Housing Opportunities for Persons With AIDS (HOPWA)

Helping individuals and families living with HIV/AIDS find stable housing and compassionate care.

Program Overview

The Housing Opportunities for Persons With AIDS (HOPWA) Program helps individuals and families living with HIV/AIDS find and maintain safe, stable housing. It provides housing support and connects clients to healthcare, case management, and other resources to enhance their health and well-being. HOPWA is the only federal program dedicated exclusively to meeting the housing needs of people living with HIV/AIDS.

By combining housing stability with compassionate care, Clinica Sierra Vista’s HOPWA team works to remove barriers, strengthen access to treatment, and create opportunities for long-term well-being.

Program Services

Housing Assistance

This program provides short-term help with rent, mortgage, and utility payments to prevent homelessness or sudden displacement.

Permanent Housing Placement

Clinica Sierra Vista assists in finding and securing long-term, stable housing, including assistance with security deposits, rental application fees, and housing navigation.

Supportive Services

We connect clients to housing case management, medical and mental health care, substance use treatment, and other vital community services.

Collaboration and Coordination

We work closely with local housing agencies, landlords, and healthcare providers to ensure seamless, continuous support.

Client Advocacy

Our team advocates on behalf of clients to help them maintain positive relationships with landlords and healthcare providers.

Housing Supportive Services

We help clients build stability and independence by offering transportation, food and nutrition assistance, and ongoing case management.

Facility-Based Housing

For individuals who need immediate support, we provide safe, emergency placement housing tailored to those living with HIV/AIDS.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for the HOPWA Program, individuals must:

Be HIV or AIDS positive.
Have an income at or below 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI). [link: https://www.hcd.ca.gov/sites/default/files/docs/grants-and-funding/income-limits-2025.pdf]
Reside in Kern County.

Get Started

If you or someone you know could benefit from the HOPWA Program, please contact the Clinica Sierra Vista Kern Lifeline Program at (661) 324-3262.

A member of our dedicated team will help connect you to healthcare, case management, and housing assistance.

Our Commitment

Clinica Sierra Vista is proud to partner with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the California Department of Public Health to deliver this vital program. Through HOPWA, we remain dedicated to ensuring that individuals living with HIV/AIDS have access to safe housing, quality care, and the dignity they deserve.

Program Objectives

At least 80% of interns complete program/degree requirements within 13.5 months (150% of planned program length).
Of graduates who seek employment, at least 100% are employed in nutrition and dietetics or related fields within 12 months of graduation.
At least 80% of program graduates take the CDR credentialing exam for dietitian nutritionists within 12 months of program completion.
The program’s one-year pass rate (graduates who pass the registration exam within one year of first attempt) on the CDR credentialing exam for dietitian nutritionists is at least 80%.
80% of employers, who return surveys, rate graduates as “satisfactory” or “excellent” for ability to work effectively with multicultural populations from diverse backgrounds.
90% of program graduates work as entry-level Registered Dietitian Nutritionists in community nutrition.
90% of graduates work in Central Valley community programs for at least two years after graduation.

Do I Qualify for WIC?

WIC is a program that helps families with food and nutrition. Call us at (661) 862-5422 or send a message, and we’ll help you see if you qualify.

Here are some ways you might qualify:

You are pregnant
You are breastfeeding a baby who is less than one year old
You had a baby in the last six months
You have a child who is under the age of five
You experienced a loss of pregnancy or had a termination

You also need to think about your family’s income. Here are the monthly income limits for family sizes:

1 Person: $2,413
2 Persons: $3,261
3 Persons: $4,109
4 Persons: $4,957
5 Persons: $5,805
More than 5 Persons: Add $848 for each additional member

This income limit is based on 185% of the Federal Poverty Level, and these amounts will be effective from April 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026.

Also, if you’re pregnant, the baby counts as part of your family size when figuring out if you qualify.

Get Care Right Away

Need care right away? Our health centers offer same-day appointments, and our walk-in clinics also offer extended hours. Whether you schedule ahead or stop by, we’re here to deliver fast, high-quality care when and where you need it.

Visit Your Preferred Location

We make it easy to choose the clinic that works best for you. Keep in mind that your preferred location may mean seeing a different provider. Either way, you’ll receive compassionate, expert care from our trusted team, no matter which clinic you visit.

See Your Preferred Provider

Our providers work across multiple clinics to make care accessible, so their location may vary based on availability. No matter where you’re seen, you can trust our dedicated team to deliver the high-quality care you deserve.

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