City board hears HOPWA and CDBG funding proposals from a dozen nonprofits; $3.3M HOPWA pool noted

The Community Development Recommending Board on Feb. 9 heard presentations from more than a dozen nonprofits competing for federal HOPWA (Housing Opportunities for Persons With AIDS) and CDBG (Community Development Block Grant) funding covering fiscal years 2026–27 and 2027–28.

Colleen Duwiger, Neighborhood Services, told the board the city posted the RFP Oct. 13, 2025, held technical workshops Oct. 28, closed applications Nov. 13 and received eligible applications Dec. 8. She described the approximate program pools as $3.3 million for HOPWA and $500,000 for CDBG for two-year cycles and asked members to disclose any conflicts of interest before applicant presentations.

Applicants described a range of housing and supportive-service approaches. Iria Ephraim, interim executive director at Golden Rainbow, said the agency provides housing and supportive services to people affected by HIV and AIDS and is expanding project-based rental assistance. "We have already, as of January, spent over 70%" of the current HOPWA award, Ephraim said, and Golden Rainbow outlined steps taken after earlier monitoring findings to improve documentation and bookkeeping.

Jillian Prieto of Women’s Development Center summarized more than 30 years of HOPWA work, saying the nonprofit served just over 40 clients last year and helped 13 graduate to stable housing. Prieto said the agency had trimmed its enrollment target to 32 amid HUD funding uncertainty but expects to serve roughly the same number of clients through efficiency and partnership with university volunteers.

Aid for AIDS of Nevada (AFAN) described operating two congregate housing sites with 20 units and expanded emergency assistance (STRMU) and mental-health work; AFAN said demand has been high (reporting 58 clients this year and larger prior-year caseloads). Hope Link of Southern Nevada, a first-time HOPWA applicant, emphasized eviction prevention and rapid rehousing and reported a 3.5% recidivism rate on its prevention work since 2020.

Other speakers outlined specialized roles: Chicanos Por La Causa (CPLC) emphasized STRMU caps and partnership referrals; Community Counseling Center pushed for behavioral-health funding to stabilize housing placements rather than direct rental subsidies; Fuente de Vida and other providers described culturally responsive mental-health and substance-use services intended to reduce housing loss; the Just 1 Project highlighted intensive home visits and food delivery as part of housing retention work; and Access to Health Network described nutrition, case management and a proposed senior depression/isolation program.

Board members focused questioning on program capacity, past audit or monitoring findings, documentation and fiscal controls, how each provider measures recidivism and exits to permanent housing, and how mental-health services will be integrated with housing assistance. Several applicants acknowledged prior documentation gaps and said they have revised internal processes, were hiring staff with HOPWA experience, and would pursue third‑party fiscal controls where needed.

The meeting did not include grant awards or final funding votes; the board paused for a break to continue deliberations and scoring. Chair Miller announced two withdrawals from the upcoming schedule and reconvened the meeting after the break for CDBG presentations.

What’s next: The board will continue evaluations and scoring of applications across the three scheduled days; any conflicts of interest disclosed today will be handled as needed if those applicants’ items return for board action.