Sens. Warner & Kaine Announce More Than $2 Million in Federal Funds to Help Virginians on Public Assistance Become Self-Sufficient
WASHINGTON – Today, Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) announced that 19 Virginia localities will receive more than $2 million in grants from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The funding will help Virginia families who receive federal housing vouchers and public housing residents reduce their dependency on welfare assistance and rental subsidies by providing tools and resources that will assist them in gaining job skills and increasing their earned income.
“These funds will help empower Virginia families to pull themselves out of poverty through educational opportunities, job training, and counseling,” said both Senators. “By giving individuals the tools they need to succeed, we help strengthen Virginia’s economy and reduce dependency on already-overburdened public assistance programs in our state.”
The Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) program, whose goal is to increase earned income and decrease welfare program dependency, administers the funds to local government housing entities. Once an eligible family is selected, a contract is established for a 5-7-year period that incorporates individualized training and outlines both short and long-term goals. Resources and special services such as childcare, transportation, education, job training, employment counseling, financial literacy, and homeownership counseling are provided to families through service providers in the community.
The following Virginia communities will receive funding from HUD’s Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) Program:
- Portsmouth Redevelopment and Housing Authority: $196,272
- Bristol Redevelopment and Housing Authority: $41,843
- Newport News Redevelopment and Housing Authority: $148,068
- Alexandria Redevelopment & Housing Authority: $138,000
- Hopewell Redevelopment and Housing Authority: $69,000
- Norfolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority: $332,175
- Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority: $69,000
- Danville Redevelopment and Housing Authority: $47,271
- City of Roanoke Redevelopment and Housing Authority: $161,460
- Chesapeake Redevelopment & Housing Authority: $162,030
- Hampton Redevelopment & Housing Authority: $50,813
- Franklin Redevelopment and Housing Authority: $60,000
- Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority: $138,000
- Waynesboro Redevelopment and Housing Authority: $83,321
- Suffolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority: $104,340
- County of Loudoun: $67,326
- City of Virginia Beach Dept. of Housing and Neighborhood Preservation: $48,435
- James City County Office of Housing & Community Development: $23,990
- Prince William County Office of Housing & Community Development: $69,000
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