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(CINCINNATI)—Attorney General Mike DeWine announced today the awarding of
a $150,000 grant to Cincinnati Works, which helps those in need to find and keep
jobs. The grant is part of the Ohio Attorney General’s Mortgage Settlement
Grant Program, from the 2012 agreement reached with five of the nation’s
largest mortgage servicers over foreclosure abuses, fraud, and unfair and
deceptive mortgage practices.
“It can take only an instant for a family to be facing the
loss of their home,” said Attorney General DeWine. “Cincinnati Works has a
successful history of helping people in such difficult circumstances, so I am
excited to be able to offer it these funds to help continue this vital effort.”
Cincinnati Works will use the grant in its Phoenix program, designed
to address violence prevention and generational poverty. First contact with a
potential Phoenix client often occurs after a family member is a victim of gun
violence. When the victim is the main or only source of income, it can place
the family in danger of foreclosure or other loss of housing.
“The Attorney General Office funding will allow
Cincinnati Works to address the key limiting factor of the Phoenix program’s
capacity,” said Peggy Zink, president of Cincinnati Works. “Employment opportunities for the hard-to-hire are
crucial to our ability to offer an alternative to violent lifestyles. With this
funding, Cincinnati Works will be able to bring on an employee who focuses on developing partnerships with second-chance employers.”
Phoenix seeks to stabilize and support the victim’s family
through engagement of family members and friends. The first goal is to find
jobs that offer new, legal, and safe income for those at risk so they can keep
their homes. Assistance can also be provided in locating temporary or
transitional housing if needed, or by investigating possible loan
modifications. Looking to the future, Phoenix offers financial coaching to help
members establish budgets and rebuild their credit ratings.
Cincinnati Works will use the funds for its Phoenix program
to add additional outreach workers, help with client screening costs, produce materials
used in outreach, and assist clients with some out-of-pocket expenses, such as groceries, bus tickets, or work
clothing, as they transition to stable employment and income.
This is “going to give us the opportunity to get a team of
advocates in the street in order to engage more people who are troubled,
confused, and misunderstood," said Mitchell Morris, a Phoenix recruiter and mentor. "We are going to meet them where they’re at -- let
them know that there are services specifically for them here at Cincinnati
Works.”
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