Family Self Sufficiency

Monroe County

WHAT IS FAMILY SELF-SUFFICIENCY?
Family Self Sufficiency (FSS) is a program which consists of a coordinated program of adult basic or college education, childcare, personal and career counseling, transportation, job training and job placement for low-income families. Its goal is to assist highly motivated people to become economically self-sufficient and to aid them in becoming independent of cash welfare assistance.

HOW DOES THE FSS PROGRAM WORK?
The FSS Program allows the Housing Authority to offer referrals for community services to enable the designated family head to pursue training and education and eventually to seek and find employment or better employment. If the income generated from employment causes an increase in the participant’s rent, the participant pays the rent, and the Authority sets aside a portion of the rent increase and places it in an interest bearing escrow account. The escrow account is available to the participant after they have reached their goals and are independent of all cash welfare assistance.

FSS FAQ'S

WHAT KIND OF SERVICES DOES THE FSS PROGRAM PROVIDE?

The FSS Program will be able to refer the participant to the following services, based on the person’s need and the service’s availability:

Day Care - Owning a Business
Job Training Opportunities - GED
Financial Counseling - Transportation
Educational Opportunity Counseling - Community College
Job Seeking Services - Adult Education
Other Services as Needed - Home Buying

WHAT ARE MY RESPONSIBILITIES UNDER THE FSS PROGRAM?

The family head of the household under the FSS Program must:

Be involved in or willing to be involved in training, adult basic education or a college education program, and job searches.
Sign a five-year contract of participation that binds the family to participate in training or education, to seek and find employment suitable to the training or education, and to abide by the individual action plan developed for the family during the term of the contract.

All family members must:

Provide the Housing Authority with information about the family’s participation in the FSS
Comply with the terms of the rental lease.
If receiving cash welfare assistance, become independent and remain independent of cash assistance for at least twelve consecutive months before the contract expires.

WHAT IS THE INDIVIDUAL ACTION PLAN?

The Individual Action Plan is a set of goals (interim and final) developed by and for each individual family. The final goals of the plan must include the family head securing an appropriate job and the entire family becoming independent of ALL welfare assistance. The interim goals consist of all individual steps required to attain the final goals. The goals also identify community resources that may be available to assist the family in meeting their goals.

WHEN DO I GET THE ESCROW ACCOUNT?

Funds from the escrow account may be obtained in two ways:

When the Housing Authority permits the family to withdraw funds from the FSS escrow account before completion of the contract, if the family has completed specific interim goals and needs a portion of their account in order to complete further contract goals.
When the Housing Authority determines that the family has completed their contract, and at the time of contract completion, NO member of the family is receiving welfare assistance.

You may use the account for your own purposes. Many people plan to use the money as a down payment on a home or for their children’s education.

WHAT WILL THE AUTHORITY DO FOR ME UNDER THE FSS PROGRAM?

The Housing Authority will:

Determine your eligibility for the FSS
Assist in determining your service needs and help make the necessary referrals for supportive services
Monitor your progress
Set up your escrow account when appropriate
Determine when you have met all the conditions of your contract, are independent of all welfare assistance and are eligible to receive your escrow account.

CAN I LOSE THE MONEY IN THE ESCROW ACCOUNT?

Yes, the money in the escrow account can be lost if you

Drop out of school or training.
Refuse to look for a job.
Do not meet the family responsibilities within the time frames specified in the contract.
Terminate the Contract of Participation.

WHAT IF I HAVE QUESTIONS OR WISH TO APPLY FOR THE PROGRAM?

You can contact LaTania R Jones at 570-421-7770, ext.235 or Option #7 Monday through Friday between 8:30a.m. -4: 00p.m