Dear FWHS Community,
I hope you are warm and safe this wintery week and looking forward to spring as much as I am. This year is shaping up to be a busy one for our agency, and we're so pleased to continue to work with our partners to increase the availability of affordable housing and rental assistance in Fort Worth.
Success stories like those of Katrina Jenkins, below, help show the impact of our programs. We are also thankful for your ongoing support of the Stop Six Choice Neighborhood Initiative as Cowan Place Senior Living construction progresses and we prepare to break ground this summer on the Hughes House mixed-use development. Please share your input on those developments through the survey links below.
There is power in our partnerships, and we appreciate each one of you!
Mary-Margaret Lemons
President
|
|
|
|
Homeownership Program Allows Mother of Five
to Build Equity, Generational Wealth
|
|
Katrina Jenkins grew up in a household that depended on rental assistance and moved frequently. As her own family grew, she knew she wanted to improve her own career prospects and give her children a brighter future.
Today, Jenkins is a customer service representative for a major financial institution and a graduate of FWHS Family Self-Sufficiency program. Her twin 20-year-olds will graduate early this year with criminal justice degrees from Texas Wesleyan University.
She’s also the newest buyer through the FWHS Homeownership Program, which allows participants to pay 30 percent of their adjusted gross income toward a mortgage; FWHS covers the remainder through the federal Housing Choice Voucher Program.
“Don't ever let anyone tell you that you can't do something,” said Jenkins, who closed on her home on Dec. 29. “Always set goals. If you put your mind to it, you can accomplish them. If I can do it, you can do it.”
Read more about Jenkins' journey here.
|
|
Hughes House Designs Being Finalized,
Cowan Place Site Prep Under Way
|
|
Architect's rendering of Hughes House, East Rosedale Street at Amanda Avenue |
|
FWHS, the City of Fort Worth and our partners in the Stop Six Choice Neighborhood Initiative shared updates during a Feb. 16 community briefing on the substantial progress toward construction of our first two multifamily communities – Cowan Place Senior Living and Hughes House.
A special note of appreciation to our City of Fort Worth partners as they prepare for the May 7, 2022, municipal bond program, which includes proposed funding for a new Stop Six Community Hub and Aquatics Center.
|
|
Hughes House Bidding Success |
Block Companies, general contractor for Hughes House, has scheduled an information session for subcontractors on how to submit successful bids from 3-4 p.m. Tuesday, March 1, on Zoom. Register here.
Bid proposals for the Hughes House Phase 2 Housing Package and Phase 3 Public Infrastructure Package are due to Block by 11 a.m. CST Tuesday, March 15.
|
|
|
|
Free Career Services / Employment Survey |
|
Fort Worth Housing Solutions is offering FREE career services to residents who participate in our programs. Improve in areas such as resume building, interview prep, job search, branding and more!
Make an appointment for free career services at your location. Please contact Workforce Coordinator Jerome Johnson at 817-901-3667 (text/call) or by email jjohnson@fwhs.org.
|
|
We'd also love to hear from our FWHS program participants, especially our former Cavile residents, to gain valuable employment data. Please take a moment to complete our Employee Assessment Survey here.
|
|
FWHS Families Invited to El Tesoro Overnight Camp |
Interested? Attend Camp Fire's Zoom information session at 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 26, and learn what to bring and expect during the overnight stay. Space is limited. The registration deadline is March 15.
|
|
Need affordable Internet service?
The Affordable Connectivity Program Can Help
|
|
The Affordable Connectivity Program is a Federal Communications Commission program that helps low-income households pay for Internet service and connected devices. You may qualify if your household income is 200% or less than the Federal Poverty Guidelines at https://acpbenefit.org/do-i-qualify/. The guidelines are based on household size and state.
Eligible households may receive:
- Up to a $30/month discount on your internet service
- Up to a $75/month discount if your household is on qualifying Tribal lands
- A one-time discount of up to $100 for a laptop, tablet, or desktop computer (with a co-payment of more than $10 but less than $50)
Only one monthly service discount and one device discount is allowed per household. To receive the connected device discount, consumers need to enroll in the ACP with a participating provider that offers connected devices. Learn more at acpbenefit.org/.
|
|
Moncrief Cancer Institute, Cancer Care Services
Offer Mobile Breast Cancer Screening
|
|
The FREE clinics are offered 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.:
- Saturday, Feb. 26, Como Community Center, 4660 Horne St., Fort Worth, 76107
- Saturday, April 2, Dream Performance, 6707 Meadowbrook Drive, Fort Worth, 76112
-
Thursday, May 2, Stop Six Mobile Food Pantry, 5429 Cox St., Fort Worth, 76105
|
|
Emergency Rental Assistance Still Available |
|
FWHS continues to process applications for Emergency Rental Assistance from tenants and landlords who lost income due to COVID-19. An application may be opened by either a resident or landlord. More information is available at www.fwhs.org/erap/.
As of Feb. 23, the program had distributed more than $19.1 million in rental assistance to over 6,000 households. The agency received additional funding in January 2022 to continue the program through June 2023, or as long as funds are available.
|
|
|
|
You received this email because you are an appreciated client, stakeholder or supporter
of Fort Worth Housing Solutions.
Questions or suggestions?
Follow our work on these social channels:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
