Post Date: 03/01/2016
Bobby Rogers was born in Cincinnati and has spent his entire life in the West End. For several of those years he was on the streets but many of his friends and associates did not know that he was homeless. Mr. Rogers made enough money to eat and buy necessary items by doing odd jobs. One day while talking with a business owner, Mr. Rogers learned about the CMHA Section 3 program.
The Section 3 program is a provision of the Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Act of 1968 that helps foster local economic development, neighborhood economic improvement as well as individual self-sufficiency. Section 3 requires companies receiving HUD dollars to provide employment, job training and contracting opportunities for low or very low income residents in connection with projects and activities in their neighborhoods.
Economic Inclusion Coordinator Robert Bell secures the businesses and workers for the CMHA Section 3 Program and recalls first meeting Bobby Rogers, "I could tell when I met Bobby that he was serious about improving and changing his life." Rogers definitely changed his life, after becoming a Section 3 participant he has learned how to cut pipes, assemble toilets and more while working as a Plumber's Helper. The majority of Rogers' Section 3 work is done with Leever Plumbing, a company that's been doing business with CMHA since 2014. President Ed Leever noted, "The Section 3 program at CMHA is great for Hamilton County businesses and employees. Once I learned about it, I wanted to be a part of it." Bobby Rogers is the first CMHA Section 3 participant hired by Leever. His advice to those wanting to know more about CMHA and Section 3, "Take a chance with the program because it will work for you." Rogers has new skills and work ethics but more importantly he has a home. He moved into his very first apartment in January 2016.