AHC was recently awarded a $400,000 grant from HUD to provide technical assistance for the HOPWA program. Though the scope of this grant has not yet been finalized, technical assistance for the HOPWA program will include support to HOPWA grantees and sponsors across New England (HUD Region 1), as well as assistance to the program nationally. Recent examples of AHC's HOPWA technical assistance have included a series of HOPWA management trainings offered throughout the region, community needs assessment and AIDS housing planning in the State of New Hampshire, and current work on two publications for the national program. To request HOPWA related technical assistance from AHC, contact Jonathan Sherwood, Director of Technical Assistance.

United Disability Housing Partnership and United’s Citizen Action Network (UCAN) recently co-sponsored four Legislative Town Meetings throughout the Commonwealth and an Advocacy Day at the State House in Boston. The town meetings were held in Worcester, Hyannis, Amherst, and Pittsfield in March and April. At each town meeting, State Representatives and State Senators and their staff discussed affordable housing issues with local residents who are living with disabilities. Residents voiced their concerns with the lack of affordable and accessible housing in their communities, the specific struggles they face regularly, and what actions they would like to see their elected officials take to create change.

At the State House Advocacy Day, consumers from the Boston area visited with legislative staff. Specifically, participants asked legislators for an increase in funding to the Alternative Housing Voucher Program (AHVP), which provides housing subsidies to low-income single people living with disabilities.

On May 11th at our Annual Meeting and Awards Ceremony we will present the 2006 Peter Medoff Awards to a group of amazing individuals. Please join us at 6:00 PM at the Boston Living Center as we honor Jim Pettinelli of Victory Programs; Betsy Conway of New Beginnings; Wendy Furnari of Southern New Hampshire HIV/AIDS Task Force; Anthony Andreottola of JRI Huntington at Symphony; and Larry Kessler, founding director of AIDS Action Committee. All were nominated by their peers and selected as 2006 Peter Medoff Awards recipients by AHC’s Board of Directors.

The Annual Meeting and Awards Ceremony will begin at 6:00 PM. Light refreshments will be served. Congratulations to our 2006 awardees!