Opportunity Overview
The Wisconsin Department of Administration, Division of Energy, Housing and Community Resources (DEHCR), is accepting applications for the 2026-2027 Housing Opportunities for Persons With AIDS (HOPWA) Program. HOPWA supports low-income people living with HIV/AIDS and their families through housing assistance and related supportive services.
Wisconsin receives HOPWA funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and awards funds through a competitive state application process to eligible agencies serving one or more parts of Wisconsin outside the separately funded Milwaukee and Minneapolis/St. Paul metropolitan HOPWA areas.
Funding and Deadline
DEHCR states that approximately $1,000,000 is available annually for the state HOPWA program serving the defined 66-county service area. An applicant requesting the full amount must be able to provide housing and supportive services throughout that service area. An applicant requesting less than the full amount may propose a smaller service area within it.
Completed applications must be submitted as a PDF and are due September 17, 2026 at 11:59 CST, using the time-zone label published by DEHCR. The performance period is October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.
Eligible Applicants
Eligible applicants include Wisconsin cities, counties, housing authorities, Tribal agencies, and private nonprofit agencies. Private nonprofits must be organized under Wisconsin Chapter 181, be exempt from taxation under subtitle A of Section 501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code, be governed by a voluntary board of directors, use approved accounting systems, and practice nondiscrimination in providing assistance.
The Wisconsin state HOPWA service area consists of 66 counties. Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Pierce, St. Croix, Washington, and Waukesha counties are excluded because they are covered by separate HUD HOPWA grants. Applicants must be in good standing with the Wisconsin Department of Administration and DEHCR, be registered in SAM.gov, and not appear on the SAM debarred contractor list.
Eligible Activities
Eligible activities include housing information services, resource identification, acquisition or rehabilitation of facilities, project-based or tenant-based rental assistance, short-term rent, mortgage and utility assistance, supportive services, and technical assistance for community residences. Supportive services may include health and mental health services, assessment, permanent housing placement, substance use treatment and counseling, day care, nutritional services, intensive care when required, and assistance accessing local, state, and federal benefits and services.
Grantees may use up to 7% of the HOPWA award for administrative costs supporting housing activities and must comply with applicable federal requirements under 24 CFR part 574.
Submission
DEHCR provides an official Microsoft Word application. The completed application must be converted to PDF and emailed to DOASupportiveHousing@wisconsin.gov, with HOPWA Grant Specialist Daniel Duquette copied at Daniel.Duquette@wisconsin.gov.
Atlas Analysis
Atlas Opportunity Score: 82/100. HOPWA has strong relevance to Wisconsin healthcare-adjacent supportive housing, HIV/AIDS services, behavioral health, and homelessness prevention. The very near deadline sharply limits new-applicant support for this cycle.
N9+ Fit: 0/100. QC Healthcare Fit: 5/100. The controlling materials allow health and mental health supportive services, but they do not establish a legitimate direct clinical-technology procurement pathway. Dr. Miltie direct-applicant fit: 0/100.
Application Readiness
Current applicants should verify organizational eligibility, service-area coverage, good standing with DEHCR, active SAM.gov registration, required nonprofit qualifications where applicable, and completeness of the official Word application before converting it to PDF for submission.
Official sources: Wisconsin DEHCR HOPWA Program and 2026-2027 HOPWA Application.