HUD AWARDS $1.7 MILLION TO FIVE TEXAS PUBLIC HOUSING AGENCIES TO PROMOTE JOBS, SELF-SUFFICIENCY, FOR PUBLIC HOUSING RESIDENTS
Austin, Cameron County, Dallas, Georgetown, and San Marcos Housing Authorities Win Grants

FORT WORTH - The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development today awarded a total of $1,726,550 in grants to the Austin, Cameron County, Dallas, Georgetown and San Marcos housing authorities to help public housing residents find employment that will lead them towards 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. The grantees in Texas are:

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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 and espanol.hud.gov.