HIV/AIDS Services Administration (HASA)

The HIV/AIDS Services Administration (HASA) is a NYC program created in 1985 in recognition of the fact that people living with symptomatic HIV illness and AIDS have special needs in accessing and maintaining their government benefits. HASA has had several previous names, including the Division of AIDS Services and Income Support (DASIS) and the Division of AIDS Services (DAS).

While some benefits, such as the enhanced rent allowance, are available throughout New York State to eligible beneficiaries, the full benefit package under HASA, including the nutrition and transportation allowance, intensive case management and housing assistance, are available only to New York City residents.

HASA is an agency within the New York City Human Resources Administration (HRA). In 2004, in order to foster greater access to medical care, HASA was integrated into HRA’s Medical Insurance and Community Services Administration (MICSA). As a division of MICSA, HASA recipients benefit from the shared resources of HRA’s health-related programs, such as Medicaid and Medicaid home care services.

HASA recipients may be eligible for a full array of benefit programs, many of which are also available to non-HASA eligible individuals, such as Medicaid, Food Stamps, rent arrear grants, etc. Funding for these benefits are the same as for any other eligible individual.

Funding for benefits that are specific to HIV positive individuals throughout NYS, that is, the rent enhancement, are funded from NYS. For benefits which are specific to the HASA program in NYC, funds are exclusively used.

HASA beneficiaries may be eligible for scatter site and congregate housing which provide social services to eligible beneficiaries. See below, Additional Benefits Under HASA.

HASA beneficiaries may be eligible for the Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) program, which provides housing assistance and supportive services for low-income HIV-infected persons and their families. See below, Additional Benefits Under HASA.