Housing Opportunities for Persons With AIDS

Thanks to funding received from the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, the County of Rockland provides tenant-based rental assistance (TBRA) and support services to individuals who are low-income and are diagnosed with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).

The goal of the provision of these services is to enable low-income individuals and families living with HIV/AIDS to secure and maintain appropriate housing in the County of Rockland.

For qualifying households, HOPWA rental subsidies (i.e., TBRA) will be combined with shelter allowance subsidies from the Rockland County Department of Social Services. This leveraged financing will maximize the use of HOPWA funds.

TBRA subsidies will be provided along with legal and counseling services, modeled after the Section 8 Housing Voucher Choice program, with two modifications. First, households will be eligible for TBRA if they meet the definition of "low-income" currently defined as 80% of median family income by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Utilization statistics show that approximately 80% of the assisted households still fall in the HUD-defined "very low-income" category. Second, the County of Rockland will allow a greater number of bedrooms than in the Section 8 program, if medically appropriate and documented.

The Rockland County Office of Community Development handles enrollments, recertification, and day-to-day client services.

The eligible HOPWA activities to be funded are as follows:

• Tenant Based Rental Assistance
• Client Services

For more information on this program please contact Lizzette Regina at 845-364-3708 or ReginaLi@co.rockland.ny.us.