As we’ve already seen, the HOPWA program allows for a variety of housing-related activities, in order to give localities substantial flexibility
in designing local responses to the housing needs of low-income persons living with HIV or AIDS in their communities.
HOPWA has two types of short-term housing assistance. By far the most commonly used of these is the “Short-Term Rent, Mortgage
and Utilities Assistance” activity, or “sturm-u.” “Sturm-u” is a needs-based homelessness prevention activity.
With it, grantees and sponsors can pay rent, mortgage, and utilities costs for eligible households facing a financial crisis, in order to prevent eviction
or the loss of a home. Sturm-u assistance can pay for up to 21 week’s worth of assistance in a given 52-week period.
Sturm-u can be used for back expenses, such as unpaid rent or utility bills, as well as ongoing expenses. As a needs-based activity,
care should be taken to determine whether or not Sturm-u is the most appropriate type of housing assistance to meet
a household’s long-term needs. Sturm-u is not intended as a type of shallow, annual subsidy. Households in need of
long-term rental assistance should be referred to permanent affordable housing, including HOPWA TBRA assistance.
Direct costs of administering Sturm-u activities - such as staff time spent determining eligibility - are also eligible Sturm-u costs
and should be charged to this activity, rather than to administration or supportive services.
HUD has issued a new Sturm-u resource guide to replace the Sturm-u notice, which should be consulted for more detailed information.
It can be found on the HUD Exchange website.