Press Release – April, 7, 2026
NATIO. NAL HIV/AIDS
HOUSING COALITION
Washington, D.C. — President Trump is calling for the elimination of the Housing for Persons with HIV/ AIDS (HOPWA) program in his proposed FY27 budget.
The FY27 budget, released on April 3rd, cuts non-defense programs by 10% and HUD programs by 5% over FY26 enacted levels.
For HOPWA, the President seeks to zero out the $529M program, insisting that people can instead use the Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) program. HOPWA, however, provides longer-term housing, helping people become stabilized with services like mental health, career services, and transportation.
Because of HOPWA’s success, low-income people with HIV are able to obtain housing stability, take care of their health, and be independent. HOPWA is supported by Republicans and Democrats and has a proven record of being an effective and nimble program, providing housing to 55,000 families across the nation last year.
Left untreated, HIV remains a communicable, incurable chronic condition that affects people’s immune system for life. As people age with HIV, complications arise, and care must be holistic. The HOPWA program keeps families housed and prevents homelessness. Thousands of children are housed by the HOPWA program each year.
For people living with HIV (most of whom are older than 50), stable housing is associated with a 20% increased likelihood of HIV viral suppression. When individuals are virally suppressed, they cannot transmit HIV to others, thereby leading healthy, full lives.
“We call on Congress to continue supporting the HOPWA program and fund it at $6ooM in FY27 so we can continue to end homelessness and HIV simultaneously” said the Rev. Lauren Banks, Executive Director of the National HIV/AIDS Housing Coalition (NHAHC).