Urgent Notice Of Joint HOPWA/Ryan White SPNS Competitions For New "HIV Multiple Diagnoses Initiative"

HUD and HHS have published separate notices in today's Federal Register (2/28/96) , announcing a new joint initiative for multiply-diagnosed homeless persons who are living with HIV/AIDS and have chronic alcohol and/or other drug abuse problems and/or serious mental illness. This new HIV Multiple-Diagnoses Initiative will be funded through the FY '96 competitive grants process for the Special Projects of National Significance portion of HOPWA and the Special Projects of National Significance component of the Ryan White CARE Act.

The HIV Multiple-Diagnoses Initiative is a collaborative effort between HUD and HHS to establish, evaluate, and disseminate information on model programs that integrate health care and other supportive services with housing assistance for "on the street" homeless people living with HIV/AIDS and chronic mental illness and/or substance abuse problems. Applicants for either the HUD or HHS Initiative grants should propose innovative strategies for developing an integrated system of outreach, needs assessment, comprehensive health and other support services and various types of transitional and permanent housing which have the potential for replication.

The HOPWA portion of this new initiative is included as part of the HOPWA NOFA released today announcing the availability of an expected $17.1 million in FY '96 competitive grants. Approximately $7 million of this amount is being reserved for the HIV Multiple-Diagnoses Initiative. HHS is announcing the availability of 5-year grants totaling an additional $500,000 a year for assistance in conjunction with the HOPWA initiative, to be funded through the Special Projects of National Significance portion of the Ryan White CARE Act. Actual amounts available may change, subject to final FY '96 appropriations for HOPWA and RW.

HOPWA Grants

States, local governments, and non-profit organizations may apply for HOPWA competitive grants, which can be used for housing assistance and supportive services for the target population. For more information or to obtain a copy of the application package, contact your HUD field office, or call the Community Connections information center at 1-800-998-9999 or by internet at gopher://amcon.aspensys.com:75/11/funding. Deadline for applications: May 21, 1996 Midnight EST.

HHS Grants

Public and non-profit private entities, including community-based organizations, may apply for RW SPNS grants to develop and evaluate programs integrating medical, substance abuse, and mental health services in residential facilities or home health care agencies. Additionally, HHS will fund an Evaluation Technical Assistance Center which will undertake national and multi-site evaluations of projects funded under this joint initiative and will provide assessment and technical support for those projects that request program development support. For more information, or to obtain a copy of the application package, contact Neal Meyerson, Grants Management Branch, HRSA telephone # (301) 443-2280 fax # (301) 594-6096. Deadline for applications: May 28, 1996 COB.

For more information, contact
AIDS Action Council
1875 Connecticut Avenue NW #700
Washington DC 20009
202-986-1300
202-986-1345 (fax)
202-332-9614 (tty)
E-Mail: aidsaction@aidsaction.org