Lincoln, Pryor, Berry, Snyder Announce $293K for Employment and Other Services for Housing Assistance Recipients
Washington, DC – May 13, 2010 – (RealEstateRama) — U.S. Senators Blanche Lincoln and Mark Pryor and U.S. Representatives Marion Berry (AR-01) and Vic Snyder (AR-02) today announced that the Jonesboro Urban Renewal and Housing Authority and the Little Rock Housing Authority will receive $152,630 and $141,000, respectively, from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to keep or hire service coordinators.
The Resident Opportunities and Self Sufficiency (ROSS) Service Coordinators Program funds will support service coordinators who work directly with housing assistance recipients to assess their needs and help connect them with services available in their communities. These services might include education or job training programs, as well as financial literacy programs. Coordinators also work with a range of supportive services for elderly and disabled individuals who receive housing assistance.
The ROSS program aims to help housing assistance beneficiaries find employment and reduce or eliminate the need for public assistance.
“This funding will ensure that residents in Jonesboro and Little Rock get the help they need to find a job and ultimately become self sufficient,” Lincoln said. “I am pleased to announce this federal investment in our local housing authorities because they do crucial work to help Arkansans in need find safe and secure places to live so they can get back on their feet.”
“These funds will help residents build more sustainable and independent lives, and that’s good for these communities and our state,” Pryor said.
“These are great programs that aim to help a lot of Arkansans understand the financial issues they face and job training they need to get back into the workforce,” Berry said. “If we can continue to assist the elderly, disabled Arkansans, and put people back to work at the same time I’d say that is money well spent.”
“This funding allows the Little Rock Housing Authority to provide families with more than just affordable housing,” Snyder said. “This federal support will also help provide resources and keep enough people hired to coordinate supportive services for families in need.”
Contact:
Lincoln, Marni Goldberg, 202-224-4843
Pryor, Michael Teague, 501-324-6336
Berry, Will Jennings, 202-225-4076
Snyder, Betsy Barrett, 202-225-2506
