HUD AWARDS BEAUMONT HOUSING AUTHORITY TWO GRANTS FOR FAMILY SELF SUFFICIENCY PROGRAM
BEAUMONT, TX - The U.S. Department of Housing Urban Development announced the award of two grants totaling $82,410 to the Beaumont Housing Authority to continue their successful Family Self Sufficiency Program.
These grants will allow BHA to retain service coordinators who work directly with residents in the Public Housing and Section 8 programs to connect them with a comprehensive array of services that help the family move towards self sufficiency. These services include job training and education, job search and placement, life skills training, youth enrichment and homeownership and asset building assistance.
Participants in the program sign a five year contract that requires the head of household to obtain employment and no longer receive welfare assistance at the end of the five year term. As the family’s income rises, a portion of that increased income is deposited in an escrow account. When the family successfully completes their contract, the family receives the escrow funds that can be used for any purpose, including paying educational expenses, starting a business or purchasing a home.
In the ten years that BHA has operated the program, 92 families have successfully graduated. These graduates have earned over $282,354 in escrow savings, an average of $3,069 per family. BHA currently has 90 families participating in the program which is networked to over 50 local social and supportive service partners.
“This grant will have a tremendous impact not just on the families in our programs – it will also infuse the City of Beaumont with newly educated and trained job seekers as well as help families move out of federally assisted housing programs into unassisted homeownership”, said Executive Director Robert L. Reyna.
housing serves approximately 2.2 million people across the U.S., but the need is much greater; more than half a million people are on waiting lists.
