LHM Awarded HUD Grant to Help Families Become Self-Sufficient

Toledo, Ohio, January 8, 2021 - Lucas Metropolitan Housing has been awarded a HUD 2021 Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) Grant in the amount of $263,400. The award supports the salaries for 4 FSS Coordinators who will continue to assist public housing and Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) participants with achieving their self-sufficiency goals. "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.

The Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) Program supports the Department of Housing and Urban Development's strategic goal of increasing economic opportunity for HUD-assisted families. FSS Program Coordinators develop local initiatives to connect participating families to public and private resources to increase their earned income and financial empowerment, reduce or eliminate the need for welfare assistance, and make progress toward economic independence and self-sufficiency.

"The LMH Housing Choice Voucher Programs Department is delighted to have received the renewal grant funding for our Housing Choice Voucher Family Self-Sufficiency (HCV-FSS) Program. This renewal allows us to continue aiding our HCV-FSS participants and their families in successfully achieving the goal of self- and economic-sufficiency," stated Shanetta Moye, Vice President of Housing Choice Voucher Programs.

"We love the Family Self-Sufficiency Program and the opportunity it gives our residents to establish an escrow through their earned income. This grant will allow us to continue seeing the success stories from our residents and to remain an integral part in their lives as they take action to change for the better," said Vivian Crawford, Interim Vice President of Resident Services.

"Since the initiation of our Family Self-Sufficiency Program, LMH has proudly watched as 70 participants have graduated and made better lives for themselves by either improving their level of educational attainment, improving their credit scores, start saving for a home or by becoming homeowners," expressed Joaquin Cintron Vega, LMH President &CEO. "This grant will help us sustain this program and help others gain their independence."

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. LMHA 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 LMHA properties. Lucas Metropolitan Housing partners with ALL people and organizations willing to exchange ideas and efforts to enhance Toledo, Lucas County and the world.                                                                                                    

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