WHAT/WHO: Mayor Vincent C. Gray; DC Department of Human Services Director David Berns, DHS Income Maintenance Administration Director Deborah A. Carroll, DC Department of Real Estate Services Deputy Director for Construction Curtis Clay, United Planning Organization President Dana M. Jones and Community Partnership for the Prevention of Homelessness Executive Director Sue Marshall
WHEN: Monday, July 18, 2011, 10:00 am
WHERE: 117 Wayne Place SE
Washington, DC 20036
BACKGROUND:
Mayor Vincent C. Gray and the DC Department of Human Services (DHS) Income Maintenance Administration (IMA) will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the inception of the agency’s “Sweat Equity” program. The program is an integrated TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) case-management employment pilot program for homeless TANF recipients. The program was developed by DHS in partnership with The Community Partnership for the Prevention of Homelessness (TCP) and the United Planning Organization (UPO).
The goal of the Sweat Equity program is to build a network of TANF recipients (including homeless and formerly homeless TANF clients) and provide training in construction trades that builds the skills and work experience of homeless TANF families to enable them to obtain higher wages, sustainable employment and enhanced skills for higher degrees of self-sufficiency and independence from public assistance. Using the authority to renovate vacant DC buildings for homeless clients using Housing Trust Fund funding, DHS hopes to replicate this program in all renovation projects that are without the current housing commitment.
The Sweat Equity pilot program is part of the DHS effort to redesign its TANF program to enhance the ability of the customer to build his/her capacity, increase their earnings and successfully transition from welfare assistance to self-sufficiency. The primary focus of the redesign is building a system that considers the personal responsibility and individual needs of the customers and on providing tailored services to match the customer’s unique goals and personal and family circumstances.