Local News Release

HUD AWARDS NEW YORK $2.6 MILLION TO PROMOTE SELF-SUFFICIENCY AMONG PUBLIC HOUSING RESIDENTS
Funding provides education, employment services and homeownership counseling to low-income families

NEW YORK - The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development awarded New York State $2,686,402 in grants today to six government agencies and one non-profit that will use this funding to provide public housing residents with education, job training, employment services and homeownership counseling to promote self-sufficiency.

"These grants help families on their way to economic independence," said Sean Moss, Regional Director for New York and New Jersey. "Whether it's becoming more computer savvy, taking classes to get a better job or learning what it takes to become a homeowner, this HUD funding is here to help public housing residents achieve their personal and career goals."

The funding, part of $29,465,512 awarded nationally today, is from HUD's Resident Opportunities and Self Sufficiency (ROSS) program. These grants are awarded to public housing authorities (PHAs), resident organizations or non-profit organizations acting on behalf of residents to encourage and promote self-sufficiency among residents.

New York grantees include the Binghamton Housing Authority ($250,000), the Schenectady Municipal Housing Authority ($249,999), the New York City Housing Authority ($986,646), the Rochester Housing Authority ($350,000), the Syracuse Housing Authority ($349,863), the White Plains Housing Authority ($250,000), and the New York Agency for Community Affairs ($249,894).

The ROSS/Family and Homeownership program gives grantees the funding to hire a program coordinator to assess residents' needs and link them with local resources that provide job training and placement, education and training opportunities, computer training and homeownership counseling. The funding is also used to provide supportive services such as childcare, and transportation to help families take advantage of training and employment opportunities. In addition, grantees can use this funding to provide a variety of classes that promote self-sufficiency such as - GED or ESL classes, adult literacy education, personal finance training and life skills.

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