Today, our community received great news about new dollars for housing and supportive services for our neighbors living with HIV and AIDS.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) awarded $1.365 million to the Portland Housing Bureau to fund a variety of housing services, including short-term rest assistance, employment services, and permanent housing for people living with HIV and experiencing homelessness.

Portland joins seven other communities through the country receiving a total of $8.8 million in grant dollars through HUD's Housing Opportunities for Persons With AIDS (HOPWA) program. A total of 46 projects were considered for the funding.

Local funding will support Springboard to Stability, Self-Sufficiency and Health (S4H), a collaborative initiative combining the work of Cascade AIDS Project in providing rent assistance, case management, and culturally competent employment services, with the employment services of Worksystems, Inc.

Our ability to leverage funding dollars is made possible by the strength of local collaborations, which include partnerships with Home Forward, Multnomah County Health Department, the Oregon Health Authority, Coalition of Community Health Clinics, Outside In and Central City Concern, among others.

Many thanks to HUD for this important grant, which will help 60 households in our community, and support community planning work to integrate HIV-specific resources with "mainstream" housing and services.

"HUD Awards Almost $1.4 Million to Portland Housing Bureau for Project of "National Significance" Providing Housing & Services for Persons Living with AIDS"