Employment/Career Opportunities
DREAYM Program (Developing Resources by Educating Adult and Youth Minds)
The DREAYM Program provides adult and youth Boston Housing Authority (BHA) residents with skills and education necessary for career advancement. Case Coordinators provide help with job search skills and placements, GED/HiSET, English as a Second Language (ESL) and post-secondary education classes. The program offers structured after-school and summer activities and childcare, transportation and healthcare support services. DREAYM is currently available to residents living in Alice Taylor, Barkley Apartments (Cathedral), Charlestown, Franklin Field, and Mildred Hailey Apartments (Bromley Heath).
How can I join?
Interested residents should contact the Service Coordinator assigned to their development.
Alice Taylor and Barkley (Cathedral) Apartments – Lissette Rodriguez at (617) 988-3406 or (617) 592-0191
Charlestown and Mildred Hailey – Rachel Goodman at (617) 988-4333
Franklin Field – Joseph Robinson at (857) 243-5531 or (617) 988-4333
Public Housing Family Self-Sufficiency Program
The Public Housing Family Self-Sufficiency Program (FSS) is designed to help families receiving rental assistance become self-supporting. This program is voluntary and open to all families living in BHA federal family public housing. The only requirements are a desire to become self-sufficient and a willingness to take the steps to make this happen. The FSS Program provides support and assistance to the entire family for up to five years.
How does the FSS Program work?
The head of household enters into a five-year contract with BHA. This contract identifies the employment goal of the participant and outlines the activities and services necessary to achieve this goal. The FSS Coordinator helps the family obtain the services listed in the plan. BHA establishes a savings account when the family increases its earned income.
When your rent goes up due to an increase in your earnings, the amount of the increase will be placed in a savings account for you and your family. You will receive all of the money in your account, plus interest, when the FSS contract is successfully completed.
To complete the program, you must be working and all family members must be off public assistance for at least the last 12 months of the five-year contract.
What services are provided?
The FSS Coordinator can help you find the services you need to become self-sufficient, such as
-
Job Training
-
Childcare
-
Educational Programs, including GED classes
-
Counseling – for example, Financial, Behavioral
-
Case Management
-
The Matched (Escrow) Savings Account & Financial Coaching
How can I join?
To find out more about the FSS Program, contact Laureen McCollin-Gopie, by email or (617) 988-4569.
Career Family Opportunity Program
Career Family Opportunity (CFO) is a collaboration between BHA and EMPath (formerly known as Crittenden Women’s Union) helping single parents achieve economic independence. Participants create personalized plans to map out their educational, career and financial goals. The program provides ongoing support, financial incentives and referrals to resources that help participants meet their goals. Program participants receive support through Mobility Mentors who meet with program participants regularly.
How do I join?
To join CFO, you must
-
Be a single parent, 18 years or older
-
Have children or legal dependents living with you
-
Have a high school diploma or GED
-
Be legally eligible to work in the U.S.
-
Reside in BHA public housing or be a Section 8 voucher holder
For more information, please contact Sarah Bellemore, Coordinator for the CFO Program, at (857) 401-2320, Sasha Gayedorce, Mobility Mentor at (857) 401-2217 and Bryna Ramsey, Mobility Mentor at (857) 559-2189. For information in Spanish, visit the website, call (857) 401-2218 or send an email.
Mayor's Boston Tax Help Coalition
Led by the Mayor’s Office, the Boston Tax Help Coalition has been providing low- and moderate-income tax payers with FREE financial services since 2001. From January to April, the Coalition offers free tax preparation at 27 volunteer-staffed locations around Boston. Year-round financial coaching programs are also available to promote economic empowerment to Boston residents. Visit the website for more information. Email Rachel Goodman, CSD Director, for more information. For more information about the Financial Coaching Program, contact Joe Amerena at (617) 918-4330 of the Mayor’s Office of Financial Empowerment.
How can I find the nearest Free Tax Preparation Site?
Call (617) 635-4500, visit the website or view the flyer: English, Spanish, Chinese, Haitian Creole, Cape Verdean, Portuguese, Vietnamese, and Arabic.