HUD Regional Director John Carson presented two checks totaling $174,000 to the Boulder County Housing Authority (BCHA) on November 16, 2006. The funds will be used to hire two full-time employees for BCHA's Housing Counseling and Family Self Sufficiency programs. Frank Alexander, BCHA Executive Director, accepted the checks for the BCHA.

Mr. Carson said that the Housing Counseling grant of $54,391 would be used to hire counselors who will help potential homebuyers make better-informed purchases and enable current homebuyers to avoid default and foreclosure.

The second grant involves $119,874 awarded under the Family Self-Sufficiency Program and will cover childcare services, educational counseling, transportation and job placement for eligible BCHA participants.

Deanna Keir, who participated in the FSS Program, said that the program made a tremendous difference in her life. She went to nursing school, became an LPN, and is now working toward her RN degree. Ms. Keir serves on BCHA's FSS Advisory Board and volunteers for the Career Closet, a place for women to obtain business attire for job interviews.