Programs To Create Economic Self-Sufficiency for Women in Public Housing.

The Wheeling Housing Authority in Wheeling, West Virginia, conducted two residential programs to help women living in public housing develop economic self-sufficiency. The Learning Independence from Employment (LIFE) program was an intensive 3-week program designed to accomplish the following objectives: improve participants' communication skills and attitudes; teach participants to set and accomplish goals; motivate participants and encourage them to be self-reliant; educate participants on appropriate responses to constructive criticism; and teach participants effective job search skills. According to a post-program participant survey and researcher observations, the LIFE program appeared to change participants' actual behaviors of but was less likely to change their knowledge regarding motivation or commitment to employment. The Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) program was designed to ease families' transition from dependence on government assistance to economic independence and self-sufficiency. Its goals were as follows: (1) create awareness of the problems faced by low-income families and mobilize community support/services; (2) coordinate existing public and private resources by integrating them into a personal development program; and (3) mobilize the local business community to provide adequate jobs for program participants. According to a 6-month study, the FSS program yielded mixed results, helping several participants establish some education-related goals and/or access available resources. (MN)