As prepared for delivery. The speaker may add or subtract comments during his presentation.

It's wonderful to back here in Los Angeles to see some of the incredible growth and development taking place in this city.

It has also been an honor to work with Mayor Garcetti and Supervisor Barger this week on ways to address Southern California's housing challenges, ranging from home affordability to homelessness to the broader issues of fostering self-sufficiency and upward mobility.

This morning, I had the privilege to tour the Dream Center, which is a faith-based charitable organization that finds and fills the needs of people experiencing difficult times.

The Dream Center aims to not only meet the immediate needs of communities by providing food and clothing, but also focuses on the full successful transformation of peoples' lives.

And, they do this all free of charge!

It is truly a beautiful sight to see, and a model for charitable enterprises across the country.

Of course, achieving a life of financial independence and full civic engagement is only complete through building one's skills in quality, gainful employment.

That's why, today, HUD is announcing a $20 million dollar investment to nine public housing authorities in to help lower-income residents find higher-paying jobs.

This funding will help Americans across the country increase their earned income and become self-sufficient.

That includes residents of Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, North California, New Jersey, Ohio and right here in California.

HUD is making this investment through our Jobs Plus Program, which supports work readiness and connects public housing residents with employment, education and financial empowerment services - and it's a model proven to help public housing residents find and keep jobs.Through the Jobs Plus Program, public housing authorities partner with Department of Labor "American Jobs Centers" to promote initiatives to improve earnings, which is critical to attaining self-sufficiency.

Targeting an entire development helps residents support each other along the way.

Among those receiving grants today, I am delighted to announce that over $1.8 million dollars is being awarded to the Los Angeles County Development Authority.

Local public housing authorities like in Los Angeles are on the front lines of our country's fight to secure a brighter future - which is a process that starts right in the home.

That's because quality housing is not just about putting roofs over peoples' heads - it's also about bringing out the best version of the people and families who live inside them.

This week, I have been on a bus tour across Southern California called "Driving Affordable Housing Across America."

This bus tour has been focused on increasing affordable housing and meeting with leaders from the public, private and non-profit sectors to work together on solutions.

While our initiative to eliminate regulatory barriers is vital to bringing housing costs down, programs like HUD's "Jobs Plus" are important to lifting Americans up, so peoples' higher earnings empower them to live with dignity.

We are proud to work with our local partners, like Los Angeles, to help more residents find employment - so that can reach their full potential and be role models to future generations.

Thank you all for your support, and we are excited to continue building that future together.

Thank you, and God Bless.

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