NMHC beefs up efforts to reduce too much reliance on public housing

The Northern Marianas Housing Corporation is beefing up its efforts to promote the Self-Sufficiency Program among families currently receiving Section-8 benefits to reduce too much reliance on the federally-funded public housing program.

Executive Director Marylou S. Ada disclosed NMHC, on a quarterly basis, holds special sessions with public housing beneficiaries to instill in them the value of economic independence through education and skills development.

NMHC regularly brings in experts from the Department of Labor and Immigration, the Department of Commerce and private organizations to hold parenting classes before Section-8 beneficiaries.

She said these classes are aimed at teaching beneficiaries ways on how to become economically independent, as well as show them that there is another way of better living outside the public housing program.

Ms. Ada said turn-over rate for public housing has been traditionally low, contributing to the increasing list of low-income families waiting for a slot under the federally-funded guaranteed program.

Turnover rate for the Section-8 Public Housing Assistance Program is four years, which means recipients normally move out of the program after a period four years.

“That’s why we are beefing up our family self-sufficiency program so that we can teach them about other choices in life that can make them economically independent. We are encouraging them to attend GED (General Education Diploma) classes so they can get education and find jobs,” she said.

According to Ms. Ada, work has also been started to help public housing beneficiaries increase their vocational skills to assist them generate additional revenues through alternative livelihood to eventually preclude them from the program and accommodate other families.

She explained that the essence of the public housing program is to actually give low-income families the opportunity to stabilize their livelihood by temporarily subsidizing their housing expenses until they get back on their feet again.

“We want them to be able to step out to a better life as fast as possible. We are implementing the family self sufficiency program so that we can teach them that they don’t have to stay in public housing forever,” she added.

While Ms. Ada admitted that it is a bit harder to encourage some of the families to participate in the program, she mentioned a good number of current motivated and determined beneficiaries who are showing promise of success.

Also, she mentioned that a significant number of public housing beneficiaries belong to the younger generation which necessitates NMHC’s intensified campaign against too much dependence on the program.

“We want to break the cycle of poverty. We have been doing our best to encourage them to finish school and eventually get employment although it is very hard because once they move in, most of them don’t want to move out anymore,” she lamented.

More than 150 families are currently on the waiting list of the federally-funded Public Housing Assistance Program, with majority of the applicants wanting to avail of the NMHC-administered units.

Currently, there are 105 families hoping to avail of the federally-funded housing benefits in NMHC housing units, and 50 others under the Voucher Certificate.

At present, there are 132 public housing recipients under the Voucher Certificate Program or where the beneficiaries are allowed to rent an apartment unit of their choice which is most of the time near their place of work.

About 105 families are currently enrolled under the Project-based program, or those living in NMHC-administered villages in Koblerville and Mihaville on Saipan, and a project each on Rota and on Tinian.

The government-controlled housing corporation administers 34 housing units in Koblerville and 48 in Mihaville both on Saipan; 30 in Rota and 20 on Tinian.