May 27, 2005
AIDS Action Committee Rental Assistance Program: Important Changes on July 1
As of July 1, 2005, there will be important changes to AIDS Action Committee's Rental Assistance Program. This Massachusetts statewide program provides 'Homelessness Prevention' and 'Rental Start-Up' funds for persons with HIV/AIDS through partnerships with local AIDS service providers.
As of July 1, AIDS Action Committee will no longer be providing either of these resources in:AAC will be providing reduced services in:
- Western Massachusetts - Berkshire, Franklin, Hampden, and Hampshire counties
- The Cape and Islands - Barnstable, Nantucket, and Dukes counties
- Worcester County
- Essex County
Why is this happening?
This is a result of the major changes in the distribution of HOPWA funds that occurred in October 2003. Click here for more information about these changes. In the past, the program operated with two HOPWA grants from the AIDS Bureau and the City of Boston and one Ryan White CARE Act grant from the Boston Public Health Commission. With the changes in 2003, AAC had to apply to five more sources for funding in order to operate at the same level, meaning it had to manage and report on eight grants. Despite making an effort to do this in the first year after the HOPWA changes, AAC determined that it was not feasible to do this in the long-run. AIDS Action Committee, AIDS Housing Corporation and the local HOPWA formula grantees have worked to identify new community partners to pick up this valuable service. In the Springfield area and in Essex County, final funding decisions have not been announced as of the date of this notice.
What will this mean for you locally?
As noted above, some locations will continue to have access to a full level of service. In these areas, AAC receives both CARE Act and HOPWA funds to provide this service. In areas where there will be reduced services, this means that AAC will continue to have CARE Act funds to provide limited homelessness prevention and start-up funds. T hese limited funds should be supplemented by local HOPWA grants from the cities of Worcester and Lynn to provide the same service. In these areas, organizations should apply to the local organization for more flexible HOPWA funds and then to AAC for CARE Act funds as payer of 'last resort.' In the Springfield area, providers will seek assistance for consumers from yet-to-be identified local organizations. In Berkshire County and the Cape and Islands, there are no longer any such funds available, except for emergency funds available through local AIDS Bureau-funded case management programs.
Confused yet?
If you have any questions, please call Todd Brown at the Rental Assistance Program (617-450-1384) or Jonathan Sherwood at AIDS Housing Corporation (617-927-0088) or visit the Rental Assistance Program's web site.
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