Healey-Driscoll Administration Commits More Than $1 Million to Promote Economic Opportunity for Public Housing Residents
The Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities awarded more than $1 million to local housing authorities and regional administering agencies this month to promote economic opportunity for public housing residents.
The Self-Sufficiency Program grants support efforts of residents in state-aided public housing as well as participants in the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program in making measurable gains in employment, financial stability and asset building and education. Participants work with a self-sufficiency coach to set and complete goals centered around economic mobility. As participants’ incomes increase and their rent goes up, they are able to escrow the increased amount of rent, up to $20,000.
"These grants are a terrific opportunity to support our public housing and MRVP recipients by empowering them with tools to improve their lives and to become more self-sufficient,” said Secretary of the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities Ed Augustus. “The Self-Sufficiency Program helps individuals make improvements to their education or employment, leading to greater financial independence.”
The program is up to a three-year commitment for participants with the opportunity to renew for two additional years, one year at a time. One participant per household may enroll at a time. Participants work with coaches to create an individualized goal plan containing up to three SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-Bound) goals. Coaches then support participants in achieving their goals while connecting them to community resources and creating/managing the escrow accounts.
HLC issued a Notice of Funding Availability in November 2024 asking local housing authorities to apply for the Self-Sufficiency Program. Grants were limited to housing authorities or regional administering agencies that own or administer at least 100 units of state-aided family public housing, MRVP vouchers or some combination of the two programs.
The Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities awarded grants to the following 11 public housing authorities and regional administering agencies:
Arlington Housing Authority & Waltham Housing Authority (New) - $100,000 annually
Brookline Housing Authority (Continuing) - $100,000 annually
Chelsea Housing Authority & Everett Housing Authority (Continuing) - $100,000 annually
Gloucester Housing Authority (New) - $100,000 annually
Lowell Housing Authority (Continuing) - $70,000 annually
Neighborworks Housing Solutions (Continuing) - $100,000 annually
Salem Housing Authority & Marblehead Housing Authority (New) - $100,000 annually
Somerville Housing Authority (Continuing) - $70,000 annually
Taunton Housing Authority & Stoughton Housing Authority (New) - $100,000 annually
Watertown Housing Authority (New) - $100,000 annually
Wayfinders (Continuing) - $100,000 annually