latest nhpb_banner 1__compressed2

 

Home

Help Near Me

Immediate Financial Assistance

Rental Assistance

Free Food Pantries

Utility Bill Help

Free Stuff

Work From Home Jobs

Public and Government Assistance

Disability Benefits

Section 8 Housing and Apartments

Senior Help

Free Money

Free Grants

Free Clothes

Charity Assistance

Church Assistance

Community Action Agency

Free Job Training

Help with Medical Bills

Free Healthcare

Free Dental Clinics

Car Payment Assistance

Debt Relief

How to Save Money

Search the Website

 

Family Self Sufficiency Program.

The Family Self-Sufficiency Program, or FSS, is offered to families or single people that get rental assistance from HUD. A number of services are provided from FSS, including information on how to budget money, job training, and other social services. Learn more on how families that are on section 8 will get assistance from FSS.

The overall goal of Family Self-Sufficiency is to help people gain long term economic stability on their own - without relying on any government benefits. It is generally offered by a public housing authority for families or individuals who get section 8 HUD voucher, that reside in transitional housing or a shelter or that get some other type of state or federal housing support.

Who gets assistance from FSS

Participants in the program generally include people who receive rental and housing assistance from the federal government, such as section 8 housing choice vouchers. It can also help people who live in public housing, that get disability benefits, or homeless prevention. FSS can also assist those who are staying in transitional housing or shelters. The primary objective is to assist families and individuals who are currently receiving federal government rental assistance.

Most states will allow almost all Housing Choice Voucher Program participants as well as Public Housing residents to be considered for the FSS Program in their state. In other words, anyone on section 8 will automatically be enrolled into FSS.

Family Self-Sufficiency process

While the exact types of help will often vary based on applicant, FSS will also generally coordinate financial workshops, debt reduction programs, and offer support for other families who receive government assistance including Section 8 vouchers. The Family Self-Sufficiency program will try to provide participants with resources as well as social services to help them move towards economic independence and financial stability over the long term.

Participants in government housing programs and in particular the head of the household of each participating family must sign an FSS contract, which is usually a multi-year agreement that ensures full participation. The contract will establish the responsibilities and rights of both parties. The 5-year FSS contract will go over terms of the arrangement and it will cover specific goals as well as social services for each family, and the contract is binding on the client.

 

 

 

The Family Self-Sufficiency program provides services, including, but not limited to, the following. Participants are provided the opportunity to meet with a highly trained case manager and other FSS families who are now enrolled. The program will give them assistance and counseling such as:

  • Credit repair/debt reduction/home ownership – Learn how to improve credit scores and reduce debts with the goal of buying a home, as section 8 does encourage that as well.
  • Resume writing and job finding – Get feedback on your resume, and improve your career search for jobs. Also you may be able to network. Find how to improve your career prospects and income over time.
  • Support – Get encouragement, hear others stories, and bridge the social isolation that is characteristic of people who are struggling or families in distress.
  • Job openings and referrals – Get information about local charities, non-profits and local community services as well as current job openings in your local community.
  • Skills based training - A key to housing and financial stability is having the proper skills. Family Self-Sufficiency program there can help clients enroll into on the job training programs.
  • Financial assistance and grants for higher education – Find where to turn to for private and government grants, scholarships, and aid for higher education and job training. Family Self-Sufficiency case managers will help the client apply.
  • Revolving Loan Fund – Many locations can direct people to low interest loans so that they can possibly refinance to pay down debts and get back on track with paying bills. Or find other details on loans for low income families.

Saving money / budgeting is also a critical goal of FSS. The tool used is a savings account known as an IDA, or Individual Development Account. Therefore most state Family Self-Sufficiency programs enable a participant to establish a saving account for their long term self sufficiency. The account will be an interest-bearing FSS escrow account, and it will be established by your local housing authority for each family.

  • What will happen is that an escrow credit, which will be based on increases in earned income of the family, is credited to this savings account during the term of the FSS contract. The Individual Development Account process will match what is saved by the participant.
  • Then, when the family goes through the program and completes the contract, and when no member of the family is receiving cash welfare assistance from the government, then the amount of the FSS account is paid out by the housing authority to the head of the family, including what was matched by the IDA. Learn more on free matched savings from Individual Development Account.

 

 

 

 

Many of the resources offered by the Family Self-Sufficiency occur in monthly workshops, and others are offered in standard meetings or counseling sessions. The goal is to make them as accessible as possible to as many people in the community as possible.

Applying for support from FSS

When you enroll in government housing such as section 8, the Family Self-Sufficiency program should be explained to you and you should be automatically enrolled it in. However you can call your local housing authority or social service office to learn more as well or apply. Or the HUD hotline, which can also help with FSS applications, is 800-225-5342, however it is generally only for people applying for income based housing.

 

Related Content From Needhelppayingbills.com

 

By Jon McNamara

Contact NeedHelpPayingBills

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Home

Forum

Contact Us

About Us

Financial Literacy Blog

Privacy policy

Visit Facebook page

Search Site