HUD AWARDS ALASKA HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION $131,116 TO PROVIDE JOB TRAINING EMPLOYMENT TO LOW-INCOME FAMILIES RESIDING IN PUBLIC HOUSING

ANCHORAGE - U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan announced today the competitive award of $131,116 to the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation, the state's only public housing authority, to provide low-income residents of public housing across the state with the necessary job training to help them become economically self-sufficient.

Today's grant to the Corporation was part of $49.3 million in awards under HUD's Housing Choice Voucher Family
Self-Sufficiency Program (HCV/FSS). The grants allow public housing agencies (PHAs) to work with welfare agencies, schools, businesses, and other local partners to develop a comprehensive program to help participating individuals develop the skills and experience to enable them to obtain jobs that pay a living wage.

"In today's economy, this program is needed more than ever to help families obtain the skills that lead to jobs," said Donovan. "On the heels of President Obama signing the jobs bill that will boost job creation, I'm pleased HUD is providing this funding to local housing authorities that will keep caseworkers on the job to assist families in HUD's voucher program find employment."

Local housing authorities use the funding to hire family self-sufficiency coordinators to link adults in the Housing Choice Voucher program to local organizations that provide job training, childcare, counseling, transportation and job placement. These housing authorities can also hire coordinators to help families get homeownership counseling.

Participants in the HCV/FSS program sign a contract that requires the head of the household will get a job and the family will no longer receive welfare assistance at the end of the five-year term. As the family's income rises, a portion of that increased income is deposited in an interest-bearing escrow account. If the family completes its FSS contract, the family receives the escrow funds that it can use for any purpose, including a down payment on a
home, paying educational expenses, starting a business or paying back debts.

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HUD's mission is to create strong, sustainable, inclusive communities and quality affordable homes for all. HUD is working to strengthen the housing market to bolster the economy and protect consumers; meet the need for quality affordable rental homes: utilize housing as a platform for improving quality of life; build inclusive and sustainable communities free from discrimination; and transform the way HUD does business. More information about HUD and its programs is available on the Internet at www.hud.gov and espanol.hud.gov.