HUD AWARDS $4.2 MILLION TO 35 HOUSING AUTHORITIES IN ALASKA, IDAHO, OREGON & WASHINGTON TO HELP LOW-INCOME FAMILIES ENTER THE WORKFORCE & BECOME INDEPENDENT
Grants to housing authorities in Northwest are part of nearly $60 million
HUD awarded to housing agencies nationwide

SEATTLE - The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) today awarded $4,201,667 to 35 housing authorities in Alaska, Idaho, Oregon and Washington state (see chart below) to help public housing agencies to
retain or hire service coordinators to work directly with families who participate in HUD's Housing Choice Voucher program. The coordinators will assist these voucher recipients to find employment resources and job training opportunities to put them on a path toward self-sufficiency.

The 35 Northwest agencies are among some 700 public housing agencies announced today as receiving some $54 million in Housing Choice Voucher Family Self Sufficiency grants. The HCV/FSS grants enable public housing agencies to work with welfare agencies, schools, businesses, and other local partners to develop a comprehensive program to help individuals already participating in HUD's Housing Choice Voucher rental assistance program to increase or gain marketable skills that to obtain jobs that pay a living wage.

"In today's economy, it's never been more critical to help families obtain the skills that lead to jobs," said HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan. "With HUD's help, these housing agencies will be able to assist families in finding employment, increasing their earning potential and putting them on a path to self sufficiency." 

"These are tough times for families everywhere," said HUD Northwest Regional Administrator Mary McBride. "These grants will help some of our most vulnerable families to acquire the skills, make the contacts and pursue employment and educational opportunities to navigate the times and continue on the path to self-sufficiency."

The 35 Northwest housing authorities winning HCV/FSS grants today are:

HUD's Housing Choice Voucher Family Self-Sufficiency Program (HCV/FSS) supports public housing agencies (PHAs)
to retain or hire family self-sufficiency coordinators. These coordinators in turn link adults in the HCV program with welfare agencies, schools, businesses and other local partners to develop the skills and experience to enable them to obtain jobs that pay a living wage. The local organizations typically provide participating individuals job training, childcare, counseling, transportation, job placement and homeownership counseling.

Participants in the HCV-FSS program sign a contract that requires the head of the household will get a job and the family will no longer receive welfare assistance at the end of the five-year term. As the family's income rises, a portion of that increased income is deposited in an interest-bearing escrow account. If the family completes its FSS contract, the family receives the escrow funds that it can use for any purpose, including a down payment on a
home, paying educational expenses, starting a business or paying back debts.

HUD's Family Self Sufficiency (FSS) Program is a long-standing resource for increasing economic security and self-sufficiency among participants. HUD issued a new report earlier this year that evaluated the effectiveness of the FSS Program. Conducted from 2005 to 2009, the study shows the financial benefits are substantial for participants who complete the program. This study is the second of a three-part series by HUD that evaluate the effects of the FSS program. The first study found individuals who participated in the FSS program fared better financially than those
who did not enroll in the program. HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research (PD&R) will launch the third and final installment to complete the series this year.

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