JOHNSON ANNOUNCES ASSISTANCE FOR PERSONS LIVING WITH AIDS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 27, 2005

Columbus, OH -- Lieutenant Governor Bruce Johnson today announced that six Ohio nonprofit organizations will receive more than $1 million to assist persons with Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) and their families with housing expenses.

“This assistance will help to ease some of the financial concerns of Ohioans who suffer from this disease by allowing these individuals to secure affordable housing,” said Johnson, who also serves as Director of the Ohio Department of Development.

The grant funds will be awarded through the Housing Opportunities for Persons With AIDS (HOPWA) Program, administered by the Ohio Department of Development (ODOD). Award recipients will use the funds to provide rental, mortgage and utility assistance; operate community residences; and provide case management and related services to assist more than 1,075 households.

The nonprofit organizations receiving assistance are:

AIDS Resource Center Ohio, in Montgomery County, will receive a $587,200 grant to provide rental, mortgage and/or utility assistance to 248 households and supportive services to 250 households in Allen, Erie, Lucas, Marion, Montgomery and Richland Counties.

Area Agency on Aging District 7, Inc., in Gallia County, will receive a $40,500 grant to provide rental, mortgage and/or utility assistance to 43 households, housing referrals to 72 households and supportive services to approximately 43 households in Fayette, Gallia, Jackson, Lawrence, Pike, Ross and Scioto Counties.

Athens AIDS Task Force, in Athens County, will receive a $50,300 grant to provide rental, mortgage and/or utility assistance to 55 households and supportive services to three households in Athens, Belmont, Coshocton, Guernsey, Harrison, Hocking, Meigs, Monroe, Morgan, Muskingum, Noble, Perry and Washington Counties.

Community AIDS Network, in Summit County, will receive a $158,200 grant to operate two community residences housing approximately 40 households; and provide rental assistance to 125 households and housing referrals to 60 households in Medina, Portage and Summit Counties.

Community Services of Stark County, in Stark County, will receive a $60,800 grant to provide rental, mortgage and/or utility assistance to 56 households in Carroll, Holmes, Stark, Tuscarawas and Wayne Counties.

Meridian Services, Inc., in Mahoning County, will receive a $123,000 grant to provide rental, mortgage and/or utility assistance to 60 households and supportive services to 13 households; and operating funds will support seven households in Columbiana, Mahoning, Jefferson and Trumbull Counties.

The HOPWA Program provides eligible nonprofit organizations and local governments with funds to devise long-term, comprehensive strategies to help meet the housing and supportive service needs of persons with AIDS. To maximize resources, ODOD coordinates the HOPWA Program with the Ohio Department of Health's Ryan White Program.

HOPWA Program applications are reviewed based on need, coordination and linkage with social services, program services, administrative capacity, project design and feasibility.