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HUD awards $5.8 million to help families reach self-sufficiency in New York

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Mon, Dec 21st 2020 10:20 am

Federal funding to support education and employment among HUD-assisted families 

U. S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Ben Carson recently awarded approximately $78 million to hundreds of public housing authorities across the country to help residents of public housing and voucher-assisted housing increase their earned income and reduce their dependency on public assistance and rental subsidies.

In New York, Carson awarded $5,877,818 to 37 to public housing authorities and local governments in the state to hire service coordinators who can guide residents towards self-sufficiency.

“Putting people on the path to self-sufficiency by helping them find jobs and increase their earned income is an essential part of HUD’s mission,” Carson said. “This funding is a good example of how federal and local partnerships work to help connect families to jobs and educational opportunities to help them become a success.” 

“Year after year, the FSS program has proven that self-sufficiency is attainable for residents who decide to change the course of their lives,” said Lynne Patton, HUD regional administrator for New York and New Jersey. “The invaluable support provided by service coordinators is the difference between going at it alone and having someone knowledgeable to guide you along the way towards financial independence.” 

HUD's family self -sufficiency (FSS) program funding helps local public housing authorities to hire service coordinators who work directly with residents to connect them with existing programs and services in the local community. These service coordinators build relationships with networks of local service providers, who provide direct assistance to FSS participants. The broad spectrum of services made possible through FSS enables participating families to find jobs, increase earned income, reduce, or eliminate the need for rental and/or welfare assistance, and make progress toward achieving economic independence and self-sufficiency. 

Per HUD: Participants in the program sign a five-year contract of participation requiring the head of the household to set specific goals and achievements allowed under the FSS Program. To successfully graduate, the head of household must be employed and no member of the FSS family may have received cash welfare assistance for 12 months prior to program graduation. Families in the FSS program have an interest-bearing escrow account established for them. The amount credited to the family's escrow account is based on increases rent due to improvement in the family's earned income during the term of the FSS contract. Upon successful graduation, the head of household receives the escrow funds are able to apply those funds to advance their personal circumstances, including, for example, paying educational expenses or making a down-payment on a home. 

Many of the fiscal year 20 FSS awards are to public housing authorities with units in Opportunity Zones. Created under the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, Opportunity Zones aim to stimulate long-term investments in low-income communities.

HUD did not receive applications for FSS renewal funding from every eligible PHA with an existing FSS program. With approximately $2 million in remaining FY 2020 funding, HUD plans to issue a supplemental notice of funding opportunity inviting those eligible PHAs with FSS programs to apply competitively for the residual FY 2020 funds.

New York

 

Troy Housing Authority

$144,000.00

Village of Ballston Spa

$46,830.00

Town of Colonie

$56,708.00

Village of Corinth

$67,174.00

Village of Fort Plain

$68,706.00

Mechanicville Housing Authority

$69,192.00

Cohoes Housing Authority

$68,876.00

Gloversville Housing Authority

$104,633.00

Town of Guildeland

$67,897.00

Village of Highland Falls

$66,704.00

City of Johnstown

$66,704.00

Town of Rotterdam

$58,682.00

Village of Scotia

$59,384.00

Town of Islip Housing Authority

$60,316.00

City of Utica Section 8 Program

$51,659.00

North Hempstead Housing Authority

$36,000.00

Ithaca Housing Authority

$151,519.00

Town of Babylon Housing Assistance Agency

$49,913.00

City of Oswego Community Development Office

$54,000.00

Municipal Housing Authority of the City of Schenectady

$122,302.00

NYS Housing Trust Fund Corp

$1,457,220.00

City of Lockport Housing Authority

$72,000.00

Rental Assistance Corporation of Buffalo

$109,375.00

Rochester Housing Authority

$200,877.00

Syracuse Housing Authority

$201,000.00

New York City Housing Authority

$216,000.00

City of North Tonawanda PHA

$50,975.00

Monticello Housing Authority

$72,000.00

Municipal Housing Authority of the City of Utica, New York

$72,000.00

Albany Housing Authority

$227,558.00

Town of Brookhaven, Department of Housing and Human Services

$72,000.00

Erie County PHA Consortium, Town of Amherst Lead Applicant

$164,685.00

Amsterdam Housing Authority

$101,435.00

New York City Department of Housing Preservation & Development

$1,210,135.00

Buffalo Municipal Housing Authority

$34,500.00

Town of Huntington Housing Authority

$72,000.00

Village of Kiryas Joel Housing Authority

$72,859.00

TOTAL

$5,877,818.00

 

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