HUD awards MO $1.3M

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development recently approved Missouri for $1.3 million in funding as part of a $54 million nationwide push to aid low-income families.

The Housing Authority of the city of Springfield, or H.A.S. Properties, was selected to receive $26,825. H.A.S. Properties, which has its headquarters located at 421 W. Madison St., operates public housing primarily from tax dollars. It is one of 16 Missouri housing agencies authorized for a portion of the HUD money.

The funding, funneled through HUD's Housing Choice Voucher Family Self-Sufficiency Program, allows housing agencies to work with welfare agencies, schools and businesses to help people already participating in HUD's Housing Choice Voucher Program improve their education or gain marketable skills to give them the chance to obtain jobs that pay a living wage, according to a HUD news release.

"This program is absolutely critical in today’s economy," HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan said in the release. "When families are given the tools they need to move beyond the voucher program, they do.  

"Ultimately, they become self-sufficient and more vouchers become available for other families, some who have been waiting for long periods to receive housing assistance."

The HUD Housing Choice Voucher Program helps low-income families, the elderly and the disabled afford safe and sanitary housing in the private market.

The HUD Housing Choice Voucher Family Self-Sufficiency Program goes one step further, helping voucher families obtain employment. Program participants sign a contract requiring the head of the household to get a job and speculates the family will stop receiving welfare assistance after five years. During that time period, a portion of family income is placed in an interest-bearing escrow account, which the family will gain access to after completing the contract, according to the release.[[In-content Ad]]