Technical Assistance Initiative - Welfare to Work Vouchers

Summary of the WtW Voucher Program Teleconference 10: More Employment Strategies and Success Stories

On February 26, 2002, HUD hosted its tenth WtW voucher program national teleconference. Speakers discussed how to help families receive job services, how to build TANF agency and workforce development board partnerships, and strategies for building and maintaining strong partnerships. Over 150 HUD field office staff and PHA WtW staff participated in the call. Stephan Yank, a WtW Specialist at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, moderated the call and was joined by the following panelists:

• Kathryn Greenspan, Customer Services and Amenities Division of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, provided a brief HUD Update;
  
  
• Ruby Mason, Executive Director, and Tamara Wherer, FSS Coordinator, of the Mid-Columbia (OR) Housing Authority presented their agency's partnership model for case-management and other strategies for supporting WtW families in their efforts to obtain/retain employment.
  
  
• Sandi Douglas, Community Services Manager, and Denicia Gressel, Lead Case Manager, of the San Jose/Santa Clara (CA) Housing Authority presented a second partnership model for case management as well as strategies for building partnerships and supporting WtW families in their efforts to obtain/retain employment.

Following is a brief summary of the HUD Update. View our Promising Program Practices page for more information about the partnership models for case management presented by Mid-Columbia (OR) Housing Authority and the San Jose/Santa Clara (CA) Housing Authority.

HUD Update

• During this teleconference, HUD provided information on the reallocation process. Specifically, HUD said that it will maintain the original number of 50,000 vouchers for the WtW voucher program. For this reason, it is using a per unit annual budget authority amount. This is the average per unit annual budget authority amount for all of the units available for reallocation and announced by the invitation. This amount may not accurately reflect the costs of administering the WtW voucher program in a given PHA's geographic area. Through the funding renewal process, HUD will make any needed adjustments to bring budgeted amounts in-line with actual costs.
  
  
• For more information, view the November 1, 2001 Federal Register notice [FR-4694-N-01], which covers information on the reallocation of baseline units and annual budget authority. See Section II of the Notice.