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HUD Awards $2.3 Million to Help Low-Income Public Housing
Residents in Toledo Secure Higher Paying Jobs
Jobs Plus grant awarded to
help families achieve financial self-sufficiency
To help low-income public
housing residents increase their income and move toward
self-sufficiency, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban
Development (HUD) awarded $10.6 million to four Public
Housing Authorities (PHAs), including $2.3 million to the
Lucas Metropolitan Housing Authority (LMHA). HUD’s Jobs Plus
Initiative connects public housing residents with
employment, education and financial empowerment services—a
proven model to help public housing residents find and keep
better paying jobs. Read more about how these local housing
agencies will put these funds to work.
“These investments help
public housing residents reach their dreams,” said Secretary
Ben Carson. “The idea is simple-connect families with
educational opportunities, job training and other services
so they can find better paying jobs and achieve
self-sufficiency.”
“The Jobs Plus Initiative
facilitates work readiness to promote gainful employment and
advancement opportunities,” said HUD Midwest Regional
Administrator Joseph P. Galvan. “The foundation of this
program is premised upon three core components: employment
and training, financial incentives to increase earnings and
community support creating a culture of work.”
Ravine Park Village and
Birmingham Terrace will combine to implement the Jobs Plus
Initiative. Currently, there are 274 apartments and 356
work-able adults and 76 percent of those working-age adults
are unemployed. To support job retention and advancement in
the Jobs Plus program, participants will receive employment
readiness training and barrier removal from Pathway,
supportive services and barrier assistance from Zepf Center,
financial literacy from LISC, and youth employment
opportunities from the YMCA
“With Lucas County recorded
as one of 12 counties with the highest percentage of
residents living in poverty in Ohio, we recognize the
significance of LMHA receiving the coveted Jobs Plus grant,”
Mayor Kapszukiewicz said. “It is imperative that we continue
to identify sustainable strategies to address the county’s
poverty rate of 25 percent. This grant presents an important
resource to provide wrap around services to our most
vulnerable families. We are eager to continue our
partnership with LMHA by providing employment for residents
with the goal of identifying permanent opportunities.”
“We are thrilled to have
received the Jobs Plus Initiative Grant!" said Demetria
Simpson, president and chief executive officer, LMHA. "Its
mission to help low-income public housing residents and
families secure higher-paying jobs and work towards
achieving financial self-sufficiency aligns with our
Strategic Planning Goals, over the next five years, to
provide pathways to a better quality of life for our
residents," said Simpson. "The Jobs Plus Initiative Grant is
a first for Toledo Lucas County and a critical component in
creating a framework for building self-sufficiency in our
residents' lives, as well as expanding our partnership with
HUD and the community.”
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