WASHINGTON – As the nation prepares to 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. For the fifth consecutive year, hundreds of public housing authorities across the country are participating in HUD’s National Father’s Day Initiative by hosting events to celebrate fatherhood and family.
On behalf of HUD’s National Father’s Day 2015, other HUD assisted housing communities and potential partners have been invited to participate. Participants will also be invited to host a screening and discussion of “RISE: The Promise of My Brother’s Keeper,” a documentary film about President Obama’s initiative to address persistent opportunity gaps facing boys and young men of color and to ensure all young people reach their full potential. It will air on Discovery Channel on Sunday, June 21 at 7:00 PM ET/PT. See which housing authorities and HUD assisted housing communities are hosting events in your area.
To commemorate HUD’s 50th anniversary this year, HUD Secretary Julián Castro is focused on advancing policies that create opportunities for all Americans, including using housing as a platform to improve the quality of life for public housing residents and their families.
“Strong families are the heart of strong communities. HUD is proud to work with our local partners to help parents and their children celebrate this meaningful time for our nation. The bond between each father and child is special, and we look forward to working with families as they continue to build a future full of love, opportunity, and prosperity.” said HUD Secretary Castro. In order to use housing as a platform to improve the quality of life for families living in HUD assisted housing, HUD is committed to strengthening and empowering families through the use of service organizations throughout the country focusing on health, wealth, education, job training and corporate and government support.
While many local housing authorities and multifamily properties will use Saturday, June 20th – 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, others will conduct activities throughout the month of June 2015. The events have a two-fold purpose: Offering activities for fathers and their children and connecting these men to economic development resources. Additionally, some housing authorities will link HUD’s National Father’s Day initiative with their science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) initiative to 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 are getting ready to offer on-site information and services such as employment resources, healthcare consultation and legal counseling this weekend.
HUD’s Father’s Day initiative is 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 – a priority for the White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships.
Over 600 affordable housing communities in 39 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands will participate in HUD Father’s Day 2015 and have partnered with other organizations including the Boys & Girls Club of America, Legal Services Corporation and the National Fatherhood Initiative. Created in 1994, NFI aims to raise awareness about the importance of having fathers present in their children’s life. Together, these groups are delivering a clear message – America needs dads.
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.
HUD’s national Father’s Day 2015 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.
Read more about HUD’s Father’s Day 2015.
SOURCE: The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)