The Resident Opportunity & Self Sufficiency Service Coordinator (ROSS-SC) program is designed to assist residents of Public and Indian Housing make progress towards economic self-sufficiency. Self Sufficiency is an individual's ability to support their household by maintaining financial, housing, and personal/family stability. To achieve self-sufficiency, an individual moves along a continuum towards economic independence and stability; such movement is facilitated by the achievement of personal goals.
To help residents make progress towards economic self-sufficiency, HUD provides ROSS-SC grant funding to eligible applicants to hire a Service Coordinator who assesses the needs of Public and Indian housing residents and links them to supportive services that enable participants to move along a continuum towards economic independence and stability. In the case of elderly/disabled residents, the Service Coordinator links them to supportive services which enables them to age/remain in place.
In FY2021, Core Functions of ROSS-SC Program include:
- Resident Needs Assessment: ROSS applicants/grantees must assess the needs of residents in the project(s) to be served to determine the critical needs that residents identify as barriers to achieving self-sufficiency. The results of the needs assessment are a key component of your application. A sample needs assessment is included with this NOFO at Appendix B.
- Coordination and Direct Service Delivery: The role of each ROSS-SC shall be designed to meet the needs of both individual residents and the local community he/she will serve. The ROSS-SC must build partnerships with local service providers and other organizations in order to coordinate the delivery of services and to ensure that program participants are linked to the supportive services they need. The ROSS-SC must also assess any gaps in service delivery by existing partners/local service providers and may supplement these through subcontracts with other organizations possessing the expertise to fulfill the unmet needs of active ROSS participants. The ROSS-SC may also coordinate educational and/or community events that help residents achieve economic independence and stability.
- Case Management/Coaching: The ROSS-SC program must provide general case management to residents which includes intake, assessment, education, and referral to service providers in the local community and/or subcontractors.
- Resident Engagement: Grantees must find creative ways, including identifying local partners, to engage residents and Resident Associations in activities that help build organizational capacity and leadership; this can include supporting resident-led projects that address the needs of the community. This should include consulting the Resident Association(s) in the development(s) served by the ROSS-SC grant.
- Evaluation: Grantees must regularly monitor and evaluate the progress of participants, the quality of services delivered by partners and subcontractors, and the overall success of the program. Regular monitoring and evaluation will help grantees make any necessary changes to improve the implementation of their program during the course of the grant.
- Reporting: Grantees must submit an annual report to HUD. The annual report is due October 30th of each year. Final reports are due 90 days after the grant term ends.
This program also works to promote the development of local strategies to coordinate the use of assistance under the Public Housing program with public and private resources, for supportive services and resident empowerment activities. ROSS-SC funds may be used for coordinator's salary and fringe benefits, travel and training expenses, and administrative costs.
Applicants must choose from the areas of need below to indicate which areas their ROSS-SC will focus on. The area(s) of need selected by the applicant must be supported by the results of the resident needs assessment administered in the communities the applicant proposes to serve: