A grant from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Workforce Innovation Fund will help people who live in public housing get the life and employment skills necessary to attain self-sufficiency.
A total of $5.5 million is being shared among agencies across the Portland-Vancouver region. In Clark County, nearly $1 million will connect 110 residents of the Vancouver Housing Authority with the Southwest Washington Workforce Development Council. This builds upon previous collaborations aimed at providing jobs and job training under federal stimulus programs.
Other partners sharing the regional $5.5 million grant include Workforce Investment Council of Clackamas County, Home Forward and the Housing Authorities of Washington County and Clackamas County in Oregon.
VHA executive director Roy Johnson said the grant would create resources and opportunities that have not been previously available to public housing residents.
Workforce Development Council Executive Director Jeanne Bennett said, “Partnerships and collaboration have proven their value and we intend to capitalize on our strong relationships.”
