Brownley Announces More Than $34,000 for the San Buenaventura Housing Authority

City Received Grant from U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

WASHINGTON, D.C. – June 3, 2013 – (RealEstateRama) — Today, Representative Julia Brownley (D-Westlake Village) announced the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) awarded a $34,500 grant to the Housing Authority of the City of San Buenaventura for their participation in HUD’s ROSS Family Sufficiency Program. Funds will allow the Housing Authority to hire a program coordinator to connect local residents with training opportunities, job placement organizations and local employers.

“To continue growing our local economy, we need to ensure our residents have access to local employers and the skills they need to be successful,” said Congresswoman Julia Brownley. “These funds provide Ventura residents with additional avenues to find steady work that will support their families and our community.”

“The renewal of this grant for the Housing Authority of the City of San Buenaventura allows us to continue to provide coordinated services for our residents,” said Denise Wise, CEO of the Housing Authority of the City of San Buenaventura. “This provides our residents for the best opportunity toward self-sufficiency and success. This is also a crucial grant at a time when sequestration means funding cuts for our programs. We are appreciative for this grant award.”

Residents who participate in the ROSS Family Sufficiency Program enter into a contract which outlines their responsibilities towards completion of training and employment objectives over a five year period or less. The contract of participation also requires the Housing Authority to help residents achieve their goals.

For each participating family that is a recipient of welfare assistance, the Housing Authority must establish an interim goal that the family become independent from welfare assistance and remain independent from welfare assistance at least one year prior to the expiration of the contract. During the period of participation, residents may earn an escrow credit, based on increased earned income, which they may use in a variety of ways upon successful graduation from the program.

More information on the ROSS Family Sufficiency Program can be found here: LINK.