Community engagement social events to highlight self-sufficiency programs for Housing Authority residents

Press release from the Asheville Housing Authority: 

Asheville Housing Authority’s (AHA) Family Self Sufficiency’s (FSS) staff and the Buncombe County’s Health and Human Services Department and Asheville Buncombe Technical Community College’s SNAP 2 Skills Employment and Training program have partnered with several organizations to host a series of educational programs this summer.  The summer series is entitled: Community Engagement Social: Get Up! Get Out! Get Something!

The Community Engagement Social events will focus on providing the residents of AHA’s developments and the surrounding neighborhoods the opportunity to learn about the various job training and skills based programs, money management classes, and various other opportunities provided by local nonprofits and organizations.  The activities that are being provided at the event are not limited to adult participation, there are several activities being planned for children.  The event planners have arranged for there to be a DJ playing music during the events and there will be bounce houses available for children. Free food and food demonstrations will also be provided during each event.

The Community Engagement Social events will be held throughout the summer.  They are scheduled on the following dates and the following locations:

Friday, June 9th 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Hillcrest Apartments

Friday, June 23rd 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. – Pisgah View Apartments

Friday, July 21st 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. – Deaverview Apartments

Saturday, August 5th 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. – The Wesley Grant Sr. Southside Center

The will be no rain dates provided for the events.  Collaborators are requested residents to attend another session, if it rains on a date of a Community Engagement Social event.

“We planned the Community Engagement Social events in order to bring together service providers who were working with similar clients.  Our goal is to provide opportunities for residents to gain more information about the additional services and programs that they can access to improve their job readiness, financial skills, educational level, and homeownership awareness,” said Shaunda Sandford, AHA’s Family Self Sufficiency Coordinator.

“We were intentional in partnering with AHA’s FSS staff because the SNAP 2 Skills program has funding available to assist residents with going to A-B Tech to improve their skills through the Workforce Development program and the degree based program.  The staff of SNAP 2 Skill’s staff also provides guidance on careers and supports individuals with understanding how they can increase their revenue and decrease their reliance on government assistance,” said Michael P. Carter, SNAP 2 Skills, Education Navigator.

The Sponsors for the CES events are AHA, Buncombe County Health and Human Services, AB Tech, MDTMT, SHCU, Asheville City Schools, Asheville Police Department, and Allegra Marketing.

FSS is a program that was developed by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to assist residents of public housing authorities with “increasing their earned income, while also reducing the amount of federal assistance that they need.  The FSS’ staff is enrolling individuals who are interested in participating in life altering activities.  AHA has recently hired additional staff to assist with providing services through the program. For information about the FSS program, residents of AHA can contact the Family Self Sufficiency Program at (828) 239-3542.

The SNAP 2 Skills Employment and Training Program is a “partnership between A-B Tech and Buncombe County’s Health and Human Services Department.  The program is designed to assist SNAP (formerly known as food stamps) recipients gain access to opportunities at A-B Tech in occupational skills/workforce courses, curriculum programs of study, job search resources and high school equivalency.