Tri-State HELP/HOPWA Rural Housing: Providing Housing and - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Tri-State HELP/HOPWA Rural Housing: Providing Housing and Supportive Services to PLWH in Rural Communities Presented by: Barb Watson, TS HELP/HOPWA Program Coordinator

Tri-State HELP/HOPWA (Housing Environments for Living Positively)  Grantee: MT Department of Public Health and Human Services  Four Sponsor Regions: – Missoula AIDS Council (MAC) – MT, West Region – Yellowstone AIDS Project (YAP) – MT, East Region – Sioux Falls Housing and Redevelopment Commission (SFHRC) – Sioux Falls, South Dakota – Comm. Action Region VII (CAP7) – Bismarck, ND

Historic Milestones of TS HELP  May 2002, the three states formed an innovative collaboration, the first multi-state HOPWA competitive application to be awarded a 1.3 million HOPWA grant.  December 2005, TS HELP applied for HOPWA unobligated funds for additional Housing Assistance and Housing Case Management and was awarded 1.4 million.  These two grants have been renewed twice!

TS HELP Housing Assistance Includes: TBRA, STRMU and/or mortgage and utility assistance and Supportive Services. Client Assistance numbers are displayed below Sponsor Regular Grant Plus Grant MAC 32 23 YAP 32 23 South Dakota 29 15 North Dakota 20 5 Totals 113 66

TS HELP Housing Challenges: HUGE Geographical Area: MT, SD and ND 1-2 day drive to meet with some rural clients. • Sponsors utilize more localized CM for in-takes and • may never engage face-to-face with any HOPWA clients. Inconsistency in program service, housing plans and • case management. $ for transportation to client support services; medical • appointments, support groups, counseling, etc.

TS HELP Housing Challenges:  Increase in HOPWA clients – due to NEW HIV diagnosis or clients relocating from other regions to be closer to family.  Lack of affordable housing in metro areas under FMR’s.  Poor or no credit history – background checks can lead to increased security deposits or denial of housing application.  Housing waiting lists for all sponsor HOPWA programs.

TS HELP Housing Successes  With the addition of Housing Case Management, this has enabled each sponsor to work more closely on each client’s individual housing plan.  Intensive one-on-one case management has strengthened relationships between the programs and clients.  Networking and referral programs such as; Ryan White, SNAP, Section 8, SSI/SSDI and LEAP have created a streamlined effort maintaining stability for clients.

TS HELP Housing Successes  Many clients take advantage of educational and employment workshops being offered through sponsors.  Clients participate and volunteer in local events; baseball games, dinners, fundraisers, World AIDS Day events and agency sponsored events.  Housing waiting lists for all sponsor HOPWA programs.

Sponsor Challenges: MAC Missoula AIDS Council - Missoula, MT Presented by: Jordan Lyons, Housing Coordinator  Transportation Barriers and Solutions  Working with clients living on Native American Reservations.

Sponsor Challenges: SFHRC Sioux Falls Housing and Redevelopment Commission – Sioux Falls, SD Presented by: Bill Ziegler, Housing Case Mgr.  HIV/AIDS Stigma and Awareness in SD  Case Management Collaboration