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One of the goals of the Housing Authority of the City of Fort Myers (FMHA) is to provide opportunities for its residents to take responsibility for their own lives.   To do this the FMHA places an emphasis on education.  This provides residents with the resources to improve the requisite skills to determine their own destinies.   The Housing Authority has developed several successful programs aimed at increasing resident employment opportunities.

This center was developed in order to provide a proper learning environment. The original Center was opened several years ago and the current Center began operations in January 1998. It is an on-site classroom environment that provides desks, computer labs and other essential equipment and materials for instruction and learning. Because the Center is located at the Housing Authority, residents have an opportunity to learn without having to travel for classes. This program is a joint effort of FMHA, Lee County School Board, and is partially funded through the Gateway Grant Program.

Through a partnership between FMHA and Lee High-Tech Center Central, all Housing Authority maintenance personnel are attending an apprenticeship training program. The requirement for certification is 4,000 hours. Once this Journeyman Certification is received it is recognized nationwide in the field of Building Maintenance Repair. In addition, these certified employees would eventually become trainers to teach this trade to interested residents and other apprentices.

This has been offered by FMHA for the past several years.  Presently, approximately 30 to 45 elementary school students participate in the reading program on a regular basis.  The funding for this program is made possible through Title 1 funds.   The continued success of this program comes  through the efforts of numerous volunteers, teachers, students and parents as well as the administration of Suncoast Elementary School and Tropic Isles Elementary School.

In addition to the Reading Enrichment Program, local volunteers including retired certified teachers provide after school tutoring.  Over forty resident youths attend this program.

Many of the residents of public housing have not had the opportunity to complete their highschool degree.  Through the volunteer of local retired school teachers, FMHA was able to develop this program.  Two nights a week, from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m., a GED preparation class is provided for adult residents wishing to obtain their GED.   This program emphasizes adult literacy and is specifically designed to teach the older student.

The FMHA also provides this separate off-site program three days a week from 7:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. at the Dunbar Community School.  Residents and other citizens of the community are provided free tutoring and GED preparation classes.

Norrell Staffing  is providing Wages Workshop training.  This program has two components:

1. Adventures in Attitude which teaches effective listening, developing communication skills, attitude awareness, dealing with emotions, understanding people, personal empowerment, reaching your potential and interactive exercise.

2. Professional Services Works and Employment teaches students to identify and affirm personal behavior, understand and adapt to customers, managing special service situations, visioning/budgeting, application and resumes, mock interview, and dress for success and retain your job.

This program is taught on site at FMHA.

This is provided through the Department of Children and Families.  It is held on-site at Palmetto Court and provides drug prevention and intervention programs.

In partnership with FMHA, Southwest Florida Addiction Services provides quality mental health programs for the residents.  These types of programs are provided once a month at the developments.