HUD AWARDS $174,000 TO PUBLIC HOUSING AGENCY IN RHODE ISLAND TO PROMOTE JOBS, SELF-SUFFICIENCY

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development today awarded $174,000 in grants to the Johnston Housing Authority in Rhode Island to help public housing residents find employment that will lead them toward economic independence. This funding will also link the elderly with supportive services that will allow them to age-in-place. HUD awarded nearly $28 million nationally to agencies across the U.S.

"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.

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HUD is the nation's housing agency committed to sustaining homeownership; 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 at www.hud.gov and espanol.hud.gov.