DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) – A West Dayton housing project is getting a hefty boost from the federal government.
DeSoto Bass, a crime-ridden apartment complex where many residents live below the poverty line was awarded a $2.4 milion dollar grant from the United States Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
The money will fund a Jobs Plus Initiative program offering job training and placement. City leaders hope it will help turn things around in the neighborhood.
Annie Roper used to live in DeSoto Bass and went through the program. She says it changed her life.
“I had typing skills, but I didn’t know how to work a computer. So, the Jobs Plus program gave me computer training. They also paid for me to go to Sinclair to take office skills classes. At the time, I had two small children and they paid for my kids to go to daycare,” she said.
“We too believe that everybody deserves a fair shot no matter what their zip code is and this work we are doing today is one step in that effort,” said Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley.
This is the second HUD grant the neighborhood was awarded this year. Three months ago DeSoto was awarded a $1.5 million grant, to read about that, click here.
