Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) Grant Program

The Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) funding opportunity is administered in South Carolina by the South Carolina Department of Public Health, which distributes federal funds originating from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. This program is designed to support housing stability and related services for low-income individuals diagnosed with HIV/AIDS. The initiative aligns with national and state HIV/AIDS strategies, including federal plans to end the HIV epidemic and South Carolina’s statewide HIV/AIDS strategic framework. Through this request for grant applications, the department seeks qualified organizations to act as project sponsors responsible for delivering services across designated service areas within the state. The primary purpose of the funding is to prevent homelessness and improve housing stability for low-income persons living with HIV. Funded organizations are required to provide a combination of housing assistance and supportive services. These include short-term rent, mortgage, and utility assistance, transitional housing subsidies, permanent housing placement services, and supportive services such as case management. All services must comply with federal regulations outlined in 24 CFR Part 574 and align with the state’s consolidated housing and community development plans. Funds are strictly limited to approved uses and may not be diverted to unrelated activities. Funding is distributed across nine service areas within South Carolina, each with estimated annual allocations based on HIV prevalence data. Award amounts vary significantly by region, reflecting differing population needs. The program operates on a three-year project period beginning April 1, 2026, with annual renewals contingent upon performance, funding availability, and program priorities. Subrecipients must initiate services within 30 days of contract execution and maintain compliance with extensive reporting, monitoring, and financial management requirements throughout the funding period. Eligibility is restricted to organizations with demonstrated experience providing HOPWA-eligible services. Applicants must have at least three years of documented service delivery to persons living with HIV and must either be located within the service area or demonstrate established service capacity and referral networks in those areas. Additional requirements include letters of support from county governments, proof of good standing with the state, financial capacity to operate on a reimbursement basis, and completion of a pre-award risk assessment. Organizations in probationary status or recently terminated by the department are not eligible. The application process requires submission of a comprehensive proposal package including a cover letter, eligibility documentation, program description, organizational capacity details, community assessment, reporting methodology, and a detailed budget narrative. Applications must be submitted either physically or electronically by the specified deadline, with strict formatting and submission requirements. Questions from applicants are accepted within a defined period and responses are publicly posted to ensure transparency. Applications are evaluated based on defined scoring criteria that emphasize program design, organizational experience, community knowledge, and reporting capability. Final award decisions are anticipated by mid-February 2026, with funding contingent upon federal allocation timelines. Successful applicants enter into subaward agreements with the department and must comply with ongoing monitoring, reporting, and performance evaluation requirements. The program is issued as a periodic funding opportunity tied to federal cycles, with future funding rounds expected based on continued federal support.

Ensure strong documentation of prior HIV service experience; align program design with HUD regulations; demonstrate capacity for financial management and reporting; secure required county support letters early