J. Phoenix Smith, MSW, N. Awunti, MPA, J. Pollak Kahn, MPH, and K. Poundstone, MHS. AIDS Administration, Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, 500 North Calvert Street, 5th floor, Baltimore, MD 21202, 410-767-5994, jpollak@dhmh.state.md.us

Issues: Maryland ranks 3rd for annual AIDS report rate and 9th for cumulative AIDS cases in the U.S. While concentrated in two urban areas the epidemic has also had a considerable impact on Maryland’s rural areas. Meeting the needs of these rural areas has posed a significant challenge to the State AIDS Administration. A key problem facing rural communities is the lack of affordable housing. Maryland’s Rural Housing Opportunities for People With AIDS (HOPWA) Initiative seeks to prevent housing instability in low-income persons with HIV/AIDS in eleven rural counties by combining rental assistance with supportive services, such as case management. Description: In order to assess community needs and allocate HOPWA funds across the eligible areas, the program undertook a GIS mapping analysis of the rural counties to identify areas that may have unmet need for HIV-related housing assistance. The mapping analysis included US Census data, HIV/AIDS prevalence rates, ZIP codes of current HOPWA clients and other economic and societal variables. Lessons Learned: Substantial variation exists in the proportion of rural persons with HIV/AIDS receiving HOPWA. Factors such as funding levels, location of HOPWA agencies, income levels, and housing costs are associated with this variation. Recommendations: This project highlights the importance of analyzing various economic and societal variables that may contribute to and predict unmet need in housing services for people with HIV/AIDS. This analysis may also provide important information in determining the types of housing services needed within these communities.

Learning Objectives: