Public Housing Dollars for Arkansas Total $769,058

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) today awarded 18 Arkansas public housing authorities a total of $769,058 to retain or hire service coordinators to work directly with families who participate in HUD's Housing Choice Voucher program, commonly known as Section 8. The coordinators will assist these voucher recipients to find employment resources and job training opportunities to put them on a path toward self-sufficiency. The list of grantees and amounts follows.

Grants to 18 Arkansas public housing authorities are part of nearly $60 million HUD awarded nationwide

"In today's economy, it's never been more critical to help families obtain the skills that lead to jobs," said HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan. "With HUD's help, these housing agencies will be able to assist families in finding employment, increasing their earning potential and putting them on a path to self sufficiency." 

HUD's Housing Choice Voucher Family Self-Sufficiency Program (HCV/FSS) supports public housing agencies (PHAs) to retain or hire family self-sufficiency coordinators. These coordinators in turn link adults in the HCV program with welfare agencies, schools, businesses and other local partners to develop the skills and experience to enable them to obtain jobs that pay a living wage. The local organizations typically provide participating individuals job training, childcare, counseling, transportation, job placement and home ownership counseling.

Participants in the HCV-FSS program sign a contract that requires the head of the household will get a job and the family will 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 interest-bearing escrow account. If the family completes its FSS contract, the family receives the escrow funds that it can use for any purpose, including a down payment on a home, paying educational expenses, starting a business or paying back debts. 

HUD's Family Self Sufficiency (FSS) Program is a long-standing resource for increasing economic security and self-sufficiency among participants. HUD issued a new report earlier this year that evaluated the effectiveness of the FSS Program. Conducted from 2005 to 2009, the study shows the financial benefits are substantial for participants who complete the program. This study is the second of a three-part series by HUD that evaluate the effects of the FSS program. The first study found individuals who participated in the FSS program fared better financially than those who did not enroll in the program.  HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research (PD&R) will launch the third and final installment to complete the series this year.

The Arkansas grantees are:

Conway County Housing Authority FSS
$39,543   

Fort Smith Housing Authority
$52,025   

Housing Authority of Lonoke County
$37,513   

Housing Authority of the City of Conway
$34,500   

Housing Authority of the City of Hope
$31,627   

Housing Authority of the City of Hot Springs
$47,879   

Housing Authority of the City of North Little Rock Arkansas
$96,015

Housing Authority of the City of Pine Bluff
$58,000

Housing Authority of the City of West Memphis
$44,970

Jonesboro Urban Renewal and Housing Authority
$42,460

Lee County Housing Authority
$27,596

McGehee Public Residential Housing Facilities Board
$39,810

Mississippi County Public Facilities Board
$39,314

Northwest Regional Housing Authority
$41,016

Pope County Public Facilities Board
$36,052

Pulaski County Housing Agency
$43,974   

White River Regional Housing Authority
$39,594   

Wynne Housing Authority
$17,170