FWHS Newsletter | Spring 2023

Spring 2023 | News You Can Use

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Dear FWHS Community,

We hope you are enjoying the beautiful weather this spring has brought us so far. We've had a productive few months here at FWHS, and we're excited to share with you some of what we've been doing to increase affordable housing options in Fort Worth.

From celebrating our 85th anniversary to breaking ground on a new apartment community named after Ms. Opal Lee to a new $5 million grant award from the Department of Housing and Urban Development, we have a lot to catch up on.

Our partnerships are a huge part of our success, and we are thankful for each and every one of you!

Wishing you the best,

The Fort Worth Housing Solutions Team

FWHS Celebrates 85th Anniversary

Founded in 1938, Fort Worth Housing Solutions has spent the last 85 years providing Fort Worth with affordable housing opportunities. In celebration of our agency's history, we will be hosting an 85th Anniversary Breakfast on November 2, 2023 at 7:30 a.m. Proceeds of the event will go toward the Barbara Holston Education Fund. Table sponsorships and individual tickets can be purchased at the following link: bit.ly/fwhs85thanniversary

We look forward to celebrating with our community partners this fall!

Breaking Ground at The Opal in NW Fort Worth

Fort Worth residents, city leaders, developers, supporters and the Grandmother of Juneteenth, Ms. Opal Lee, celebrated the official start of construction on The Opal, a 339-unit, luxury, mixed-income community in Northeast Fort Worth on March 9, 2023.

Read more about the event and upcoming community here, or click below to watch our short recap video!

HUD Awards FWHS $5 Million Grant

Fort Worth Housing Solutions and the City of Fort Worth’s Stop Six Choice Neighborhood Initiative was one of the grantees awarded $5 million from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (H.U.D.) earlier this month.

“We’re thankful for the additional funds to continue the Choice Neighborhood revitalization in Stop Six,” Fort Worth Housing Solutions President Mary-Margaret Lemons said. “Rising interest rates and construction costs have made developments more challenging. We appreciate HUD recognizing those realities and providing further funding.”

In celebration of this award, HUD's Southwest Regional Administrator Candace Valenzuela and Fort Worth's District 5 City Councilmember Gyna Bivens joined FWHS staff in visiting the construction at Cowan Place, the first phase of the Stop Six revitalization project. Construction crews are working daily to have the apartment community ready for residents this July.

Read more about this grant and the ongoing projects in Stop Six here.

FWHS Participant Spotlight: Brittany Roberts

Britney Roberts first signed up for the Housing Choice Voucher program in 2015, and after seven years of working with Fort Worth Housing Solutions, she has now graduated from the Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) and Homeownership programs and owns her own home.

“I was a single mom, and [these programs] helped a lot,” Roberts said. “Everything was too expensive to be able to do it on my own. This program came in handy and gave me and my children an opportunity to not only grow within the program, but to also successfully exit the program and to be self-sufficient.”

Read more about Britney and her journey through our FSS and Homeownership programs.

Help for Homeless Residents of Fort Worth

For individuals or families needing housing assistance through Special Programs, referrals are made through the coordinated entry process with TCHC (Tarrant County Homeless Coalition). The TCHC homeless helpline is 817-996-8800 and the website is www.ahomewithhope.org. The agency allows clients to select where they want to live. Housing Counselors are able to help clients search apartments through admission software that allows landlords to list properties.

Employment Services

Stay on the lookout for job fairs, employment workshops and more! We post details about these events regularly on our social media channels. Here are some upcoming events to check out:

June 7th, 9:30 a.m. | Career Development Workshop (Resume, Interview & Application Tips)
June 13-16, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. | Juneteenth Youth Career Empowerment Camp in partnership with City of Fort Worth EnVision Center

Anyone interested in these events may reach out to Jerome Johnson for more information via call/text at (817) 901-3667 or email at [email protected].

Scholarship Opportunity

Applications for the Barbara Holston Education Fund Scholarships are open NOW through May 30! Apply on the BHEF website.

Eligible applicants must be a current participant or member of a household receiving housing assistance through a FWHS rental assistance program for a minimum of 12 months prior to June 30 of the year the application is submitted. Click to read more about eligibility requirements.

You received this email because you are an appreciated client, stakeholder or supporter

of Fort Worth Housing Solutions.

Questions or suggestions?

Email Art Garcia at artgarcia@fwhs.org.

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