CHARLESTON – Congresswoman Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) today joined Roy Bernardi, the Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and Governor Joe Manchin in a ceremony to announce a Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) grant for the West Virginia Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity (GOEO). 

The grant will provide $969,499 of federal funding to support housing assistance and a partnership between the GOEO and the West Virginian Coalition for People with HIV/AIDS. 

“It is incredibly important that those who live with HIV and AIDS have stability at home,” said Capito.  “This grant will help provide that stability to hundreds of West Virginians who are courageously fighting this disease.  Along with Governor Manchin, I’m very grateful for the support of Secretary Bernardi and his team.” 

In awarding the grant, Bernardi stressed the importance of support for those with HIV/AIDS.

“A safe, stable home can make a huge difference in remaining healthy for families and people living with HIV/AIDS.  This funding provides West Virginia residents living with the disease this opportunity while receiving care,” said Bernardi.  “For each person who receives this money, it is one less worry for them and one more way we can help combat the disease.”

Governor Manchin accepted the grant on behalf of the Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity (OEO).

“West Virginians who are living with HIV or AIDS face extra challenges, such as difficulty finding affordable, good-quality housing that’s close to medical care and employment opportunities,” said Gov. Manchin. “This HUD and state program has proven successful and we’ve seen many program participants move into home ownership, which is good for them and for West Virginia as a whole.”

Throughout the year, HUD will make available more than $280 million in HOPWA grants to communities around the nation.  Under funding requests for next year, HOPWA grants could reach a record $300 million which would allow the department to assist more than 70,000 persons living with HIV and AIDS.  Since 1992, HUD has distributed more than $3.5 billion in HOPWA funds.   

The grant for West Virginia will primarily support a partnership between the GOEO and the West Virginia Coalition for People with HIV/AIDS.  The coalition includes the Covenant House of Charleston, the Caritas House of Morgantown and Community Networks of Martinsburg.  The Covenant House hosted today’s grant announcement.

“Securing stable, safe housing can be a constant battle for low-income West Virgininans living with AIDS,” said Amy Weintraub, the Executive Director of Covenant House.  “West Virginia’s HOPWA program provides a safety net and ensures these folks do not fall into homelessness or deeper into poverty.  Covenant House is proud to be a part of this life-extending program.” 

Today’s grant announcement comes as West Virginia prepares to celebrate World AIDS Day, a world-wide educational campaign to raise awareness about the fight against HIV and AIDS. 

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