Move to Work program approved for Housing Authority of Columbus - WTVM.com-Columbus, GA News Weather & Sports

Symphony Floyd lives at Arbor Point on the south end of Columbus but travels to midtown for work everyday.

"When I leave the house I have to leave the house early, real early and I don't have to be to work until 8 o'clock, I would have to leave very early to take my kids to daycare then go all the way to work," Floyd said.   

All of that is about change for Symphony now that the Housing Authority of Columbus has been approved for the Moving to Work program. The department of Housing Development or HUD, approved the application this week.

"We are going to test a program for HUD to see if residents will move to other areas of we give them the flexibility in the subsidy amount," Williams said. 

People living in public housing like Symphony will now be able to request a voucher from the housing authority and move into an apartment complex closer to where they work... Housing authority director Len Williams says the voucher would make the rental fee more affordable. 

"We want to go up 120 percent of the fair market rate and give them opportunities to move where they are closer to their work for instance," Williams said. 

This is only part of the Move to work program. Williams says the community can expect a collaboration with Home for good to reduce homelessness for veterans. He also says more programs will be put in place to reduce poverty, control rental fees, and improve resident employment.

While Symphony enjoys living in Arbor Point the thought of living closer to where she works could be more beneficial to her family.