ROSS Programs

 

Did you know that the ROSS Department was recently awarded a U.S. Department of HUD Family Self Sufficiency Grant? For more information click here.

 

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Census Rally

Sarasota Housing Authority was awarded the 2006 U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) Resident Opportunities and Self Sufficiency (ROSS) grant for $150,000 to operate self-sufficiency programs.

 

Executive Director, Bill Russell & ROSS Director, Karen Curry accept the 2006 ROSS Grant.

 

 

 

 

The funding supported SHA in designing and implementing programs that would place the resident on a continuum toward acheiving HUD defined self-sufficiency. The programs begin with Education & Training move to Job Skills & Professional Development to Life Skills ending with Homeownership. We understand that not all residents desire home- ownership therefore the option of obtaining a market-rate rental residence is also considered an acceptable finishing point for ROSS Participants.

In February 2009, the program was awarded two additional grants $116,000 from the Gulf Coast Community Foundation of Venice and $5,000 from BB&T Bank in Atlanta. The additional funding will allow the ROSS Program to expand its services to Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher participants as well as public housing residents. This fabulous news comes at a critical time for public housing residents who are being relocated due to Phase II of the Janie Poe redevelopment project.

An additional program was added to the Sarasota Housing Authority's ROSS Program in May 2009. The department applied for and was awarded the 2008 U.S. Department of HUD Public Housing Family Self Sufficiency (FSS) Program grant. The grant provides for the salary of an FSS Coordinator to develop 5-year self-sufficiency plans with residents. The FSS Coordinator will also link the resident with resources either in the community or within the ROSS Program which will help them acheive the goals in their plans. The most attractive benefit of the FSS Program is that increases in rent prompted by increases in earned income while on the program are escrowed. Once the resident completes their 5-year plan the escrowed funds are released to them.

The ROSS Program consists of the following opportunities:

General Education Diploma (GED)
Job Skills & Professional Development
Life Skills & Credit Repair
Homeownership

Job Training Opportunities

• Security Guard Training with Jean Rene's Protection Services
• Certified Nursing Assistant Class with Quality Health Care
• Phlebotomy Class with Quality Health Care
• Childcare Training with Children First
• Microsoft Computer Classes
• New Administrative Course

General Education Diploma (GED)

We understand that education and training can make all the difference in better employment.The 2000 US Census reveals that those who have a high school diploma make 30% more than those who do not.

 

SHA GED Students appreciating their instructor Ms. Anita Murray.

 

 

 

The ROSS Department offers several training and education options.

Through a partnership with the Sarasota County Technical Institute (SCTI), SHA offers a free GED program to residents. The placement testing and the exam are both free and offered on site. Attendance and punctuality are required and the focus is on one on one attention.The Sarasota County Literacy Council is available to provide tutoring as needed.

Job Skills & Professional Development

Job Skills is an intensive one week session that gives practical instruction on resume writing, interviewing, and job readiness. The session includes a two hour class on Professional Development taught by our partner Manatee Community College. SCTI also provides a session on the Florida Ready to Work program and its benefits.

Sarasota County Technical Institute Career Coach Nina Insinna presents at the ROSS Open House in March 2008.

Residents who complete the Job Skills module are eligible to participate in ROSS Job Training opportunities (below). Residents that continue in case management, mentoring and further self-sufficiency efforts with the ROSS Program are able to take advantage of a HUD initiative called Mandatory Earned Income Disallowance (MEID).
This benefit allows the resident to remain at the same rent payments by disregarding income increases due to self-sufficiency efforts for one year and 50% of new income in the second year.

Partner Employers include:
Sarasota Memorial Hospital
Protocol Marketing
The Ritz Carlton
Walgreens
Sarasota Hyatt-Regency
Sarasota County Area Transit (SCAT)
United Parcel Service (UPS)

Community partners in providing employment training are:

Suncoast Workforce Board/Job Etc.
The Women’s Resource Center
Goodwill Industries Manasota
Manatee Community College
Childcare Connection-Sarasota (pdf)

Life Skills & Credit Repair

Money management is the focus of the ROSS Life Skills module. Because the sessions are developed for the resident who has completed Job Skills and is now working, the classes are scheduled for evenings. The complete module is a week long two hours per session.
Residents who complete the module and identify a self –sufficiency goal are eligible to apply for a grant of up to $150 to assist them in furthering their efforts. Grant applications are reviewed by the ROSS Resident Advisory Board. Please click below for grant guidelines.

2009 ROSS Life Skills Grant Guidelines

Derold McIver, Vice President & Community Development Specialist with BB&T Atlanta presents an FDIC Money Smart Credit Class.

 

 

 

 

Sessions include:

• A Public Housing/Section 8 Rights & Responsibilities Session
• Banking with Chase Bank
• FDIC Money Smart Budgeting & Financial Planning
• FDIC Money Smart Credit with BB&T Bank of Atlanta
• Legal & Criminal Background Issues with Manasota Legal Aide

During the class residents are provided with a blended report & credit score. One on one counseling with an FDIC Money Smart certified instructor is provided for each resident with step by step advice on raising the score and templates for letters to use for various credit repair situations.

Homeownership

The BB&T Bank Bus visits the ROSS Center on April 26th for our Homeownership Fair. Also in attendance were Habitat for Humanity, Goodwill and the Community Housing Trust.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Counseling is the focus of the ROSS Homeownership module. In concert with Manasot Goodwill's Homeownership Counseling, the ROSS Program's mission is to get you prepared to make a smart purchase. We will introduce our program and services to you, refer you to Goodwill for your HUD Certified counseling, which will cover:

• Fair Housing Counseling
• Choosing a Lender
• Appraisals and Inspections
• Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA)

After your course, ROSS staff will seek to match the participants with the appropriate program for their needs. Our partners include Habitat for Humanity, Goodwill Good Homes Program and our own Section 8 Homeownership Program.
Senior Case Manager, Ken Waters will be working to blend the programs available into a perfect mix for you and your families goals.

Job Training Opportunities

Exciting changes are coming to the ROSS Job Training Opportunities. Beginning in January 2010 the ROSS Department is working together with the Suncoast Workforce Board WIA Program, Sarasota County Technical Institute and State College of Florida to offer a broader variety of training programs.

Monthly WIA Orientations will be held on site during the Job Skills and Professional Development class. Please attend the orientation during the first week of the month to learn what trianing programs are avaiable and how you can enroll for free through WIA. If you any questions, please call 941.316.1194.

Childcare Training with Children First

In addition to operating the ROSS Early Childhood Center, our partner Children First also offers our residents interested in a career in childcare a training class. Two of our residents have been hired by Children First.

Microsoft Certification Classes

In addition to providing Professional Development for the Job Skills module, Manatee Community College (MCC) donated five desktop computers. These computers were used to create a computer lab where residents have internet access, typing tutor software, access to the Department of Children and Families application and update site, examples of resumes to customize and templates for writing creditors to improve their credit scores.
The ROSS Program also provides a monthly Microsoft Certification Class. This class provides a Microsoft certificate which can be attached to job applications and resumes to greatly increases earning power.