The staff of the Havre de Grace Housing Authority has grown by one: Wendy Richardson joined the team of the non-profit and now serves as the Family Self-Sufficiency Program Coordinator. In this position she will recruit program participants and assess their needs and eligibility; help them define and set life goals; then connect them with the resources necessary to reach those milestones. She will also monitor participant progress as they work through the program, and foster partnerships with other private and public agencies to provide additional services when needed.
The Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) Program is available exclusively to residents of Somerset Manor, the public housing community managed by the Havre de Grace Housing Authority (HDGHA). It is a voluntary counseling service provided at no cost and designed to reduce reliance on subsidized assistance by helping clients work towards economic self-sufficiency. Past participants have utilized the FSS Program to attain degrees, decrease debt, gain new job skills, and learn how to budget finances to make major purchases such as cars and homes.
Richardson has extensive experience coordinating services to facilitate independent living, and has also been an educator. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education and previously worked as Coordinator of Community Services for the Cecil County Health Department in the Division of Special Populations where she provided case management to people living with disabilities.
Of her new role with HDGHA Richardson says, “I am incredibly excited to join the team at the Havre de Grace Housing Authority and help empower residents so they can reach their full potential. I look forward to building strong relationships with the families we serve and matching them to the resources they need to achieve their goals.”
Nicki Biggs is the acting Executive Director of the Havre de Grace Housing Authority. She says, “We are very glad to welcome Wendy to HDGHA. Her unique experience and skills, along with her energy and enthusiasm for our mission, will be great assets to the FSS Program and provide invaluable assistance to the participating families and individuals who are striving to become financially self-sufficient.”
For more information about HDGHA or the Family Self-Sufficiency Program visit www.hdgha.org.
About the Havre de Grace Housing Authority (HDGHA) http://hdgha.orgThe Havre de Grace Housing Authority (HDGHA) at Somerset Manor was established in the 1970s to provide low-income families and individuals with a safe, affordable place to live. The community features 50 rental townhomes and is the only public housing facility in Harford County. More than just a place to live, the mission of the organization is to provide residents with a wide range of services, including job training and educational programs, to help them achieve personal economic self-sufficiency.
