housing Opportunities for Persons With AIDS) program for FY2023. This allocation is what the National AIDS Housing Coalition and community advocates asked for and well above President Biden’s request of $455 million.
$600 million for HOPWA ensures that current HOPWA clients will continue to access supportive housing and receive the services needed to live a healthy life. This allocation will also allow grantees to provide additional housing supports to long-standing waitlists as housing is the number one unmet need of persons living with HIV/AIDS. The House THUD committee number is a step to ending HIV/AIDS homelessness in the United States and demonstrates a commitment toward ending the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the United States.
However, we need you to make this happen. This bill is just the beginning of getting HOPWA funded at $600 million.
Take Action Now
- Urge your House members to pass this bill.
- Call your Senators and ask for $600 million for HOPWA programs in the Senate appropriations mark-up.
HOPWA programs are designed specifically to allow people living with HIV/AIDS to receive the care and support they need without stigma and achieve viral suppression. When people are virally suppressed, they cannot transmit HIV/AIDS through sex. To END the HIV/AIDS epidemic, we need to help all living with HIV/AIDS obtain viral suppression and live a robust life.
Additional House THUD Bill Summary
On the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) side of this bill we not only applaud the appropriate increase for HOPWA program funding needs, but it includes a $9 billion increase from fiscal year 2022 and a $1.1 billion increase from the President’s 2023 budget request.
This includes:
- $31 billion for Tenant-based Rental Assistance
- $8.7 billion for Public Housing
- $500 million for a new Manufactured Housing Improvement and Financing Program
- $175 million for Self-Sufficiency Programs
- $1 billion for Native American Programs
- $10 million for Native Hawaiian Housing Block Grant program
- $11.8 billion for Community Planning and Development
- $3.6 billion for Homeless Assistance Grants
- $14.9 billion for Project-based Rental Assistance
- $70 million for Housing Counseling
- $180 million for Policy Development and Research
- $86 million for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity
- $415 million for Office of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes
If you have any questions, please contact Lauren Banks, Executive Director, at the National AIDS Housing Coalition (LaurenK@nationalaidshousing.org).
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