WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Bill Delahunt today announced the award of $110,500 in Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) grants to the Quincy and Plymouth Housing Authorities.

“This year has been another extremely challenging one for the housing and human service organizations in our region that are working with families and individuals who are in public housing,” Delahunt said. “For many people, the challenge in securing child care and even setting aside the time in one’s hectic schedule, has made it extremely difficult to access education and training programs designed to assist people in obtaining better paying jobs. I commend HUD for providing these much needed funds to the South Shore.”

As part of the grant award, the Quincy Housing Authority will receive $65,500 and the Plymouth Housing Authority $40,000 under HUD’s Housing Choice Voucher – Family Self Sufficiency Program.

“We are very pleased to have been funded under the Family Self-Sufficiency program once again.  These funds will allow us to continue the work we started more than 10 years ago....helping families and individuals seek opportunities for education, jobs and job training to achieve greater independence. With federal funds ever decreasing to support families who want to be successful and independent, we are grateful that HUD has recognized our efforts and chosen to continue our funding,” said Joan Pimental, Executive Director of the Plymouth Housing Authority.

“We are quite pleased to have been awarded the HUD 2007 Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) -Family Self Sufficiency Award.  The funding will allow us to continue a worthwhile program to assist HCV residents toward self-sufficiency.  We appreciate Congressman's Delahunt’s' office and the local HUD office in their efforts in helping us maintain this valuable program,” Jay MacRitchie, ESQ, Executive Director of the Quincy Housing Authority.

Family Self Sufficiency (FSS) is a HUD program that encourages communities to develop local strategies to help voucher families obtain employment that will lead to economic independence. Public housing agencies work with welfare agencies, schools, businesses, and other local partners to develop a comprehensive program that gives participating FSS family members the skills and experience to enable them to obtain employment that pays a living wage. FSS services include child care, education, transportation, job training and homeownership counseling.

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