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Resident Opportunities and Self-Sufficiency Program. In 2002, HACSA was
<br />awarded a HUD ROSS Grant for $250,000 to fund the Pathways to Self-Sufficiency
<br />Program. Pathways targets public housing families, who have been affected by
<br />welfare reform and have shown an interest in working towards economic self-
<br />sufficiency and homeownership. The Pathways program offers support and services
<br />to both adults and youth through partnerships with 13 local providers. Services
<br />include an on-site jobs coordinator, assistance with job training, skills, assessment,
<br />MicroBusiness and homeownership counseling, childcare referral, financial
<br />education, computer training, life skills, parenting skills, and counseling. Youth
<br />services include a two-day job camp, scholarships to a youth job corps program, and
<br />leadership skills. Partners include the NEDCO, Center for Community Counseling,
<br />Goodwill Industries, Northwest Youth Corps, Oregon Public Networking, Lane Transit
<br />District, LifeLine Financial Education Program, Lane MicroBusiness, the City of
<br />Eugene Outdoor Program, and the local Extension Service.
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<br />Family Self-Sufficiency Program. VVith funding assistance from HUD, HACSA
<br />operates a voluntary Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) Program, which aims to improve
<br />the financial circumstances of individual families. Participating families set goals
<br />such as homeownership, college education, job training, financial education, small
<br />business, employment, and other milestones on the road to self-sufficiency. Through
<br />an escrow account in which monies are deposited (based on a household's
<br />increased earned income) and earn interest, families accumulate a fund, which is
<br />available to the family when they complete the five-year program. Approximately 50
<br />families have successfully achieved homeownership and at least 65 families have
<br />left housing assistance through the achievement of their FSS goals.
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<br />Individual Development Accounts. HACSA hopes to offer Individual Development
<br />Accounts (IDAs) to their public housing residents and has applied to become a
<br />member of the Valley Individual Development Accounts (VIDA) Collaborative
<br />Program, which is administered by the Community and Shelter Assistance
<br />Corporation (CASA of Oregon). VIDA is a savings and match program based on the
<br />premise that people escape poverty and become financially stable through savings
<br />and investment. The program allows participants to invest funds in a home,
<br />business startup, or post-secondary education/job training. VIDA savings match will
<br />supplement the participant's deposit at a rate of 3:1. Through the course of the
<br />program, participants will complete financial education courses and training related
<br />to the participant's savings goals (e.g., ABCs of Homebuying), which is the
<br />foundation of the participant's skill building to successfully build and maintain their
<br />assets.
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<br />Partnerships with Local Entities/Providers. The LifeLine Financial Education
<br />program, operated by ©.U.R. Federal Credit Union, offers a four-week series of
<br />classes in financial management and budgeting to Iow-income residents who are in
<br />danger of losing their housing due to financial issues. LifeLine is a cooperative
<br />venture supported by HACSA, Lane County Law and Advocacy Center, Lane
<br />ShelterCare, and ©.U.R. Credit Union, and is partially funded by United Way.
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<br />The Second Chance Renters Rehabilitation program, operated by the SVdP, offers
<br />an eight-week series of classes, to assist Iow-income residents in overcoming
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