HUD AWARDS $47 MILLION IN GRANTS TO HELP FAMILIES ACROSS THE U.S. GET JOB TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT
Florida receives $1,124,047

MIAMI - U.S. Housing and Urban Development Deputy Secretary Roy A. Bernardi announced today that public
housing agencies in 48 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico will receive $47,494,003 in funding to help
low-income people get job training, employment and homeownership counseling.

"This funding will give more low-income adults the opportunity to get job training that will lead to meaningful employment," said Bernardi. "Studies have shown that this funding has been effective and successful at moving
low-income families up the economic ladder."

Twenty-one public housing authorities throughout the State of Florida will receive a total of $1,124,047 to assist
local families. The funding is from the HUD's Housing Choice Voucher Family Self-Sufficiency (HCV/FSS) program that provides grants to public housing agencies (PHAs) to hire FSS program coordinators. FSS coordinators link adults in the HCV program (Section 8) to local organizations that provide job training, childcare, counseling, transportation
and job placement. PHAs can also hire homeownership coordinators to help families get homeownership counseling.

Participants in the HCV/FSS program sign a contract that stipulates 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.

HUD is the nation's housing agency committed to increasing homeownership, particularly among minorities; creating affordable housing opportunities for low-income Americans; and supporting the homeless, elderly, people with disabilities and people living with AIDS. The Department also promotes economic and community development, and enforces the nation's fair housing laws. More information about HUD and its programs is available on the Internet
and espanol.hud.gov.

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Housing Choice Voucher/Family Self Sufficiency
Recipients by State 2006