News Release

HUD AWARDS $1.6 MILLION TO AID FAMILIES LIVING IN PUBLIC HOUSING IN TEXAS
Grants to Austin, Belton, Dallas, Fort Worth and Temple will give families access to education and jobs

FORT WORTH - The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development today awarded more than $1.6 million in grants to five Texas public housing authorities and one non-profit organization to help families living in public housing gain access to education and employment. Nationally, HUD is awarding nearly $34 million to 105 housing authorities to assist families in public housing and another $16 million to help elderly and disabled public housing residents live independently. A list of the Texas grantees and amounts follows.

"This funding helps a wide range of people who live in public housing," said HUD Secretary Alphonso Jackson. "It gives families the resources they need to get the education or training they need to find jobs.

The funding is provided through HUD's Resident Opportunities and Self Sufficiency (ROSS) Program. ROSS grants are awarded to public housing authorities (PHAs), resident organizations or non-profit organizations acting on behalf of residents to encourage self-sufficiency among residents.

Grantees can use funds to hire project coordinators who assess resident needs and then link them with appropriate services. They also use them to provide families a full array of educational programs. So that residents can take advantage of these education and employment services, funding also matches residents to supportive services such as childcare and transportation. In addition, ROSS funding can support after-school and summer programs for youth living in public housing. In this way, the program has the potential to serve the whole family.

HUD is the nation's housing agency committed to increasing homeownership, particularly among minorities; 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.