Program Overview
The REACH Grant Program seeks to reduce barriers and facilitate short-term “wins” for residents as they move toward self-sufficiency.
The REACH Grant is designed to be a short-term accelerator that enables the first or next step in a resident’s pursuit of their goals, without a great deal of bureaucracy, but with full transparency. We anticipate that REACH Grant funds will be used by residents in the following ways:
- Books for school or educational courses
- Application or enrollment fees
- Uniforms
- Testing requirements
- Tools and equipment for work
- Technology
- Small emergencies
- Short-term transportation needs
REACH Grant funds will not roll over from year to year, as the program is intended to encourage goal-setting and achievement within each year of participation. This is a departure from the structure of other Elm City Communities/Housing Authority of New Haven (ECC/HANH) self-sufficiency programs where participants can become eligible to build or grow dollars in escrow accounts to achieve long-term financial goals like homeownership.
