Introduction
The Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) Program was the first program of its kind that was established to address the growing needs for housing for homeless persons, low-income individuals, as well as families that have been affected by the HIV/AIDS Virus (HUD, 2003). The significance of this study is to show the extent to which the HOPWA Program has in fact fulfilled its mandate by Congress to provide assistance to families, homeless persons and low-income persons living with HIV/AIDS.
Review of Literature
HOPWA Program was designed to provide housing assistance as the annual output measure; and to collect client information demonstrating the outcome for improved housing stability for the special needs population (HUD, 2003). In addition, HOPWA also makes grants to local communities, states, and nonprofit organizations to provide housing assistance and support services to low-income population with HIV/AIDS and their families (HUD, 2006). The funding request for the program is need-driven and reflects the department mission for providing permanent housing assistance to the populations who has very low-income and living with symptomatic HIV/AIDS, who also face chronic homeless and other challenges (Kingsley, 2007).
Studies show over 90 percent of HOPWA funds are distributed according to the number of people living with HIV/AIDS within a state or community (Ramirez, 2006). HOPWA funding is integrated into the overall federal response to the population living with HIV/AIDS (Swindell, 2007). Recently, HUD united with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and other federal agencies on a range of projects to promote better housing, health care, and other support services to those individuals living with HIV/AIDS (Saul, 2007).
Results
The U.S. federal government has made available over $2.3 billion in HOPWA budgets to support communities to establish and operate HIV/AIDS housing (Bruce, 2001). The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development provided $294.75 million to HIV/AIDS housing assistance program (HUD, 2006). The following chart indicates HOPWA budget for the period 2005-2007:
HOPWA Budget for the period 2005-2007 (Graph)
According to the chart, the 2005 budget requested for HOPWA was $294.8 million, which was level with the fiscal year 2004 (HUD, 2006). In 2006, HOPWA budget decreased to $286 million. In 2007, the program seeks $300 million (HUD, 2007).
Summary of Findings and Implications
Findings state that if the HOPWA program were to stay within budget, there would be a significant decrease in many of the services that the program offers such as housing assistance and medical care for people with HIV/AIDS. The following table describes the performance measurement system and how the system will be implemented.
HOPWA Program Performance Report (Data)
In conclusion, the HIV/AIDS cases are increasing faster than assistance can be given to the people. The findings show that even though HOPWA is not staying within
budget, they are still being effective not only to the people living with HIV/AIDS but other communities as well. The future of the HIV/AIDS community is greatly impacted by the amount of money that HOPWA receives in funds.
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