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 66 113 Totals 5 20 North Dakota 15 29 South Dakota 23 32 YAP 23 32 MAC Plus Grant Regular Grant Sponsor

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