HUD grant: Goldsboro Housing Authority's persistence benefits entire community

Last week's announcement that the Goldsboro Housing Authority had been selected by the federal government for a $2.7 million Jobs Plus grant came as good news for everyone involved.

It is good news not just for the people who will be on the receiving end of the grant -- which is intended to help jump-start employment for people in public housing -- but for every resident of the city. If the program proves successful, it could mean fewer people in public housing, and that would benefit all residents of the city.

Goldsboro has been recently ranked as one of the poorest cities in the nation, based on the number of its residents living below the poverty line. Getting the city off that list is a priority.

The grant will be used to implement work readiness programs, job placement programs and financial literacy programs as ways to get people off the public dole and back into the work force as productive citizens.

The Jobs Plus program was started last year, and Goldsboro Housing officials applied for a grant then, but were denied. They should receive praise for persisting in pursuing the grant money this year. It hopefully will pay off big time for a lot of people.

We need to keep a close eye on the program as it is implemented to make sure it is administered properly and gives the intended recipients the best chance to break the cycle of poverty.

Published in Editorials on December 21, 2015 11:48 AM