RHA will help steer tenants to jobs

REVERE – The Housing Authority is using $66,000 in federal money to pay for job training for its tenants along the lines of a successful self sufficiency program launched in Lynn.Authority Director Linda Shaw said housing officials began the process for putting the program in place more than two years ago by identifying possible program participants. Authority officials developed community support for the program before applying for federal funding.”I am so excited about the award,” said Robyn D’Apolito, Social Services Coordinator for RHA and author of the training grant. “This means that up to 25 Section 8 people can apply.”The funds will allow the Authority to work with schools, businesses and other local agencies to find jobs and other training that will lead to employment. Tenant participation in the program is limited to people enrolled in the Authority’s Housing Choice Voucher Program.”It is our desire to fully participate in the welfare to work programs as funds become available to us,” said Shaw.The Lynn Housing Authority developed two programs focused on steering tenants to homeownership and helping them develop job seeking skills. Both housing authorities are joining others across the state in a bid to secure long-term state funding for housing repair projects.The Legislature ended 2008 by boosting the amount of long-term money it will pledge to repair work from $85 million to $99 million. The national organization representing authorities is praising Gov. Deval Patrick’s push to have Congress provide $400 million to $600 million in a federal stimulus package.The Authority’s list of building improvement projects dating back a year includes Liston Towers exterior work aimed at eliminating flooding and renovations to make eight apartments handicapped accessible.The Authority is considering replacing the Eliot Road and Garfield Avenue development with a several story residence providing additional living space for public housing tenants. The Authority applied for a state grant to pay for a feasibility study of the replacement work.