Housing Authority of the City of Lumberton to receive $239,250 ROSS grant

Apr. 10—LUMBERTON — The Housing Authority of the City of Lumberton has been awarded a $239,250 grant to help residents become more self-sufficient and successful.

The HACL was notified Tuesday that it was awarded the money as part of The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Resident Opportunities and Self-Sufficiency program. It will use the money to hire a resident service coordinator, who will help connect residents to resources like vocational opportunities and aid in residents' journey to becoming "economically sufficient," according to HUD.gov.

The HACL was one of eight North Carolina agencies receiving the ROSS Grant. Another was the Lumbee Regional Development Association. The Robeson County Housing Authority was awarded the ROSS Grant after applying for it in November 2020.

The ROSS grants are designed to be used to hire resident service coordinators, who work to support local, innovative strategies that link housing assistance with public and private resources to enable participating families to increase their earned income, reduce or eliminate the need for welfare assistance, and make progress toward achieving economic independence and housing self-sufficiency, according to a HACL press release.

Through needs assessments, case management, and referrals to community and web-based services, service coordinators help each participant advance toward these goals in ways that best fit their needs, personal priorities, and interests.

Adrian Lowery, executive director of HACL, said the funding is a "two-fold blessing" that will help the Housing Authority provide residents with job opportunities and connect them to local resources that help them become self-sufficient.

"We serve residents who through no fault of their own have not been afforded the opportunities that so many of us take for granted," Lowery said. "The HACL has taken many steps to recover from the devastation of Hurricane Matthew. This is another exciting step in this process."

HUD awarded $36 million to public housing agencies, nonprofit organizations, resident associations and tribal grantees across the nation to hire or retain service coordinators, who help connect all public housing residents with employment training, financial literacy services, educational opportunities, and health and wellness programs.

For more information about ROSS, call HACL at 910-671-8200.