ANDERSON – Local residents who are provided with affordable housing through the Anderson Housing Authority will have the opportunity to get a free education.
Kim Townsend, executive director of the Anderson Housing Authority, said last week that through a partnership with the Anderson campus of Ivy Tech Community College, residents can get a cost-free education.
Townsend said Ivy Tech will be making presentations on June 19 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 4 to 7 p.m. at the Impact Center to learn about enrolling in classes. Any interested person is welcome to attend.
“All expenses will be paid,” Townsend said. “This is open for any educational opportunities provided by Ivy Tech.
“What’s nice about the opportunity is that Ivy Tech has a strong job placement program,” she said.
Diana Lott of Ivy Tech said most Housing Authority residents already meet the income criteria to receive assistance through the Federal Pell Grant and Frank O’Bannon state grants.
Lott said there will be more detailed information at the presentations about how residents can apply.
“We believe there will be a healthy number of people that will participate,” she said. “It will help break the cycle and give them a step up.”
Townsend said all residents being provided services through the Housing Authority can take advantage of the Ivy Tech program.
Jennifer Dasiorek, executive director of strategic communications at Ivy Tech, said the college is excited about the partnership with AHA.
She said Lott contacted Townsend about educational and career pathways for the residents.
“We have a class called IVWT that provides the basics of starting a college education and is designed to give people the confidence and preparation to be ready for college,” Dasiorek said.
“We are becoming more community focused and can tailor programs for each student to find a successful career path,” she said.
Townsend said her agency is also partnering with T-Mobile to provide residents with tablets and “hot spots” for internet access.
“This is an opportunity for our residents to receive a hot spot of tablet,” Townsend said. “The Housing Authority is paying the $10 fee.”
The plan is to start with the distribution of tablets to 40 households in June.
“We have internet access at some of our sites,” Townsend said. “This will provide that opportunity for residents in scattered sites around Anderson.”