These are the goals of the Resident Service Programs offered by the Rockford Housing Authority for residents who want to find jobs and advance their careers. Staff members provide comprehensive support to help you:
Staff specialists help you develop a plan with specific activities and actions needed to achieve your goals. This support includes:
Staff members speak various languages and often share the same cultures as the residents we serve. They can help bridge cultural differences and provide the support you need to reach your goals.
Staff members use their experience and contacts to help participants obtain employment in many industries, including medical, personal care, office and administration, social services and building trades. If you already have a job, you can also use our Resident Services programs to help you get a higher-paying job, earn a promotion or receive higher wages in your current job.
When you begin working with a Resident Services Program staff person, you will have an ally to help you navigate the path of education and employment. Your staff person will help you to identify your skills, abilities and interests and they will continue to help you as you make decisions and move forward. If you need services from other organizations, they will help connect to those resources.
Staff specialists help you develop a plan with specific activities and actions needed to achieve your goals. This support includes:
Staff members speak various languages and often share the same cultures as the residents we serve. They can help bridge cultural differences and provide the support you need to reach your goals.
Staff members use their experience and contacts to help participants obtain employment in many industries, including medical, personal care, office and administration, social services and building trades. If you already have a job, you can also use our Resident Services programs to help you get a higher-paying job, earn a promotion or receive higher wages in your current job.
When you begin working with a Resident Services Program staff person, you will have an ally to help you navigate the path of education and employment. Your staff person will help you to identify your skills, abilities and interests and they will continue to help you as you make decisions and move forward. If you need services from other organizations, they will help connect to those resources.
The Rockford Housing Authority is proud to support and recommend the Lifeforce Development Institute’s Job and Career Readiness Skills-based training to both RHA Clients and Residents. The LDI Curriculum addresses the foundational skill gap in the workforce with a 12-week, hands-on learning program covering Job and Career Readiness Skills meeting the community’s workforce goals.
For more information, contact:
Odessa Walker, Director of Human Services
owalker@rockfordha.org
815-489-8712
Blackhawk Boys & Girls Club
An after-school program that offers sports, life skills, homework help, and computer assistance and access. A day program operates during the summer providing structured activities,
lunch, and trips.
Location: 330 15th Ave. Rockford, IL
For further information contact:
Artese Simmons Youth Coordinator, (815) 961-1213
http://www.rgreatfutures.org/blackhawk-unit/
This program is held at Blackhawk and Fairgrounds Community Centers. Free lunches are provided to children (ages 2-18) for RHA and community youth.
The Summer Food Program is administered by the City of Rockford and provides healthy lunches daily during the summer session.
This camp is a life and social skills program for disengaged young people who are at risk in the community. The programming of the Life Skills camp addresses fundamental life skills that many teens and preteens are lacking in our community today. The week-long camp is targeted as an all-encompassing goal to bridge the gap between community and law enforcement. The innovative approach to camp programming is a tool to build trust between the two.
Resource Centers are now available in every development, high-rise, and low-rise. Resident Support Staff are available to provide assistance upon referral from a site manager.
For more information please contact:
Odessa Walker, Director of Human Services
owalker@rockfordha.org
815-489-8712
Resident Support Services provide outreach services to residents of high-rise and low-rise buildings. They coordinate events, workshops, classes and assist with applications for public aid, Medicare, SSI, energy assistance, and circuit breaker.
Housing Occupants Mobilization Effort (H.O.M.E.) is comprised of RHA residents elected from Residents Councils. H.O.M.E. Board addresses issues which affect the quality of life of public housing residents. This organization has the responsibility of working with RHA and Residents councils for the good of all.
The H.O.M.E./RAB is the governing agency of all RHA’s Resident Leadership Councils. H.O.M.E./RAB Executive officers, in partnership with appropriate RHA staff, assist Resident Leadership Council and residents at each site with the organization and functioning of the Resident Leadership Councils.
