Family Self-Sufficiency

The FSS Program is designed to help Housing Choice and public housing participants gain economic independence over the course of up to five years. It is voluntary, self-paced, and allows them to take the necessary steps toward success.

 

Requirements

Requirements for the program include the following:

  1. Seek and Maintain Suitable Employment: Applicants must be employed at the time of the FSS contract expiration and be off of cash assistance prior to the FSS contract expiration. Families may still receive food stamps and a housing subsidy after graduating from the FSS Program.
  2. Must Be Over 18: Applicants do not have to be head of household, but they MUST be over the age of 18 and agree to meet program requirements.
  3. Create and Meet Goals: Applicants must work closely with a case manager to develop productive personal goals toward financial independence.

Potential Goals for Participants

Program participants must work together with their trained case manager to develop goals that help them address any areas of their situation that may be negatively impacting their financial independence. Goal areas may include:


  • Education
  • Specialized Training
  • Job Readiness and Job Placement Activities
  • Career Advancement Objectives
  • Mentoring
  • Budget/Credit Repair
  • Home Buyer Education

How It Works

The program creates a unique savings account that helps build funds with every dollar of rent payment made by the participant.

As the participant’s earned income goes up, they begin paying more of the rental payment, but the amount they receive from subsidy does not decrease.

Instead, the extra payment provided by the FSS Program is placed into the savings account. 

The example below illustrates how this works based on $500/mo rent:

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