TITLE
Recommendation to request authorization to open the Housing Authority’s Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS waiting list. (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
The Housing Authority of the City of Long Beach receives federal funds designated for people with HIV/AIDS under the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Housing Opportunities for persons with AIDS (HOPWA) Program. These funds provide tenant based rental assistance and related social services, such as move-in grants to low-income people with HIV/AIDS. The Housing Authority will provide rental assistance to an average of 75 households per grant year under the HOPWA Program.
The HOPWA waiting list was last opened in June 2016. Currently, the Housing Authority has almost exhausted the list of eligible families in the HOPWA Program. Authorization is, therefore, requested to re-open the HOPWA waiting list. It is planned that the waiting list will open for the HOPWA Program on April 16, 2018 and remain open indefinitely, if authorized. Eligible applicants will be notified that applications are being accepted via the Housing Authority website at www.haclb.org
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Applicants will be placed on the waiting list in random order. Local preferences will affect the priority in which applicants will be served. Veterans, veterans’ surviving spouses and Long Beach residents (defined as those who live or work in Long Beach) will be served before those applicants who are not residents.
We are also collaborating with several community-based organizations that provide HIV healthcare services to our prospective clients to provide assistance with completing the online application, if necessary. In addition to advertising the opening of the HOPWA waiting list on our website, www.haclb.org , we will advertise in the local press, as well as several publications targeting the LGBTQ community.
This matter was reviewed by Deputy City Attorney Linda T. Vu on Feb...
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