| HUD No. 20-029 HUD Public Affairs (202) 708-0685 |
FOR RELEASE Friday February 14, 2020 |
HUD AWARDS $20 MILLION TO HELP PUBLIC HOUSING RESIDENTS, INCLUDING $13 MILLION IN OPPORTUNITY ZONES
Housing Authorities in nine communities will receive funding under Jobs Plus
LONG BEACH, CA - U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Ben Carson today visited Carmelitos Public Housing Development and announced a $20 million investment to nine public housing agencies (PHA) to help public housing families increase their earned income and become self-sufficient. See chart below of today's funding announcement.
Awarded through HUD’s Jobs Plus program, these grants support work readiness and connects public housing residents with employment, education, and financial empowerment services—an evidence-based model proven to help public housing residents find and keep jobs. Many of the grantees announced today are located in Opportunity Zones. Created under the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, Opportunity Zones aim to stimulate long-term investments in low-income communities. Read more about how these PHAs will put their grant funds to work.
“HUD is committed to empowering public housing residents with new educational and economic tools to improve self-sufficiency,” said Secretary Carson. “HUD is proud to work with our local partners to help more residents find employment so that they can reach their full potential and become role models to future generations.”
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. 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 twenty-five 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’ place -based model helps residents support each other through the process, cultivating culture of work and enhancing economic resiliency.
The following public housing authorities are receiving funding:
| State | Public Housing Authority | City | Amout |
| California | Los Angeles County Development Authority* | Alhambra | $1,854,077 |
| Florida | Housing Authority of the City of Fort Myers* | Fort Myers | $2,300,000 |
| Florida | Jacksonville Housing Authority* | Jacksonville | $2,300,000 |
| Illinois | Chicago Housing Authority | Chicago | $2,790,875 |
| Massachusetts | Lowell Housing Authority | Lowell | $2,300,000 |
| North Carolina | The Housing Authority of the City of Durham | Durham | $2,300,000 |
| New Jersey | Housing Authority of the City of Elizabeth* | Elizabeth | $2,300,000 |
| Ohio | Akron Metropolitan Housing Authority* | Akron | $2,300,000 |
| Virginia | Portsmouth Redevelopment and Housing Authority* | Portsmouth | $2,300,000 |
| Total | $20,744,952 |
*Located in Opportunity Zone.