Grant helps to achieve homeownership

A federal grant could nudge more Yumans closer to fulfilling their dream of owning a home and becoming more self-sufficient.

The Housing Authority of the City of Yuma (HACY) was notified Friday that it is receiving a $249,500 grant from the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

The funding comes through HUD's Housing Choice Voucher-Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) program.

The program helps eligible people acquire skills and experience needed to obtain a living wage, then offers them an escrow savings account for a down payment on a home or other goals.

The Yuma agency works with welfare agencies, schools, businesses and other local partners to help FSS participants access services, such as child care, transportation, education and training and homeownership counseling.

The agency has been receiving the HUD grant for the past 12 to 15 years, traditionally in the amount of $160,000, said Michael Morrissey, HACY executive director.

However, this year, the agency received the highest award ever in Arizona, Morrissey said, noting he was impressed that Yuma received the maximum amount possible.

The grant is especially welcome since last year the agency did not get a grant due to changes made to HUD.

The Yuma agency serves about 200 residents. “We run one of the most successful housing programs in Arizona,” Morrissey said.

The grant will be used to fund the salaries and benefits of the program's four employees and other program costs and expenses such as training.

With a five-year plan, the agency works with residents to achieve their goals: higher education, start their own business, purchase their home or other objectives.

To achieve their goal, participants regularly set aside a certain amount of money in an escrow account.

With the help of partners, such as the Western Arizona Council of Governments, the program offers training and workshops that will help them work toward their goals. The training includes life skills classes, credit counseling, computer classes and tax preparation assistance.

They receive other assistance such as health, dental and mental care, parenting classes and transportation.

The program graduates about 10 percent of the participants each year, and 50 to 60 percent of them purchase a home.

“They move into self-sufficiency and some into their own homes,” Morrissey said.

U.S. Rep. Raul M. Grijalva, after announcing the grant Friday, congratulated the agency. “This is exactly the sort of program we need to be protecting for the public good while we create jobs and help people get back on their feet.

“Investments in public skills and economic self-sufficiency pay for themselves many times over, and it would be foolish to reduce this support in southern Arizona where it means so much to the community,” Grijalva added.

Mara Knaub can be reached at mknaub@yumasun.com or 539-6856.