ROSS Programs

The ROSS Training Center has moved!!

Due to the redevelopment of Janie Poe Apartments, we are now located in the ROSS Portable at 1700 Gore Court (behind the Orange Avenue Apartments.) We look forward to seeing you there!!

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.

The ROSS Program consists of the following opportunities:

Education & Training
General Education Diploma (GED)
Computer Lab & Computer Classes
Pharmacy Technician Certification
Job Skills & Professional Development
Life Skills & Credit Repair
Homeownership

Education & Training

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. The ROSS Department offers several training and education options.

SHA Residents taking the TABE Test in preparation to begin ROSS GED Classes.

 

 

 

 

General Education Diploma (GED)

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.

Computer Lab & Computer 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, and examples of resumes to customize.
MCC also provides a monthly computer class called Computers for the Real Beginner. This class provides basic computer knowledge which greatly increases earning power. A joint MCC/ROSS certificate is provided for graduates.

Pharmacy Technician Certification

The newest and most exciting training opportunity soon to be added to the ROSS schedule is the Pharmacy Technician training with Walgreens. Training as a Pharmacy Technician opens employment opportunities with pharmacies, hospitals, doctor’s offices and other big chain drug stores such as Publix, Walmart and CVS. The training takes four to six weeks and is math intensive. So the ROSS Department has partnered with a math tutor to assist residents with the training. The national certification exam costs approximately $130. If the resident is hired by Walgreens the cost will be absorbed by the company.

Job Skills & Professional Development

Job Skills is an intensive two day 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.

Carolyn Griffin from MCC Small Business Development Center presents a Professional Development Session for Job Skills participants.

 

Residents who complete the Job Skills module and continue with 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 for at least a year by disregarding income increases due to self-sufficiency efforts.

Partner Employers include:
Vengroff Williams & Associates
Sarasota Memorial Hospital
Protocol Marketing
Olsten Staffing
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.
For residents who complete the module, identify a self –sufficiency goal and save towards it, matching funds of up to $500 will be provided to assist them with their stated goal.

SHA Residents Carmen Colon and Janie Dimas compare credit reports.

 

 

Sessions include:
Banking with Washington Mutual
Budgeting & Financial Planning with Abundant Blessings Consulting Group
Life and Legal Issues with local Attorney Tonya Pitts
Voting and Voters Registration with the NAACP

The second part of the module is Credit Repair with our local partner agency, Community Life Center. A blended report with credit score is provided for each resident and step by step advice is given on raising the score in preparation for Homeownership.

Homeownership

Counseling is the focus of the ROSS Homeownership module. Like Life Skills, the sessions will be conducted for a full week for two hours per session. Since credit repair and budgeting was covered in Life Skills Homeownership will focus specifically on:

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

During the session, 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.
Section 8 Homeownership Manager, Ken Waters will be working to blend the two programs and share services between ROSS and Section 8 to the benefit of both our public housing residents and Section 8 participants.