RHA staff provides technical assistance to the H.O.M.E./RAB and Resident Leadership Councils to ensure compliance with HUD guidelines and requirements. Meetings are monthly.
Contact Ken Oliver at rabhomeboard@gmail.com
Mission Statement
It is the mission of the H.O.M.E. Board to provide services in the area of performance improvement training and development services; addressing the needs and wants of our clients and participants by providing the tools that promote individual and organizational success. To involve our little children in crime prevention education and training that enhances the quality of life for their future.
The Resident Leadership Councils serve as tenant organization for a development or building of RHA-managed property. The principal purposes of the Resident Leadership Council are:
The Family Self-Sufficiency Program is a voluntary program established by HUD to promote economic self-sufficiency among RHA participating families. Family Self-Sufficiency Specialists assist each participant in developing a Service Plan that outlines their goals for the next five years. Emphasis is on full-time employment, credit readiness, and independence from public assistance.
While participants work toward their goals; if their rent increases due to earned income the additional rent paid is set-aside in an escrow account. This account may be accessed upon completion of their individual FSS Plan to pursue a business venture, education, or home-ownership.
HCVHP (Section 8) holders may be eligible to participate in the Housing Choice Voucher Homeownership Program. Learn more about the FSS Program here.
Contact: Elias Soria at (815) 489-8579 or Laura Martinez (815) 489-8711.
Home Buying Classes provide information on credit, mortgages, home inspection, and insurance.
Contact: Elias Soria at (815) 489-8579, Laura Martinez (815) 489-8711.
The ROSS program is a public housing resident self-sufficiency program funded through HUD to assist residents with supportive services and service coordination. The purpose of the program is to work with our public housing residents to create individual work plans related to employment, education, and strategies to reduce and eliminate subsidy assistance. Our team of ROSS Program Managers will work closely with you to develop work plans to help you meet your individual goals and connect you with local agencies and services that provide additional supportive services and resources you may need to achieve success.
Our ROSS staff will be able to provide transportation for job training and job interviews, child care reimbursement and supplemental educational materials needed while you participate in the program. ROSS will also provide you with weekly job listings to connect you to local job opportunities and provide community service hour options for those required to complete mandatory community service hours. While participating in ROSS, you will receive monthly resources related to pre-employment skills, interviewing tips, child care referrals, community resources and much more.
If you’re ready to take advantage of these free resources and services available to you at each of our family sites, please contact ROSS Co-Ordinator Ray Williams at 815-489-8661
Blackhawk Boys & Girls Club
An after-school program that offers sports, life skills, homework help, and computer assistance and access. A day program operates during the summer providing structured activities,
lunch, and trips.
Location: 330 15th Ave. Rockford, IL
For further information contact:
Artese Simmons Youth Coordinator, (815) 961-1213
http://www.rgreatfutures.org/blackhawk-unit/
Blackhawk Park School Linked Health Center is providing physicals, immunizations, prescriptions, counseling, treatment for chronic illnesses and minor injuries or illnesses for school-aged children 18 and younger.
Open: Mon-Fri 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Location: 330 15th Ave.
Contact: (815) 972-7200
Sponsored by Winnebago County Health Department.
This program is held at Blackhawk and Fairgrounds Community Centers. Free lunches are provided to children (ages 2-18) for RHA and community youth.
The Summer Food Program is administered by the City of Rockford and provides healthy lunches daily during the summer session.
This camp is a life and social skills program for disengaged young people who are at risk in the community. The programming of the Life Skills camp addresses fundamental life skills that many teens and preteens are lacking in our community today. The week-long camp is targeted as an all-encompassing goal to bridge the gap between community and law enforcement. The innovative approach to camp programming is a tool to build trust between the two.
Within 5 years the RHA will re-establish itself as high performing agency that is a leader in housing and sustainable communities by developing additional, non-HUD revenue streams, increasing our asset base and offering state of the art resident initiatives.
