The 海角换妻 Department of Housing (DOH) received $4.5 million from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to increase housing options for Section 8 recipients.
DOH will use the funds to employ about 10 caseworkers who will pair Section 8 residents with neighborhoods that better meet their long-term goals.
The funds will be distributed in increments of $900,000 over the next five years, DOH Director of Individual and Family Support Programs Steve DiLella said.
The current Section 8 program allows families to select homes in various neighborhoods, however according to DiLella, residents tend to stay in urban centers.
鈥淭his is a program that will assist people who have housing choice vouchers, who live in high poverty, low opportunity areas, to potentially move to high opportunity, low poverty areas,鈥� DiLella said.
The vouchers are part of the . It is specifically designed to help families with children find housing in what the state considers 鈥渙pportunity neighborhoods.鈥� In 海角换妻, census tract data contributes to a state-organized for each neighborhood.
Those neighborhoods tend to have low crime rates, highly accredited schools and more job opportunities.
As a similar program already exists in the Hartford area. The new caseworkers will focus on Bridgeport and New Haven, DiLella said.
鈥淓very parent knows the value of providing a safe and secure place for their child to call home. Stability at home helps promote their future success 鈥� in school and onwards,鈥� HUD Secretary Marcia L. Fudge said.
