Family Self-Sufficiency

FAMILY SELF-SUFFICIENCY PROGRAM

The Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) program is a United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) designed program to provide participants receiving Housing Choice Voucher Program assistance in becoming self-sufficient and independent of public assistance, obtain employment that will enable participating families to achieve economic independence and reduce dependence on welfare assistance and rental subsidies.

The FSS program promotes the development of local strategies to coordinate private and public resources that help eligible families obtain employment and achieve economic independence. The FSS program is administered by public housing agencies (PHAs) and Project-Based Rental Assistance (PBRA) owners with the help of program coordinating committees (PCCs). The PHA/owner and an adult member of each participating family execute a “Contract of Participation”, generally for five years with a possible two-year extension for good cause, incorporating the specific training and services plan for the family. Participating families are provided with an interest-bearing escrow account made up of the difference of the rent the family pays when entering the program and the increased rent that would be charged as the family’s earned income increased. On completion of the FSS contract, a family may claim its escrow account, if the person who signs the Contract is employed, no family member is receiving welfare assistance, and the family has met their other individual goals.

Prince William County Office of Housing & Community Development (OHCD) FSS program purpose is to seek to help families make progress toward economic security by supporting the participating families’ efforts to obtain the following goals:

• • Increase homeownership opportunities

  • Strengthen communities

  • Promote participation of grass-roots faith-based and other community- based organizations

  • To promote and support successful contract completion, earned income growth, financial capability, escrow growth, and participant goal achievement