MFA Awards $1.3 Million to Create Housing Opportunities for New Mexicans Living with AIDS/HIV

On June 21, 2023, the New Mexico Mortgage Finance Authority (MFA) Board of Directors approved $1,380,892 in awards for the Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) program. HOPWA is a federal initiative dedicated to assisting low-income individuals and families with HIV/AIDS through Tenant Based Rental Assistance, Short Term Rent, Mortgage and Utility Assistance, and Permanent Placement Assistance.

The New Mexico Mortgage Finance Authority receives funding from The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and then awards these funds through a competitive application process. In the 2022-2023 program year, MFA was able to assist 263 individuals. Of the 263 individuals assisted, 137 were assisted in Bernalillo County alone. According to the New Mexico Department of Health, Bernalillo County has 1,650 reported cases, the highest amount in the state. Statewide there are 3,896 reported diagnoses, with Santa Fe, Dona Ana, and Sandoval being the highest counties after Bernalillo.

“According to the New Mexico Department of Health, an estimated 1,944 individuals are affected by HIV/AIDS. Studies have shown that unstable housing can significantly impact an individual’s ability to adhere consistently to HIV treatment, contributing to poor health. It is important that all New Mexicans, especially those most vulnerable, have opportunities for housing and financial support when they need it,” said Donna Maestas-De Vries, MFA’s Chief Housing Officer. 

The Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) program offers three main types of housing assistance: Tenant Based Rental Assistance, Short Term Rent, Mortgage and Utility Assistance, and Permanent Placement Assistance. Tenant Based Rental Assistance offers rental aid to low-income families. Short Term Rent, Mortgage, and Utility Assistance help individuals and families who are at risk of homelessness by providing rental, mortgage, or utility payments and improving access to supportive services. Permanent Housing Placement assists unhoused families in transitioning to permanent housing by covering application and credit check fees, one-time utility connection fees, rental security deposits, and first and last months’ rent.

Southwest CARE Center- City of Albuquerque and Northern Region of the State - $1,030,223.59

The Southwest CARE Center has administered Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) for 25 years and has provided a combination of holistic medical and psychosocial care to the HIV-positive community in New Mexico. What started as a research facility in 1996 has grown into a fully-fledged HIV center, offering medical services, case management, behavioral health, pharmacy services, and disease prevention. In 2022, they reported a total of 1,427 rent and utility assistance payments through various funding sources.

Alianza of New Mexico – Southern Region of the State- $350,668.41

Alianza of New Mexico has been serving the needs of those living with HIV in New Mexico since 1995. The organization offers case management, prevention services, harm reduction services, and housing programs. Notably, in 2022, the organization has provided $22,727.96 in emergency assistance, $50,6000 in food assistance, and $21,472.99 in housing assistance to those living with HIV/AIDS.

For more information, please visit: https://housingnm.org/find-housing/specialized-housing/hiv-aids