A quality home is the foundation
of society & community

A quality home is the foundation of society & community

Human Services

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Economic Opportunity

Jobs, Educational Programs, Greater Stability, and Financial Independence

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:

  • Identify and overcome possible barriers to your progress
  • Identify your specific interests and unique skills
  • Establish and work toward achieving your goals for your future

Staff specialists help you develop a plan with specific activities and actions needed to achieve your goals. This support includes:

  • Individualized support to help identify your needs
  • Coordination and referrals to necessary services
  • Assistance in setting goals and identifying the steps to accomplish these goals
  • Ongoing support to make positive changes in your life

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.

  • Emergency Assistance (Food, Utilities, Rent)
  • Connections to Education (Completing High School, Getting a GED, Entering College)
  • Connections to Employers looking for workers access to jobs related to Rockford Housing Authority construction, through our “Section 3” Program
  • Career Counseling and Job Training
  • Assistance with Self-Employment
  • Budgeting and Financial Planning
  • Legal Services
  • Parenting Skills
  • Home-Buyer Education

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:

  • Individualized support to help identify your needs
  • Coordination and referrals to necessary services
  • Assistance in setting goals and identifying the steps to accomplish these goals
  • Ongoing support to make positive changes in your life

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.

  • Emergency Assistance (Food, Utilities, Rent)
  • Connections to Education (Completing High School, Getting a GED, Entering College)
  • Connections to Employers looking for workers access to jobs related to Rockford Housing Authority construction, through our “Section 3” Program
  • Career Counseling and Job Training
  • Assistance with Self-Employment
  • Budgeting and Financial Planning
  • Legal Services
  • Parenting Skills
  • Home-Buyer Education

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.

Here are just some of the activities you may work on with your Resident Services Specialist:

LDI can help you launch your future!
“Here to help you navigate the path of education and employment”
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Launch Your Future with the Lifeforce Development Institute

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

Youth Services

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. 

Senior and Disabled Services

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.

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.