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Charlotte Gets $2.2 Million Job Training Grant For Public Housing Residents

hud.gov

Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julian Castro visited Charlotte Thursday. He visited a public housing site called Southside Homes to announce a $2.2 million grant for a program that trains public housing residents for good job opportunities.

It’s called the Jobs Plus Pilot Program. Castro says a five-year pilot testing phase shows the program works.

"In the study that was done, the demonstration project, participants had a 14 percent income gain than folks who didn’t go through the pilot project," says Castro. 

The program links the Charlotte Housing Authority with job training and financial services.

"We also know we have tremendous waiting lists for public housing, for Section 8 vouchers," he adds.

Castro’s referring to the approximate 34,000 people on waiting lists for public housing in Charlotte. In theory, the program enables people to eventually move out of public housing, and that will reduce the number of people on the waiting list.

The Jobs-Plus program will begin in August. Eight other cities – including Chicago, Boston and Memphis – received funding, ranging from $1.9 to $3 million.