Jerusalem House, Atlanta’s largest and oldest provider of housing and supportive services for people living with AIDS, today announced it has received a $7 million grant to purchase permanent, multi-family housing for some of its residents. The funds were granted through the City of Atlanta’s Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) Capital Projects RFP, which utilizes unspent HOPWA funds from prior program years.

“Rents continue to escalate across the region and with the expected decrease in HOPWA funding for the Atlanta region, we’re adjusting our service model over the long-term to rely less on apartments that we are renting in the market,” said Maryum Lewis, president and CEO of Jerusalem House. “This grant provides us with a perfect launch to expand our permanent, owned facilities with no debt and will provide us with a shield against constantly rising rents.” Lewis added, “The need for housing and supportive services for homeless and low-income people with HIV/AIDS continues to grow in our region, and this investment helps ensure we are able to support those in need well into the future.”

“The City of Atlanta’s Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS program is a resource to help residents achieve and maintain housing stability and improve access to HIV care and treatment,” Mayor Andre Dickens said. “I look forward to our partnership with Jerusalem House to move residents from homelessness to housing and support.”