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FORT WORTH - They are extremely low-income, living with HIV/AIDS and at high risk of homelessness. Today, more than 1,100 persons and their families will find a stable home, and receive the services they need to manage their illnesses, because of $19.3 million in grants awarded by Housing and Urban Development Secretary Steve Preston, including $950,966 for Tarrant County.

The grants announced today are part of HUD's Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS Program (HOPWA) and will renew support to 18 local programs across the country and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Housing assistance and related services funded by HOPWA are a vital part of the comprehensive system of care for those living with HIV/AIDS. A stable home environment is critical for low-income persons managing complex drug therapies, allowing them to access this support and maintain such care in a consistent and effective manner. For a summary of the local programs receiving HOPWA grants, visit HUD's website.

"These grants are quite literally a lifeline for those struggling to find a decent home while trying to manage complex drug therapies," said Preston. "Working closely with our local partners, we can offer these families the support they need to concentrate on staying healthy instead of worrying how they'll pay next month's rent."

Tarrant County will receive a HOPWA renewal grant for $950,966 to continue operating the Tarrant County Samaritan Housing program to provide housing at its Samaritan House facility, as well as rental assistance for residents who have left the Samaritan House supportive housing facility and entered into a unit of their own. The program also links participants who are often recovering from substance abuse or addressing mental illnesses through its supportive services, including chemical dependency counseling, meal services and professional skills development. Over the next three years, Samaritan House will supply 60 units annually of facility-based housing, will provide tenant-based rental assistance to 26 households annually, and will support 75 households annually through supportive services. For more information contact: Ms. Patricia Ward, Director, phone: (817) 850-7940, email: pward@tarrantcounty.com.

Ninety percent of HOPWA funds are distributed by formula to cities and states based on the number of AIDS cases reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. HUD's formula grants are managed by 121 local and state jurisdictions, which coordinate AIDS housing efforts with other HUD and community resources. This year, HUD is making available a record $300 million in HOPWA funds to help communities provide housing for this special needs population. These resources are expected to assist an estimated 67,000 households annually.