WASHINGTON, DC - In an effort help Rhode Island families who receive housing assistance become more financially self-sufficient, U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) today announced that housing authorities across the state will receive over $668,000 in federal funding through the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) Program.

"This critical federal funding will allow housing authorities across the state to continue to provide Rhode Island families with the skills, education, and services they need to find jobs and become more financial independent," said Reed, a senior member of the Senate Baking Committee, which oversees federal housing policy as well as a member of the Appropriations Committee, which provides all federal spending on HUD programs.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) HCV-FSS program provides funding to Public Housing Authorities (PHA) so they can work with welfare agencies, schools, businesses, and other local partners to develop a comprehensive program that gives participating FSS family members the skills and experience to obtain employment and become financially independent. Among other things, the HCV-FSS program provides child care; transportation; education, job training and employment counseling; substance abuse treatment and counseling; household skill training; and homeownership counseling.

The housing authorities (HA) receiving HUD funding include:

Housing Authority of the City of Providence $125,228
Narragansett Housing Authority $76,427
Cumberland Housing Authority $66,000
Central Falls Housing Authority $63,453
Rhode Island Housing $60,000
Housing Authority of the Town of East Greenwich $55,431
Town of North Providence Housing Authority $55,151
Coventry Housing Authority $50,556
Warwick Housing Authority $41,000
East Providence Housing Authority $38,764
Town of Bristol Housing Authority $36,360
TOTAL: $668,370