Akron Metropolitan Housing Authority Awarded $2,300,000 HUD Jobs Plus Program Grant to Help Summit Lake Public Housing Residents Become Economically Empowered
Akron, OH— On Friday, February 14, 2020, The Akron Metropolitan Housing Authority (AMHA) became one of nine public housing agencies in the country to be awarded the prestigious Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Jobs Plus Program grant. AMHA will receive $2,300,000 to help public housing families at Summit Lake increase their earned income and become self-sufficient.
“AMHA’s Job Plus Program builds on the work being done in the Summit Lake community, improving residents’ access to the resources and supports needed to eliminate barriers to employment,” said Brian Gage, Executive Director of AMHA. “Our goal is to improve the lives of our residents by giving them the tools to succeed and build fulfilling careers. This grant has not only identified new partnerships to benefit our residents, but has also strengthened established connections throughout the community.”
AMHA leveraged over 13 million dollars from over a dozen local partners to implement the program. Key Partners include: Akron Area YMCA, Akron Urban League, AxessPointe Community Health Center, Building for Tomorrow Early Childhood Initiative, ConxusNEO, Goodwill Industries, Metro Regional Transit Authority, Open M, Project Learn of Summit County, Reach Opportunity Center, Stark State College, Summit County Department of Job and Family Services, Summit County Workforce Investment Board, and United Way of Summit County.
AMHA, along with these partners, will work to combine traditional employment, financial literacy, training, and job placement services with a rent incentive and a place-based investment in building community support for work.
“HUD is proud to work with our local partners to help more residents find employment so that they can reach their full potential and become role models to future generations,” said HUD Secretary Ben Carson in a press release on Friday.
AMHA will be focusing on the Summit Lake neighborhood, where AMHA’s nonprofit subsidiary, Building for Tomorrow, already operates the Reach Opportunity Center and is committed to providing additional services. Need is substantial in Summit Lake, a community of 533, where the poverty rate is 58.4 percent, the number of children below poverty level is 78.7 percent, and average annual household income is $8,606.
HUD officials will present the award at a press conference on Thursday, February 20th at 1:00 at the Reach Opportunity Center. Community leaders, Summit Lake residents, and partners will be in attendance. AMHA provides affordable housing and social services to low income residents throughout Summit County. The agency serves over 40,000 people who qualify for federal housing assistance.
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CONTACT: Joan Davidson
Community Relations Manager, AMHA
jdavidson@akronhousing.org | 330-376-9960
