Aliyya Swaby Photo
Teacher Tori Aroworade signed up for the pilot program.
Pending federal approval, New Haven teachers will soon be able to apply to live in public housing rent-free in exchange for providing after-school programs for students.
Part of the Housing Authority of New Haven’s (HANH) larger youth initiative, the “teacher in residence” program is modeled after the “officer in residence” program, which allows selected police officers to live in apartments rent-free in exchange for basic security help. The teacher pilot program would be incorporated at McConaughy Terrace in West Rock and Waverly Townhouses in Dwight/West River.
HANH’s board passed a resolution Tuesday evening to add the program as an amendment to this fiscal year’s “moving to work” plan submitted to the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). HUD will then decide whether to authorize and fund the program. Officials hope to win the approval by the end of the year.
With an expected budget of about $25,000, the pilot would house four teachers in the two buildings. Teachers would have rent subsidized by HANH but would be responsible for utilities.
After-school programs would include homework help, tutorial services and community events in the apartment buildings.
Melissa Bailey File Photo
In-house teachers would allow for consistent mentorship of young people who need role models, said Karen DuBois-Walton (pictured), HANH’s executive director. “It would provide career opportunities for kids to aspire to.”
In an initial “field testing” of the two housing units, four teachers came forward to express interest in participating, DuBois-Walton said.
One of the four, Tori Aroworade (pictured at the top of the story), in her first year at Lincoln-Bassett School under the Teach for America program, said she wants to participate in order to be more involved with parents outside of the classroom.
She said it will be rewarding to “get to know parents and their position and experience in the neighborhood” by living in the same apartment building and interacting with families day to day.
The overall initiative “HANH Believes” provides young people in public housing with academic and social support in order to succeed. The federal “moving to work” program funds public housing authorities to test innovative strategies to improve the lives of local low-income families.