Program Description
The Housing Opportunities Program provides housing assistance and supportive services for low-income persons with HIV/AIDS and their families. Administered by the Department of Community Affairs, HOPWA enables eligible persons with HIV/AIDS and their families to secure decent safe and sanitary housing in the private rental market by subsidizing a portion of the household's monthly rent.

Assisted households are responsible to pay approximately 30% of their adjusted monthly income for rent and utilities. The program pays the balance of the rent to the landlord. The rent plus the utility allowance must be reasonable and may not exceed HUD's Fair Market Rent for the area.

Eligible Participants
Eligible Applicants must:

  • be referred to the Department by a participating HIV/AIDS service provider agency
  • be receiving HIV/AIDS case management
  • have a medical professional verify HIV/AIDS status
  • meet current Housing Opportunities Program income guidelines
  • live within the metropolitan statistical area (MSA) to which they are applying


HIV/AIDS service providers submit applications on behalf of their clients to:

New Jersey Department of Community Affairs
Division of Housing
P.O. Box 806
Trenton, NJ 08625-0806
ATTN: Pat Fowler, HOPWA Coordinator

How The Program Works:
DCA currently administers one formula based HOPWA programs. The program covers a specific metropolitan statistical area (MSA) comprised of several counties. Applicants must reside within the MSA where they apply for assistance and cannot transfer their assistance outside of the boundaries of that MSA. The three areas service by DCA are:

State/DHSS: Atlantic, Cape May, Cumberland, Mercer, Salem and Warren counties.

Please note that the DHSS HOPWA program has suspended intake of HOPWA applications. Residents of counties not listed should submit HOPWA applications to their county's HOPWA project sponsor.