Jobs Plus Open House Success!
Rock Hill Housing Authority Hosts Jobs Plus Center Open House
View photos from the Jobs Plus Open House here.
On Monday, December 20, 2021, the Rock Hill Housing Authority hosted an open house at its newest facility, the Jobs Plus Center located at 380 S. Workman Street. The open house was held from 12 noon until 6:00 pm. There were over 75 persons that visited the facility. Residents and community partners who visited the facility were provided with the opportunity to meet the staff, a tour of the facility, receive an overview of the Jobs Plus Program, not to mention the opportunity to win prizes and giveaways. A number of community partners remained throughout the afternoon providing information about their services to residents and other community partners.
The Housing Authority also received a number of donations for this event from community sponsors and partners which resulted in many families receiving toys for their children and other much-needed gifts. One sponsor donated a $250 gift card that was raffled to a lucky winner. Shawanda Erby, Jobs Plus SC Program Manager, said, "This was a fun day. It was great to see so many of our residents drop by the facility and get a tour. I'm looking forward to sharing the success stories of our residents who take advantage of the Jobs Plus Program". Shelby Douglas, Jobs Plus Career Coach, said, "Today was a big success. We had several residents practically spend their entire afternoon canvassing the community for potential participants, offering suggestions and ideas for the program".
In April of 2021, the Housing Authority was awarded a $2.3 million dollar Jobs Plus Program grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The Jobs Plus Center will serve as a one-stop facility that provides public housing residents participating in the Jobs Plus program with access to computers, printers, free Wi-Fi, employment and training opportunities, Career Coaches, and Community Coaches. The program focuses on persons that reside in public housing and are 18-64 years of age and are workable. The program's Career Coaches and Community Coaches will assist residents in improving their ability to gain employment by obtaining employment services, education, and referrals to supportive services, financial incentives, case management, and much more. The Housing Authority has assembled a network of local community partners who are committed to assisting residents in eliminating barriers in their pursuit of a livable wage and ultimately self-sufficiency. A key feature of the Jobs Plus Program is the Jobs Plus Earned Income Disregard (JPEID). This feature enables residents who enroll in the JPEID with the opportunity to increase their earned income without a corresponding increase in their rent for a period of up to 48 months.