HUD AWARDS $1.4 MILLION TO PUBLIC HOUSING AGENCIES IN NEW YORK TO PROMOTE JOBS, SELF-SUFFICIENCY

NEW YORK - The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development just awarded $1.4 million in grants to two
public housing and one non-profit agency in New York State that will help public housing residents find employment that lead them toward economic independence. This funding will also link the elderly with supportive services that
will allow them to age-in-place. The grants just announced are part of $28 million awarded nationwide to public housing agencies and local communities. (A listing of New York State grantees is below.)

"This is money well spent in these economic times," said HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan. "This funding allows HUD,
and our partner local housing agencies, to provide families with more than just affordable housing, but resources
that will help them obtain jobs and achieve personal and career goals."

The funding is provided through HUD's Resident Opportunities and Self Sufficiency (ROSS) - Service Coordinators program, which enables public housing agencies (PHAs) to keep or hire a service coordinator to work directly with residents to assess their needs to connect them with education , job training and placement programs and/or computer and financial literacy services available in their community to promote self-sufficiency. For the elderly
or disabled, the service coordinator arranges supportive services that allow them to maintain their independent lifestyle.

The purpose of the ROSS Program is to encourage local innovative strategies that link public housing assistance
with public and private resources to enable participating families to increase earned income; reduce or eliminate
the need for welfare assistance; and make progress toward achieving economic independence and housing self-sufficiency.

The grants are awarded to PHAs, resident organizations or non-profit organizations acting on behalf of residents
to encourage and promote self-sufficiency among residents.