The Bay State has been given a $960,000 grant from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to be distributed among four public housing authorities.

The grant will be distributed evenly to public housing authorities in Chelsea, Gloucester, Malden and Somerville, which will each receive $240,000, according to a statement. The grant is intended to help public housing residents connect to services available in the community to find employment to increase their economic independence. The funding will also link the elderly and people with disabilities with supportive services that allow them to maintain independent living and age-in-place.

"We need to take a wider view of the needs of public housing residents beyond just housing if we’re to be true to the goal of promoting self sufficiency," said HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan. "The caseworkers that housing authorities can hire or keep on staff help thousands of public housing residents connect to opportunities to obtain jobs or increase their incomes that lead to self-sufficiency and improve quality of life."