VINELAND HOUSING AUTHORITY
City of Vineland
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VINELAND HOUSING AUTHORITY City of Vineland |
| Section 8 Program Director: Ms. Wilma Lopez B.S.W. - Ms. Patricia Johnson Phone: 856-691-4099
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Family Self-Sufficiency Program Several years ago, in an effort to serve more needy family, the Authority applied for 39 additional Section 8 Vouchers. As a result of acquiring the additional 39 Vouchers, the Housing Authority had to initiate a Family Self-Sufficiency Program (FSS). The FSS program currently assists 51 program participants. Each participant must be unemployed at the time he/she enters the program. The social worker helps the individual to develop goals and objectives to accomplish over a period of five years. The participant is then counseled and encouraged to improve in as many areas as needed to become self-sufficient. This may mean getting off Welfare, finding a job, improving academic or employment skills, life skills, budget management, parenting skills, etc. As the participant improves their life skills and becomes employed, an escrow account is developed and the individual becomes familiar with long-term achievements all-the-while saving funds for the future. Currently 49% of FSS participants are escrowing and many have escrowed savings near $10,000.00. (The reader may wish to go to our Web page that discusses the Corbin Education Center to learn more on services provided to assist our families). As a result of the success of many of our FSS participants, the V.H.A. is planning to develop a piece of property into a Section 8 Homeownership Program. The Housing Authority will partner with the community and construct a new street with the possibility of 17 new homes. The FSS Homeownership Program will assist families in becoming first-time homebuyers utilizing the concept of a second mortgage with Section 8 funding to assist with mortgage payments over a 15-year period. Together with the FSS program and the utilization of the Corbin Educational Center, the V.H.A. has the ability to accept new residents, offer them educational opportunities, provide counseling and homeownership opportunities. This program is ideally suited to those residents interested in becoming truly self-sufficient.
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