Press Releases
12/08/2015
Gov. Malloy and Congressional Delegation Announce $1.2 Million Award to Assist Low-Income Residents with Employment and Job Training
(HARTFORD, CT) - Governor Dannel P. Malloy, the members of Connecticut's Congressional Delegation, and Connecticut Housing Commissioner Evonne M. Klein today announced that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has approved nearly $1.2 million in grants to help low-income residents in Connecticut find employment and obtain valuable job training skills. The State Department of Housing and ten local housing authorities across Connecticut will benefit from the federal award.
"We have made extraordinary investments in job training and dramatically increased the availability of affordable housing - both deliver more vibrant communities. Making worker training available is indeed good business throughout Connecticut," Governor Malloy said. "Job training opportunities help ensure that our workforce continues to have the tools to obtain employment - and to be successful in their jobs."
"This funding will provide valuable job training to public housing residents in communities across Connecticut, supporting long-term economic self-sufficiency - a win-win for families and our economy," the members of Connecticut's Congressional delegation said in a joint statement. "We applaud the Department of Housing and the ten housing authorities who will be leading this important effort, and will continue to serve as vocal, united advocates for affordable housing statewide."
Across Connecticut, housing authorities will be able to hire a total of 18 new positions who will be dedicated to working with social service agencies, community colleges, local businesses, and other partners in establishing this pipeline to success for public housing residents. Eligible individuals will be a current resident of public housing or the recipient of a certificate from the Housing Choice Voucher Program, commonly referred to as Section 8.
"Under Governor Malloy's leadership we have made historic investments to expand Connecticut's affordable housing stock, said State Housing Commissioner Evonne M. Klein. "This funding from HUD is yet another step in the right direction that will help low-income residents who reside in affordable housing to increase their chances of success in securing long-term and stable employment in their community."
The grant is funded from HUD's Family Self-Sufficiency Program (FSS) that is dedicated to helping local public housing agencies hire service coordinators who work directly with residents to connect them with programs and services that already exist in the local community. The area service coordinators, hired under this program, are also able to establish and maintain connections with the resident which can benefit them for the long-term.
The program encourages innovative strategies that link public housing and Housing Choice Voucher assistance with other resources to enable participating families to find jobs, increase earned income, reduce or eliminate the need for rental and/or public assistance, and make progress toward achieving economic independence and self-sufficiency. The long term-goal of this program is to allow these individuals to become completely independent.
The awards include:
- Connecticut Department of Housing: 3 positions, $206,040
- Housing Authority of the City of Norwalk: 2 positions, $138,000
- Housing Authority of the City of New Haven: 2 positions, $126,000
- Housing Authority of the City of New Britain: 2 positions, $138,000
- Stamford Housing Authority: 1 position, $67,815
- Housing Authority of the City of Meriden: 3 positions, $194,271
- Ansonia Housing Authority: 1 position, $69,000
- Housing Authority of the City of Derby: 1 position, $54,914
- Housing Authority of the Town of Greenwich: 1 position, $69,000
- Bristol Housing Authority: 1 position, $67,328
- Trout Brook Reality Advisory (formerly West Hartford Housing Authority): 1 position, $68,680
- TOTAL: $1,199,048
- Twitter: @GovMalloyOffice
- Facebook: Office of Governor Dannel P. Malloy