Supporting Replication (SURE) of Housing Interventions in the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program – Implementation and Technical Assistance Provider

This notice announces the opportunity to apply for funding under the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program (RWHAP) Special Projects of National Significance (SPNS) Program1 project titled Supporting Replication (SURE) of Housing Interventions in the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program - Implementation and Technical Assistance Provider (ITAP). The purpose of this project is to support a single organization that will serve as an ITAP to provide technical assistance (TA) to up to 10 implementation sites that will implement and adapt housing-related intervention strategies for the following three key populations of people with HIV experiencing unstable housing, who often have the highest HIV-related disparities (see Background Section I.2): 1) lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer or questioning (LGBTQ+) people; 2) youth and young adults (ages 13-24); and 3) people who have been justice involved (i.e., people impacted by the justice system). The SURE Housing initiative has two separate, yet coordinated recipients: the ITAP, which will be funded under this announcement (HRSA-22-031), and an Evaluation Provider (EP), funded under a different announcement (HRSA-22-032), which will use an implementation science framework2 to evaluate the implementation and adaptation of the housing intervention strategies. Both the ITAP and the EP must coordinate activities and share information and data in the design, implementation, evaluation, communication, and dissemination of this initiative. The success of this initiative is dependent on the collective success of the individual components, with the ultimate goal of communicating and disseminating replication tools to the broader RWHAP, HIV, and housing communities. The ITAP will identify potential intervention strategies that can be adapted for the key populations identified, using criteria that assess feasibility, adaptability, and effectiveness. The ITAP will also develop and quickly release an application process to select and fund the implementation sites under individual subawards (up to $250,000/site per year); provide TA to the sites in implementing and adapting these interventions; and develop replication tools for widespread adoption of these intervention strategies for the above three key populations of people with HIV experiencing unstable housing. 1 HRSA Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program Part F: Special Projects of National Significance (SPNS) Program. Available at: https://hab.hrsa.gov/about-ryan-white-hivaids-program/part-f-special-projects-national-significance-spns-program 2 Psihopaidas D, Cohen SM, West T, et al.; Implementation science and the Health Resources and Services Administration’s Ryan White HIV AIDS Program’s work towards ending the HIV epidemic in the United States. PLoS Med 2020;17(11):e1003128. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1003128 This initiative will engage and retain people with HIV experiencing unstable housing in HIV medical care and support services by addressing their housing and behavioral health needs, as needed. Thus, the proposed housing intervention strategies should include models to integrate behavioral health services, including mental health and substance use disorder treatment, with HIV care to specifically address the comprehensive needs of people with HIV experiencing unstable housing to improve health outcomes. In addition, the implementation sites will participate in a multi-site evaluation to assess the effectiveness of the interventions’ implementation and adaption. The ITAP will work collaboratively with the EP and HRSA staff in all aspects of the planning, implementation, adaptation, provision of TA, and evaluation of the housing-related intervention strategies. The ITAP will also develop adaptation manuals prior to the implementation of these interventions. Finally, the ITAP will actively disseminate the initiative’s findings, lessons learned, and outcomes for future replication in other settings. Recognizing the critical role of housing in supporting people with HIV to improve health outcomes, HRSA will draw upon the expertise of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), including its Office of HIV/AIDS Housing (OHH), which administers the Housing Opportunities for Persons With AIDS (HOPWA) Program.3 HUD is responsible for national policy and programs that address America's housing needs and enforce fair housing laws. As such, HRSA will consult with HUD as needed for the purposes of this initiative. The ultimate goal of this initiative is to promote the replication of effective housing interventions in the RWHAP to decrease health and housing disparities and improve health outcomes along the HIV care continuum. Thus, the ITAP and implementation sites should partner with relevant housing organizations, housing consortiums, HUD’s Continuum of Care (CoC) Program,4 and planning councils, to address unmet housing needs. In addition, for a wider reach in order to leverage services and have broad impact, applicants should consider partnerships with LGBTQ+ organizations, youth organizations, and correctional/justice-involved institutions. HUD Exchange. Housing Opportunities for Persons With AIDS (HOPWA) Program. , Available at: https://www.hudexchange.info/programs/hopwa/ For more details, see Program Requirements and Expectations.