NVRC's Role in HOPWA

  • Northern Virginia Regional Commission (NVRC) is the Administrative Agent for Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS, (HOPWA), funding in suburban Virginia.
  • Suburban Virginia HOPWA is available to help people with HIV (PWH) who live in the Cities of Alexandria, Fairfax, Falls Church, Fredericksburg, Manassas, and Manassas Park, and the Counties of Arlington, Clarke, Fairfax, Falls Church, Fauquier, Loudoun, Madison, Prince William, Rappahannock, Spotsylvania, Stafford, and Warren.
  • NVRC is responsible for the approval and the distribution of HOPWA funding in the DC suburban area of Virginia, along with monitoring programmatic and fiscal activities of its sub-recipients to ensure PWH receive appropriate and quality services.
  • NVRC, under a contract with DC Health HASHTA (the DC Department of Health, HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis, STD and TB Administration), awards nearly $2.5 million in federal funds to service providing agencies. These agencies facilitate various HOPWA eligible programs that serve and benefit low-income PWH and their families.
  • Services are divided into two focus areas, Housing Services and Supportive Services. The Housing Services include the following programs:
  1. Tenant-Based Rental Assistance (TBRA)—no longer taking applications--waitlist closed in 2015; selected agencies are still administering services to those who entered the program prior to 2015. 
  2. Short Term Mortgage, Rental, Utilities Assistance (STRMU) – periodic short-term assistance to help housed PWH facing unexpected changes in their situations remain housed.
  3. Permanent Housing Placement (PHP) assisting with Security Deposits and First Month’s Rent
  4. Housing Information—NVRC receives a portion of this funding to provide resources to the community through the dissemination and maintenance of the HIV Resources website (www.novaregion.org/hiv) and direct communication.

An essential component in providing housing assistance for this population is the coordination and delivery of Supportive Services, outlined below:

  1. Housing Case Management (HCM)—this includes linkage to services for medical, dental, substance abuse, mental health, life skills, legal, or for any area that would assist in the sustainability of the household.
  2. Employment Assistance (including education and job training)
  3. Transportation to health and social services appointments or to enable a housing search.