Public-housing authorities will be receiving $22.5 million in federal funding to help residents access the services offered in a program designed to strengthen renters' financial foundations.
The U.S. Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) Jobs Plus program "supports work readiness and connects public housing residents with employment, education, and financial empowerment services," the agency states in its June 6 press release. The program is part of a proven strategy to help public-housing residents get and keep jobs, and works with HUD's Bridging the Wealth Gap initiative to assist renters in securing economic justice and build assets, the news release states.
“Programs like Jobs Plus help individuals and families to reach their goals," HUD Secretary Marcia Fudge said in the release.“This funding notice allows public housing authorities to become a resource to their residents so that they can thrive.”
The Jobs Plus program's strategy merges rent incentives with conventional employment, training, and job placement services and a location-based investment in fostering community support for employment, according to the release. Under the program, PHAs are required to collaborate locally with American Jobs Centers and Department of Labor workforce-development boards, the release states. Jobs Plus grant recipients must also have a 25% match from partnering community agencies that offer comprehensive supportive services to boost employment and earnings.
Improvements to Jobs Plus haven't affected its foundation, the report states, but rather "bring further clarification to key components of the program," such as allowing PHAs to meet eligibility with smaller populations of work-ready adults than previously required. PHAs are encouraged to closely review Appendix B included with the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) because it has been greatly expanded. The changes also now mandate applicants sit down with the leaders of the program to go over how it will be used, its viability, and impact, the release states.
