Springfield housing organization awarded funding to help veterans

Mar. 4--The Springfield Metropolitan Housing Authority has been awarded additional funding to help local households become more self-sufficient as well as help homeless veterans find affordable housing in the private market.

The organization was recently awarded $72,000 in Family Self Sufficiency (FSS) funding and $52,563 in Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

The local housing authority aims to connect residents with safe affordable housing options as well as promote economic independence, according to its mission statement.

FSS funding that was recently renewed for the organization will allow it to continue to staff a coordinator position with an emphasis on economic self-sufficiency. It will also be used to help assist approximately 75 households, according to a news release from the organization.

The local housing authority aided 25 households through that program last year with one participant starting a food truck business and another attaining college and other educational accolades. In order to graduate from the organization's FSS program the participant must complete an individual development plan and then verify that they are no longer receiving any form of government financial assistance.

"(Springfield Metropolitan Housing Authority) is grateful to continue to support Springfield families in reaching their goals and especially honored to provide housing opportunity for the men and women of the military who put their lives on the line to keep us safe," said LaMonyka French, the executive director of the organization.

Funding geared towards veterans will go towards a program that combines rental assistance from HUD with case management and clerical services from Veterans Affairs. The goal is to help homeless veterans find secure and affordable housing in the private market, according to the local housing authority.

___

(c)2020 Springfield News-Sun, Ohio

Visit Springfield News-Sun, Ohio at www.springfieldnewssun.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.