Alliance for Housing and Healing Assumes Key Role in Special Project of National Significance From Housing and Urban Development to Improve Housing Services for People Living With HIV/AIDS, Will Coordinate Local Getting to Work Employment Initiative and Receives HOPWA Renewal

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 17, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In an era where resources are continually diminishing, the ability of local communities to respond to the needs of vulnerable people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) and in poverty remains challenging.  Alliance for Housing & Healing (AHH), the umbrella organization for Aid For AIDS and The Serra Project, is forging ahead as the leader in AIDS housing and direct supportive services in Los Angeles County.

As part of an effort to develop innovative and community-wide strategies, AHH, in partnership with the Los Angeles County Commission on HIV and five local government agencies, will develop a new, local Integrated HIV/AIDS Housing Plan to better coordinate government funding streams  and provide permanent housing to persons living with HIV/AIDS.  As part of a nationwide competition to advance the National HIV/AIDS Strategy, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) recently awarded nearly 9.1 million dollars in funds to 7 out of 46 applications  and the Los Angeles proposal (known as the Collaborative for Housing Integrated with Supportive Services or CHISS) is one such project.  Glenda Pinney of Los Angeles County Commission on HIV will play a key role in its implementation along with Terry Goddard II, AHH Executive Director. "This landmark project will reassert that housing is healthcare and a viable and effective platform to help persons living with HIV enter into and maintain medical care. This visionary program aligns with the mission of AHH to deliver comprehensive housing solutions and supportive services for those low-income individuals and families living with HIV/AIDS," says Goddard.

Along with AHH, which will act as the project sponsor, other participating organizations in this Special Program of National Significance are the Los Angeles Housing Department, Housing Authority of the County of Los Angeles, Los Angeles Homeless Service Authority, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health Office of AIDS Programs and Policy and the Los Angeles County HIV Commission who is the grantee.  

Through a separate national competition, AHH was also designated as Los Angeles' project sponsor of the Housing Opportunities for People Living with HIV/AIDS (HOPWA)'s "Getting to Work Employment Initiative" to increase access to vocational services and employment for program participants. Funded by HUD's Office of HIV/AIDS Housing (OHH), this project supports HUD's strategic goal to increase access for HUD program beneficiaries to employment and other income supports.  The focus of this Initiative will be on building the capacity of HOPWA-funded agencies to provide employment services to clients, either through partnerships and/or direct services. AHH, along with the Los Angeles Housing Department (as grantee) will lead this initiative on a local level, encouraging employment among HIV/AIDS, disabled and low-income populations, and increasing opportunities that will contribute to economic growth.

In addition, a recommendation has also been made for continuation of funding of AHH as the project sponsor to centrally coordinate the HOPWA Short-Term Rental Mortgage Utility – Permanent Housing Placement program. This program provides emergency rent, mortgage, utility and move-in assistance grants with over twenty local nonprofits acting as referral agencies. Since its creation in 1993, this HOPWA program has been instrumental in helping those living with HIV/AIDS who are homeless or at risk of homelessness in securing and maintaining safe and appropriate housing.

Alliance for Housing & Healing is proud to continue its tradition of excellence and to serve as the leader in AIDS housing in Los Angeles County.  As the economy continues to take a toll on social services, severely impacting the availability of critical services that people living with HIV/AIDS need and can rely upon, AHH will remain strong in its fight against HIV/AIDS.  These achievements underscore this assertion, commitment, mission and vision to promote community and service-provider partnerships.

CONTACT: Terry Goddard II, Executive Director
TELEPHONE: 323-344-4899
EMAIL: [email protected]

SOURCE Alliance for Housing and Healing