Empowering Residents Through Career Training

To help residents gain marketable skills and embark on a new career, the Quincy Housing Authority (QHA) recently launched a partnership with Quincy College and Best of Care, a local home health aide agency. This program is open to and free for QHA residents. Participants learn and gain skills to become a home health aide and are guaranteed a job at Best of Care after successfully completing the program. The first group of ten students graduated in February, 2017, and eight are currently are working at Best of Care and helping the elderly population in Quincy.

The program builds upon QHA's ongoing Family Self-Sufficiency program which is funded by HUD. Robert Cwieka, Deputy Director of HUD's Office of Public Housing in Boston notes that "the Home Health Aide Program is an exemplary program as it provides a wonderful stepping stone towards economic independence." As part of the program, QHA staff meet regularly with graduates to provide continued support.

Carolyn Crossley, QHA's Director of Program Management, expressed that the key to this successful program was partnerships. The Home Health Aide program helps to empower QHA residents and opens the door to their future. "It is a phenomenal program and participants developed a sense of 'I can do this' and it has given them hope for the future," said Crossley.

Recent graduates of Quincy Housing Authority's job training partnership program with Quincy College and Best of Care, a local home health aide agency.

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