What is the FSS program?
Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) is a voluntary program
available to residents of HACSA’s public housing units and
HACSA’s Section 8 Program.
The purpose of the program is to assist families to improve
their economic situations and reduce their dependence on
welfare programs.
Who can participate?
Participants must be receiving Section 8 rental assistance
or be living in a public housing unit (click here
to see which developments are "public housing").
FSS is for those people who are unemployed or those who are
already employed but wanting to increase their income.
What do participants do?
Families make a commitment to making changes in their lives
when they enter this program.
Each FSS participant works with an FSS case manager to
create a five-year plan that includes employment goals and
identifies training or education needs.
FSS staff then work
with the family to identify, locate and arrange for the
services they need to accomplish these goals. Services might
include (but are not limited to):
- child care
- education
- transportation
- development of résumés
- job training and placement
- counseling
- parenting skills
- money management
- financial management training
What is the FSS escrow account?
As FSS participants succeed in raising their family income,
the portion of their monthly income contributed toward their
rent payment also increases.
HACSA then sets up an escrow account for the family. A
percentage of this rent increase is then deposited into an
interest-bearing escrow account by HUD.
If the family meets its goals within five years and has
received no welfare assistance for one year, they are eligible
to receive the funds in the escrow account.
A community partnership
Thirty-three community organizations have joined the FSS
Program as community partners and are the nucleus of the FSS
Advisory Board. They bring their individual effort, expertise
and commitment to the program with the goal of assisting
families to succeed.
FSS Success Stories
To read success stories about some FSS participants, click
here.
How do I find out more about FSS?
For more information please contact:
Sandi Sanders
Family Self-Sufficiency Program Coordinator
HACSA
300 W Fairview
Springfield OR 97477
(541) 682-3426
ssanders@hacsa.us
