This week, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced it was sending $2.3 million to the Palm Beach County Housing Authority.
The funds are part of $28 million being sent to a dozen public housing agencies (PHAs) across the nation “to help families increase their earned income and improve their economic mobility.” The funds come through HUD’s Job Plus program and will be used to “support work readiness and connect public housing residents with employment, education, and financial empowerment services -part of an evidence-based model proven to help public housing residents find and keep jobs.”
U.S. HUD Sec. Marcia Fudge weighed in on the funds on Tuesday.
“Providing resources so that public housing residents can achieve economic and housing stability is an important part of HUD’s mission,” said Fudge. “HUD is committed to empowering and working with our local partners to help residents reach their goals and uplift their families.”
“The Jobs Plus program expands on a successful demonstration program model that combines traditional employment, training, and job placement services with a rent incentive and a place-based investment in building community support for work,” HUD noted. “The program requires PHAs to partner locally with Department of Labor Workforce Development Boards and American Jobs Centers. Additionally, Jobs Plus grantees are required to demonstrate a 25 percent match from community partners, providing wrap-around supportive services to improve employment and earnings outcomes. Cross-agency partnerships are essential to changing the economic prospects of public housing residents. Jobs Plus’s place-based model helps residents support each other through the process, cultivating a culture of work and enhancing economic resiliency.”
PHAs in Georgia, Illinois, Michigan, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas and Virginia will also be getting funds from HUD.
Reach Kevin Derby at kevin.derby@floridadaily.com
