The Department last week awarded more than $44 million in ROSS grants to public housing authorities, resident organizations or non-profit organizations to help residents become economically self-sufficient and give elderly and people with disabilities support services that will help them to live independently.

Nearly $23 million of the Resident Opportunities and Self Sufficiency grants will provide job and business development training, develop ways to link residents to jobs with specific employers in specified fields, create credit unions, and provide support services such as child care, transportation and family counseling. For the elderly and persons with disabilities the funding will help them with daily activities, transportation to such activities as medical appointments and shopping, and establishes community health and wellness programs.

Another $10 million in ROSS grants will go to public housing authorities so that they may establish, expand or operate Neighborhood Network Centers. These centers help public housing residents increase their use of computers, reduce welfare dependency, promote economic self-sufficiency, provide job training and other development, expand educational opportunities, and develop access to health and nutrition information.

The final $12 million also goes to public housing authorities so they can offer home-buying counseling and other supportive services to help residents to buy their own homes.

More information about ROSS grants is available on the Internet.