HUD AWARDS $576,479 TO THE HELENA HOUSING AUTHORITY TO CREATE A CENTER FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND ADULT JOB TRAINING

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development awarded $576,479 to the Helena Housing Authority (HHA) to create a center for early childhood education and adult job training for public housing residents. HHA was one of only 10 successful applicants across the country. The grant award will provide seed money to construct a 4,500 square foot facility on a site owned by the housing authority. Local partners include Head Start, the University of Montana - Helena College of Technology and the Career Training Institute.

"As President Obama has said, if America is to win the future, we need to out-educate the rest of the world," said HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan. "This funding helps public housing agencies that want to provide these services but lacked the resources. This is an investment to make certain we connect affordable housing with quality education
and training resources."

HUD's Capital Fund Education and Training Community Facilities (CFCF) Program provides funding to public housing authorities for the construction, rehabilitation, or purchase of facilities that will offer early childhood education, adult education and job training programs. It is designed primarily for public housing residents, but can be utilized by residents in the surrounding community. The purpose of the facilities is to offer comprehensive, integrated education and employment services to help public housing residents achieve long-term economic self-sufficiency.

HUD required successful applicants to illustrate their ability to get firm financial commitments of at least 5 percent to leverage the HUD grant. The applicants were also required to identify at least one education and/or training supportive service provider, such as a community college, that would partner with the housing authority to provide education and employment services at the facility. All of the grantees surpassed this requirement by forming partnerships with many local organizations in the community. Read more about housing authorities receiving CFCF grants on HUD's website.

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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. You can also follow HUD on twitter @HUDnews, on facebook at www.facebook.com/HUD, or sign up for news alerts on HUD's News Listserv.