The Hamlet Housing Authority is helping residents become more self-sufficient through a revised Choosing to Make a Difference in Life, Community, and Family Self-Sufficiency Program.
The Hamlet Housing Authority is a federally funded program that provides equal opportunity housing to residents.
The program is designed to assist residents of Hamlet Housing Authority by providing valuable resources such as money management skills, budget counseling, job search assistance, job placement assistance, and GED classes.
Doreen Reid, Resident Services Coordinator for the Hamlet Housing Authority, was hired by the Executive Director of Hamlet Housing Authority, Fabienne Livingston, to rebuild the old self-sufficiency program. Launched in October of 2012, Reid said she began to see progress immediately.
Residents of the Hamlet Housing Authority have a unique opportunity to utilize on-site Economic Literacy training and job training provided by the Richmond Community College Human Resources Development Division.
Reid said the Hamlet Housing Authority has never had on-site classes to help residents. “We have two instructors that come on-site,” Reid said.
The instructors teach Economic Literacy training which is a class that teaches residents how to save money on groceries and household products through couponing and other money-saving programs. The residents are also taught credit recovery, a class on how individuals can fix their own credit instead of going through a credit repair company.
Residents also have the opportunity to meet individually with Doreen Reid to receive guidance on financial issues, budgeting, and resume writing. “I oversee each case to see what they need,” Reid said. She said by doing that, she helps residents become more self-sufficient.
The self-sufficiency program, which is only available to residents of the Hamlet Housing Authority, also helps other residents who do not need job training or budgeting information. The program helps seniors who need someone to check on them or disabled residents who need assistance, Reid said. But, the primary function of the program is helping residents through job training, job placements, money management and the other programs offered.
Through a collaborative effort with the Richmond County Department of Social Services Work First Employment Services, the program has already helped a number of residents become self-sufficient. Reid points out that it is impossible to help a resident unless they attend the appointment with her.
“It is very important to come to the appointment,” she said. At the appointment, she learns about the residents’ needs and begins to understand how to help them. She also takes a look at their bills to find any problems, and also builds a budget for them to use.
Richmond County agencies and employers that are interested in developing a collaborative effort to promote the self-sufficiency of Hamlet Housing Authority residents are encouraged to call Reid at 910-582-3279 or by emailing her at doreenreidhha.rsc@gmail.com.
— Staff Writer Laura Edington can be reached at 910-997-3111, ext. 18, or by email at ledington@civitasmedia.com.
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