COLUMBUS — The Ohio Department of Development announced this week that six Ohio nonprofit organizations, including one in Gallia County, will receive more than $1 million to assist individuals with Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) and their families with housing and supportive services.

“Every Ohioan has the right to adequate and affordable housing,” said Lisa Patt-McDaniel, ODOD director. “We are pleased to offer these grants to help alleviate some of the financial barriers of our citizens who are living with AIDS.”

The funds are awarded through the Housing Opportunities for Persons With AIDS Program, administered by the Department’s Office of Housing and Community Partnerships.

Area Agency on Aging District 7, Inc. (AAA7), headquartered in Gallia County, will receive a $40,500 grant to provide rental, mortgage, utility and case management assistance to 50 households.

According to Vicky Abdella, director of community services for AAA7, the agency has received the grant funding annually since 2003. It is utilized in conjunction with a grant from the Ohio Department of Health that provides funding for HIV/AIDS case management.

“It helps people acquire housing, as well as sustain and maintain permanent housing in order to avoid homelessness,” Abdella said. “We help about 70-80 AIDS patients, which, when you add in family members, means about 160-170 people are being helped through the funding.”

Abdella said that AAA7’s service area — which also includes Fayette, Jackson, Lawrence, Pike, Ross and Scioto counties — suffers from a shortage of “adequate, affordable housing.” She said that it’s a challenge for low income residents in the region to find suitable housing within their price range.

Award recipients will use the funds to provide rental, mortgage, and utility assistance; operate community residences; and provide case management and related services to assist approximately 2,842 households.

The other nonprofit organizations receiving assistance are:

• Athens AIDS Task Force (Athens County) will receive a $60,000 grant to provide rental, mortgage, and case management assistance to 37 households.

• Community AIDS Network (Summit County) will receive a $177,300 grant to operate the housing facilities Micah House and Harmony Place to assist 30 households and provide short-term rental assistance and housing information to 60 households.

• AIDS Resource Center Ohio (Montgomery County) will receive a $712,920 grant to provide rental, mortgage, utility, and case management assistance to 2,345 households.

• Community Services of Stark County, Inc. (Stark County) will receive a $50,700 grant to provide rental, mortgage, utility, and case management assistance to 30 households.

• Children’s and Family Services (Mahoning County) will receive a $116,000 grant to provide rental, mortgage, utility, and case management assistance to 290 households.

The Office of Housing and Community Partnerships provides financial and technical assistance to units of local government and nonprofit organizations in Ohio for project activities which benefit low- and moderate-income citizens.