Lucas Metropolitan Housing Receives Resident Opportunity and Self-Sufficiency Grant from HUD

Toledo, Ohio, April 8, 2021 - The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has awarded Lucas Metropolitan Housing $423,352 under the Resident Opportunity and Self-Sufficiency (ROSS) grant program. ROSS grant funds will help the agency hire and/or retain Service Coordinators to assist public housing families with their professional, financial, health and educational goals. Service Coordinators provide case management, assess residents' needs and work in partnership with local service providers to remove barriers so that residents can become self-sufficient.

"Self-sufficiency" is defined as a household's ability to maintain financial, housing and personal/family stability. LMH assists families with employment, training, post-secondary education, financial literacy and much more.

"We are excited to work with our local housing partners to help public housing residents find jobs and opportunities that will propel them forward," said HUD Secretary Marcia L. Fudge.

The Program allows for two (2) Service Coordinators to work directly with families by providing daily assessments, case management, information, referrals for workforce development, resume building, training opportunities and job seeking/retention skills. Residents are also referred to educational opportunities, GED preparation and access to colleges in various locations of their choice. Furthermore, to help strengthen their financial stability, participating residents are referred to the Financial Opportunity Centers for assistance with budgeting, credit repair and homeownership education.

"Lucas Metropolitan Housing keeps building momentum as we continue to receive the support of the Department of Housing and Urban Development said, Joaquin Cintron Vega, LMH President and CEO. Our Agency is a trusted partner in managing the funds that are made available through grants such as these," he said.  This time, the awarded grant funds will help us keep working with our residents to assist them in achieving self-sufficiency. Our goal is to maximize the available resources to provide more families with a viable opportunity toward independence."

The total number of families that will be serviced under the grant is 1,303 for a 3-year period.

About Lucas Metropolitan Housing Established in 1933, Lucas Metropolitan Housing (LMH) continues to provide affordable housing to adults, seniors and children in its Public Housing, Housing Choice Voucher, Mixed-Income and Market Rate housing units. LMH also provides a myriad of programs and opportunities designed to improve the total quality of life for our residents, with the ultimate goal of achieving self-sufficiency. The programs and services are the results of successful collaborations with numerous community partners. Our current housing portfolio consists of 2,633 Public Housing units; 4,657 Housing Choice Vouchers; 322 Low-Income Housing Tax Credit units; 198 Market Rate units and 107 Homeownership Properties. There are approximately 17,500 people who reside in LMH properties. Lucas Metropolitan Housing partners with ALL people and organizations willing to exchange ideas and efforts to enhance Toledo, Lucas County and the world.                                                                                           

About HUD (Department of Housing and Urban Development) HUD's mission is to create strong, sustainable, inclusive communities and quality affordable homes for all. More information about HUD and its programs is available at www.hud.gov and https://espanol.hud.gov.

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