MAYOR CANTRELL
CONGRATULATES HOUSING AUTHORITY OF NEW ORLEANS ON RECEIVING HUD JOBS PLUS GRANT
TO SUPPORT LOW-INCOME FAMILIES
NEW ORLEANS — Today,
Mayor LaToya Cantrell congratulated the Housing Authority of New
Orleans (HANO) for securing a $2.3 million Jobs Plus Grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) that will help families
living in public housing obtain employment and other quality-of-life improvements.
HUD awarded grants to seven Public
Housing Authority agencies, including HANO, for a total of $14 million in support.
HANO’s $2.3 million was the highest amount awarded.
“My administration embraces HANO as a top priority. I have
strengthened the board leadership and charged executive management with a
renewed commitment to attacking the affordable housing crisis from every angle,
including jobs.”
“In my meetings with HUD, they have indicated that
HANO has turned a corner for the better after decades of chronic dysfunction
and mismanagement. The agency has now emerged as a national model,” said Mayor
Cantrell.
“That was HUD talking the talk--- this grant award is
HUD walking the walk, and showing proof of their confidence in HANO, with $2.3M
that will help connect our people with new job opportunities. It’s a clear
indication of the progress made and the momentum we intend to build on.”
“We are thrilled to gain more federal funding that will leverage
additional neighborhood and community partnerships in support of job readiness
and self-sufficiency initiatives,” said HANO Executive Director Gregg Fortner.
“The Jobs Plus program will give us an opportunity to enhance existing
programs and develop additional programs with the anticipation of helping more
of our residents gain economic sustainability.”
The Jobs Plus Initiative Program was developed to create locally-based, job-driven approaches that will increase earnings and advance employment
outcomes through work readiness, employer linkages, job placement, educational
advancement, technology skills and financial literacy for residents of public
housing. Program participants will be connected to community supportive
services that encourage self-sufficiency in partnership with the United Way,
Providence Community Housing, HRI Properties, Southeast Louisiana Legal
Services, Operation Shark, Backatown Coffee Shop, Youth Empowerment Project,
Fidelity Bank, STRIVE NOLA and Crescent Affordable Housing with the objective
of building a culture of work and making working families the norm.
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