The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has designated the City of Orlando to act as recipient and administrator of grant funding for the areas of Orange, Seminole, Osceola, and Lake Counties, which are collectively referred to as the Orlando Eligible Metropolitan Statistical Area (EMSA), under the Housing Opportunities for Persons With AIDS program (HOPWA).

The purpose of the funds received under this HOPWA grant (Funds) is to provide resources and incentives to devise long term comprehensive strategies for meeting the housing needs of low-income persons with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome or related diseases (AIDS) throughout the EMSA.

The Orange County Health Services Department currently administers the Ryan White Part A program which provides medical and supportive services for the same clients in the Orlando EMSA.

The Orange County's Health Services Department and the City of Orlando have been in discussions on how to align the two programs in order to improve outcomes for the clients accessing these services. In order to achieve this, it was agreed the Orange County Health Services Department should act as the Administrative Agent of the HOPWA Program which, in part, would include providing program administration and the allocation of Funds to Project Sponsors in accordance with the requirements of the HOPWA Program. The City will continue to serve as the designated HUD grantee. Once Funds are received from HUD, the City will assign them over to Orange County Health Services to administer.  This arrangement will increase coordination between the Ryan White and HOPWA programs and will provide a more efficient and effective method for delivering services to clientele, which are the goals of the National HIV/AIDS Strategy.

The attached agreement outlining the duties, responsibilities and reporting requirements of the Administrative Agent was approved by the Orange County Board of Commissioners on August 23, 2016. The Orange County Health Services Department has available the qualified personnel, facilities, materials and supplies necessary to implement, administer and provide oversight of the HOPWA Program for clients who reside in the Orlando EMSA. A maximum amount of  $96,056 will be allocated for their expenses in administering its duties and obligations under this Agreement.