Events help connect dads with their kids and job opportunities
WASHINGTON, D.C. – June 20, 2016 – (RealEstateRama) — To help celebrate Father’s Day,the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is encouraging communities to support dads living in HUD assisted housing to stay connected with their children by participating in HUD’s National Father’s Day Initiative and hosting events to celebrate fatherhood and family.
In celebration of HUD’s National Father’s Day 2016 throughout the month of June over 600 Public Housing Authorities and Multi-Family ownerswill host Father’s Day events. For the sixth consecutive year, events will provide men with the opportunity to connect with resources that will allow them to become employed and continue regular engagement with their kids.
The Father’s Day Initiative is a part of a larger Obama Administration effort to promote responsible fatherhood. The National Conversation on Responsible Fatherhood and Strong Communities focuses on fatherhood and at-risk youth. HUD is committed to this effort and addressing persistent opportunity gaps facing boys and young men of color and ensuring all young people reach their full potential.
“Fathers have an important role to play in strengthening our communities and leading our next generation of leaders. As a dad, I am personally committed to helping fathers, who receive HUD assistance, become more engaged and find the resources needed to improve their lives, strengthen and empower the entire family,” said HUD Secretary Castro. “HUD is proud to work with our local partners and families to build futures full of love and opportunity.”
Many local housing authorities and multifamily properties will use Saturday, June 18th – the day before Father’s Day – to celebrate fatherhood and the importance of dads being connected with their children who live in public housing or surrounding communities, but others will be conducting activities throughout the month of June. The events have a two-fold purpose: Offering activities for fathers to do with their children while connecting these men to economic development resources. Additionally, some housing authorities link HUD’s National Father’s Day initiative with science,
technology, engineering and math (STEM) initiatives that help low-income children who live in public housing get involved with STEM activities while spending time with their fathers.
Local offices of other federal agencies, including the U.S. Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services (HHS), Agriculture (USDA), Education and Justice will also be providing on-site information and services such as employment resources, healthcare consultation and legal counseling during the weekend of Father’s Day. Other organizations including the Boys & Girls Club of America, Legal Services Corporation and the National Fatherhood Initiative (NFI) are also partnering with housing authorities to make these events possible.
According to U.S. Census data, 24 million American children live in a home without a father. Also, NFI says children in homes absent a father are five times more likely to be poor; and are more likely to drop out of school or be incarcerated. Groups like NFI work to raise awareness about these realties and deliver the message, America needs dads.
HUD’s national Father’s Day 2016 campaign is in part modeled after the New York City Housing Authority 2010 Fatherhood Initiative, which hosted a day-long event in all five of its boroughs to kick off ongoing economic development, parenting workshops, tutoring and bonding activities for fathers and children. Watch the Father’s Day 2016 video message.
Public Housing Authorities still have time to get involved. Learn more about planning, registering, and promoting an event by visiting www.hud.gov/fathersday.
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HUD’s mission is to create strong, sustainable, inclusive communities and quality affordable homes for all.
More information about HUD and its programs is available on the Internet
at www.hud.gov and http://espanol.hud.gov.
You can also connect with HUD on social media and follow Secretary Castro on
Twitter and Facebook or sign up for news alerts on HUD’s Email List.
Shantae Goodloe
202-708-0685
http://www.hud.gov/news/index.cfm
