AGENDA #4h
to: Roger L. Stancil, Town Manager
from: Tina Vaughn, Housing Director
subject: Acceptance of a Resident Opportunities and Self-Sufficiency Grant from the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
date: October 9, 2006
PURPOSE
The purpose of this memorandum is to recommend that the Council authorize the acceptance of a Resident Opportunities and Self-Sufficiency (ROSS) Grant in the amount of $248,240 from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
The attached resolution would authorize the acceptance of a Resident Opportunities and Self-Sufficiency Grant from HUD. The resolution would also authorize a performance agreement with Chapel Hill Training Outreach Project, Inc.
Enactment of the attached ordinance would establish a project budget for a Resident Opportunities and Self-Sufficiency Program for residents of public housing. The grant is a reimbursable, performance based grant that does not require a match from the Town. The grant period is three years. Grant fund would be used to provide services for a minimum of 12 residents of public housing.
In the fall of 2004, the Department of Housing submitted an application to HUD requesting funding under the Resident Opportunities and Self-Sufficiency (ROSS) Program. The ROSS Grant Program would provide educational opportunities including job training, life skills training, technology training, financial counseling and other programs to help public housing residents become self-sufficient.
On April 25, 2005, we received notification from HUD that our grant application had been approved in the amount of $248,240.
The Department of Housing submitted an application for ROSS grant funds to provide educational resources for public housing residents. Under the ROSS Grant Program, residents of public housing would be recruited to complete a three-year self-sufficiency project that would include educational opportunities in the following areas:
Program Operations
The Housing Department would offer the Program in partnership with Chapel Hill Training Outreach Project, Inc., a local nonprofit agency that has operated family resource centers in the Chapel Hill community since 1994. Chapel Hill Training Outreach Project, Inc. is currently operating Family Resource Centers in the South Estes Drive and Trinity Court public housing neighborhoods.
The proposed ROSS Grant Program would be operated by Chapel Hill Training Outreach Project, Inc. and housed at the Airport Gardens community center. However, program resources would be available to all residents of public housing.
The Housing Department would provide administrative oversight of Program activities including financial accountability and federal reporting requirements. The Housing Department would develop a performance agreement with Chapel Hill Training Outreach Project that would be reviewed by the Public Housing Program Advisory Board. The Housing Department would also collaborate with other community agencies such as the Department of Social Services, Chapel Hill-Carrboro YMCA, Operation New Life, and the Chapel Hill Police Department Human Services Division to provide services for program participants.
The program would begin in October 2006 and continue through July 2009.
Public housing residents who want to participate in the Program would be given an initial assessment to determine areas of strengths and barriers to job readiness. The results of the assessment would be used to determine training needs. Residents would be provided mentors and case management services to provide guidance and assistance with goals and problem-solving.
ROSS Grant Program funds for the program would be used for the following:
That the Council adopt the attached resolution authorizing the acceptance of the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Resident Opportunities and Self-Sufficiency grant, and enact the attached ordinance establishing a Resident Opportunities and Self-Sufficiency grant project budget.