More Than 40 Agencies Joined the Celebration

Phenomenal Princesses of Palatka HUD Southeast Regional Administrator Ed Jennings Jr. (5th from left, front row) celebrates with Palatka Housing Authority's Outstanding Fathers 2015 "Strengthening and Empowering Families" was the theme for this year, embraced by Tampa Housing Authority's 5th Annual Fatherhood celebration. Sitting center among the Tampa group is HUD Southeast Regional Administrator Ed Jennings Jr. with daughter Lauren.

Palatka Housing Authority and Tampa Housing Authority were part of more than 40 housing communities in Florida that joined HUD's Father's Day 2015. Nationwide, more than 600 affordable housing communities in 39 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands participated.

HUD's Father's Day initiative is part of a larger effort to promote responsible fatherhood. The National Conversation on Responsible Fatherhood and Strong Communities (http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/eop/ofbnp
/policy/fatherhood) focuses on fatherhood and at-risk youth - a priority for the White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships. HUD Southeast Regional Administrator Ed Jennings, Jr. was able to join both the events in Palatka and Tampa.

In order to use housing as a platform to improve the quality of life for families living in HUD assisted housing, HUD is committed to strengthening and empowering families through the use of service organizations throughout the country focusing on health, wealth, education, job training and corporate and government support.

The events had a two-fold purpose: Offering activities for fathers and their children, and connecting these men to economic development resources. Additionally, some housing authorities linked HUD's National Father's Day initiative with their science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) initiative to help low-income children who live in public housing get involved with STEM activities while spending time with their fathers.

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