Milwaukee awarded $2.3 million from HUD for Jobs Plus Initiative

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- To help low-income public housing residents increase their income and move toward self-sufficiency, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) awarded $14 million to seven Public Housing Authorities including $2.3 million to Milwaukee. The initiative connects public housing residents with employment, education and financial empowerment services to help them find and keep better paying jobs.

In Milwaukee, the Jobs Plus Initiative will address unemployment and promote economic advancement of public housing residents by incentivizing employment and earnings increases through the earned income disregard for participating families, and by providing services designed to support work including: employer linkages, job placement and counseling, educational advancement and financial counseling. Providing employment related services, financial incentives so that residents have a Plan B ensuring they are “ahead of the game,” and a robust community support for work are all key components which will enrich the lives of the residents that HACM is committed to serve.

“I am proud of the Housing Authority of the City of Milwaukee for its dedication and persistence when it comes to helping our community’s public housing residents improve their quality of life,” said Mayor Tom Barrett. “The Jobs Plus funding will connect many of Hillside Terrace’s residents to important resources that can assist them in overcoming some of the barriers they face in securing gainful employment, increasing their income, and moving toward self-sufficiency.”

Milwaukee tied with New Orleans and Independence, Missouri for the most money received. Covington, Kentucky, Monroe, Louisiana, Lynn, Massachusetts and Camden, New Jersey also received money.