Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) is a housing assistance program sponsored by the Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA) and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) that provides housing assistance to anyone who is HIV+, low income, and meets other program criteria.
HOPWA provides funds for emergency short-term assistance to families and individuals in crisis that have been affected by or infected with HIV. These funds cannot be used to supplement your income beyond the crisis that you are requesting help with.
Referrals for program services are received from various agencies, but primarily from Ryan White staff in our HIV Clinic.
HOPWA funds are limited and will be used to help individuals in the following order: 1- homeless; 2 – single mothers/fathers with children; 3 – families; 4 – individuals.
HOPWA can help by: paying rent; paying for rental deposits; paying mortgage; paying for utilities; and providing case management, referrals, housing resources, and support services.
Amount of financial assistance is dependent upon the applicant’s county, size of household and income. Assistance is limited according to criteria determined by DCA-GA.
HOPWA is available in the following south Georgia counties: Atkinson, Bacon, Ben Hill, Brantley, Brooks, Charlton, Early, Clinch, Coffee, Cook, Echols, Irwin, Lanier, Lowndes, Pierce, Tift, Turner and Ware.
To qualify for HOPWA, we will need you to provide the following or allow us to collect the information:
- HIV/AIDS verification
- Verification of income or lack of income (check stubs, SSI, SSD, award letter, etc.)
- Verification of emergency need (eviction notice, dispossessory notice, receipts for bills paid, medications, food, etc.)
- Mortgage payment coupon or statement, and delinquent notice if applicable
- Utility bills (power, gas, water only)
- Identification (picture ID and social security card)
Terri Ball, Housing Coordinator
Contact Information:
Phone: 229-245-8711, ext. 207
Fax: 229-245-8432