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Gateway II Grant provides funding for Adult Literacy Program

The FMHA has developed an adult ABE/GED Program on site to increase literacy of adults in public housing to move from welfare to work and to decrease unemployment among all residents 16 years and older.  The program is located on - site at the four family developments; Palmetto Court, Sabal Palms, Michigan Family Development, and Southward Village.  Each site has two computers and printers, educational software and workbooks to serve 100 adult students.

The program is staffed with an Adult Literacy  Program Coordinator, Anita Walker, full time instructor, Elizabeth Chaney, Coordinator of Adult and Community Education at Dunbar Community School, Part-time instructors, George Williams, certified teacher, Terri Daniels, certified teacher, part time Teachers Aide, Kimberly Poiter Chaney and an Outreach Recruiter, Ruth Ward.

The Fort Myers Housing Authority, in collaboration with five local working partners provide services, programs and staff to assist in delivery of educational services to adult public housing residents.  They include:

Adult and Community Department of the Lee County School District - provides ABE/GED instructor to teach classes two days a week.

Literacy Volunteers of America, Inc. - provide volunteers at every site to give literacy education to include reading, math and English as a second language.

Quality of Life Center of Southwest Florida, Inc. - provide employability skills training and job training and placement.

Norrell Services - also provide em;employability skills training and job training and placement.

Southwest Florida Addiction Services - provide substance abuse and related education and   treatment.

Ruth Cooper Center - provides crisis intervention and mental health counseling.

Anita Walker, Adult Literacy Program Coordinator - coordinates all of the aforementioned  agency activities.

The $50,000 Gateway ll Grant has targeted adult residents who would like to increase their basic skills for the ABE and GED test.  Currently there are 50 adult residents participating in the Gateway program.  It is our hope that once these students successfully complete their education that  they will reach out to other residents and encourage them to participate.

This project has been designed to ensure the success of adult public housing residents in making educational gains and outcomes by focusing on adequate outreach activities.  The classroom instruction is being provided where the residents live, thus removing the transportation problem. Childcare is being provided.

Please contact the Fort Myers Housing Authority for information on dates and times of scheduled classes.