BOSTON – To help public housing residents find jobs and educational opportunities, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) awarded more than $1.9 million in grants to public housing authorities and non-profit organizations in Massachusetts to hire or retain service coordinators to help residents achieve economic and housing independence.
The funding, provided through HUD’s Resident Opportunities and Self Sufficiency – Service Coordinators Program (ROSS-SC) helps public housing authorities, resident associations, non-profit organizations, Indian tribes or entities representing Indian tribes hire or retain “service coordinators” who work directly with residents to assess their needs and connect them with education, job training and placement programs, and/or computer and financial literacy services available in their community to promote self-sufficiency.
“Today, we make an affirmative investment in families living in public housing to help them build a brighter future for themselves and their children,” said HUD Secretary Julián Castro. “This funding allows our local partners to support residents’ goals and put them on the path toward self-sufficiency.”
“These service coordinators will help Massachusetts public housing residents connect to jobs and opportunities that lead to self-sufficiency and improved quality of life,” said Kristine Foye, HUD New England Regional Administrator.
The purpose of HUD’s ROSS-SC program is to encourage local, innovative strategies that link public housing assistance with public and private resources to enable participating families to increase earned income; reduce or eliminate the need for welfare assistance; and make progress toward achieving economic independence and housing self-sufficiency.
