Family Self-Sufficiency

Estimated Total Program Funding: $60,000,000; DEADLINE: December 6, 2010

Eligible applicants: PHAs eligible to apply for funding under this NOFA are: PHAs currently administering HCV FSS programs that have served at least the minimum number of families required by this NOFA and PHAs that do not currently administer HCV FSS programs that have HUD field office approval of their FSS Action Plan authorizing them to implement a HCV FSS program of at least the minimum size required by this NOFA as identified below. State and regional agencies that administer HCV FSS programs in administratively distinct parts of a state or region may request that the eligibility requirements be applied to each separate area where they administer a HCV FSS program of the required size.

Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Family Self-Sufficiency

What is the HCV family self-sufficiency (FSS) Program?
Family self-sufficiency (FSS) is a HUD program that encourages communities to develop local strategies to help voucher families obtain employment that will lead to economic independence and self-sufficiency. Public housing agencies (PHAs) work with welfare agencies, schools, businesses, and other local partners to develop a comprehensive program that gives participating FSS family members the skills and experience to enable them to obtain employment that pays a living wage. A separate program, the public housing FSS program, is available for public housing residents.

How do families apply to the HCV FSS program?
Families that are selected to receive a voucher or who currently receive assistance through the housing choice voucher programs should discuss participation in the FSS program with the local PHA.

What is the history of the FSS program?
FSS was established in 1990 by section 554 of the National Affordable Housing Act. It is a successor program to project self-sufficiency and operation bootstrap.

What services are provided through the FSS program?
FSS program services may include, but are not limited to:

• child care
• transportation
• education
• job training and employment counseling
• substance/alcohol abuse treatment or counseling
• household skill training
• homeownership counseling