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The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development is funneling about $1.4 million into Montana and neighboring states to assist people living with HIV/AIDS who are struggling to pay their bills.
HUD’s Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS Program announced the money would provide a combo of housing assistance and services to people living with the irreversible viruses in rural communities.
In a news release last week, U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Ben Carson said the grants will go toward local programs to provide the care in Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota.
“We know there’s a strong connection between health and stable housing. Having a place to call home can make a world of difference to someone who is trying to not only manage their health but also to avoid experiencing homelessness,” Carson said.
Since 2000, an average of 20 Montanans face a diagnosis of an HIV infection each year.
In 2016, 22 new diagnoses were reported in the state. Keeping with historical trends, more than 82 percent of those diagnosis were among white men.
HIV, or human immunodeficiency virus, affects the immune system. There’s no cure, but people can receive antiretroviral therapy that reduces the viral load and their chance of passing it along to someone else.
Left untreated, HIV can attack and destroy the cells of a person’s immune system and lead to AIDS, or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.
According to HUD, the grant announced Friday means annually, 52 families will receive tenant-based rental assistance and 37 will have short-term rent, mortgage, and utility assistance to prevent homelessness. The organization estimated in total, 113 families will get supportive services like health and mental health assessment, day care, nutritional services and counseling.
The program will also support 10 households with permanent housing placement assistance each year in Montana and South Dakota.