Franklin Housing Authority Receives Grant to Hire Public Housing Self-Sufficiency Coordinator
FRANKLIN, Tenn. - The Franklin Housing Authority (FHA) has received a $55,080 grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to hire a Public Housing Family Self-Sufficiency (PH-FSS) Coordinator. The funds from the grant will cover costs such as salary, benefits, quality assurance, training, office space, equipment and other related administrative expenses.
"By receiving this grant and implementing the PH-FSS Program, we will be able to help even more families in our public housing move toward self-sufficiency," Derwin Jackson, Executive Director of FHA, said. "Paired with our Resident Opportunities and Self-Sufficiency Program, which has helped residents to obtain their GED, start college classes and purchase homes, FHA continues to change the face of public housing in this community."
The Public Housing Family Self-Sufficiency Program requires participating residents to sign a contract with the housing authority, which outlines their responsibilities toward completion of training and employment objectives over a five-year period. For those families receiving welfare assistance, the housing authority must establish an interim goal that the family be independent from welfare assistance prior to the expiration of the contract. During their participation, residents may create an escrow account funded with their increasing income, which they may use in a variety of ways including continuing education or purchasing a home.
For more than 55 years, the Franklin Housing Authority has provided affordable, safe housing for low and moderate-income families in Franklin, Tenn. FHA operates 297 public housing units serving nearly 700 residents. Funded through rental income and subsidies from the Department of Housing & Urban Development, FHA also supports partnerships with programs that foster economic self-sufficiency for residents.