For Immediate Release: September 2006

Optimal Solutions Group (Optimal) will provide support to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Moving to Work Demonstration. 

Authorized under the 1996 Omnibus Consolidated Rescissions and Appropriations Act, Moving to Work is a demonstration program based on existing public housing goals aimed at the provision of suitable and safe housing for disadvantaged persons.  Moving to Work gives Public Housing Authorities (PHA) the chance to create and implement innovative housing and self-sufficiency strategies in their jurisdictions. 

Optimal will provide in-depth expertise in technical assistance, program evaluation and housing policy analysis, as well as experience in logistical and communication support to HUD.  The team includes subject matter experts in public housing, technical assistance, economists, urban planners, and communication specialists. 

The MTW Demonstration will give housing authorities and HUD the flexibility to design and test various approaches for providing and administering housing assistance that will:

• Reduce costs and achieve greater cost-effectiveness in Federal expenditures
• Give incentives to families with children where the head of household is working, is seeking work, or is preparing for work through job training, education, or programs that assist residents to obtain employment and become economically self-sufficient
• Increase housing choice for low-income families

Abt Associates will partner on the project as a sub-contracting firm. 

For further information about HUD, visit http://www.hud.gov/.

Optimal has served the needs of numerous governmental and commercial clients, including federal and state agencies, community-based organizations, business associations, and law firms.

For more information, contact Mark Turner, 443.451.7060 or mturner@optimalsolutionsgroup.com.