Family Self-Sufficient

What is the FSS Program?

Family-Self Sufficiency (FSS) is a program which offers housing assistance as part of a coordinated linkage to other programs and services to include child care, transportation, personal and career counseling, adult basic or college education, job training and job placement assistance.  The goal of the FSS Program is to assist highly motivated persons to become economically self-sufficient.

Who Qualifies for the FSS Program

Any Suffolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority Section 8 Program Participant who has a Housing Choice Voucher.

How Can the FSS Program Help Me?

The FSS Program Staff will help you access your needs and direct you to those resources that will enable you to move forward in becoming self-sufficient.

The Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) Program is an initiative enacted in the National Affordable Housing Services Act of 1990.  It is designed to assist you  as a FSS participant in utilizing community services and resources in achieving economic independence.  Certain services such as Education, Job Training, Employment and Housing are necessary in achieving that self-sufficiency.

By agreeing to participate in the FSS Program and signing a contract, services such as child care, transportation, employment search assistance, training, education and personal counseling will be made available to you in your special Individual Training Service Plan.

Money may be set aside in an ESCROW ACCOUNT FOR YOU to access once your goals set forth in your Individual Training and Service Plan have been achieved.  One of the requirements for receiving the ESCROW ACCOUNT is that the FSS families must remain independent of welfare assistance for one year prior to the end of the CONTRACT OF PARTICIPATION. The Contract of Participation can be extended to allow successful completion.

Why Should I Participate in the FSS Program?

You will have better access to educational and employment opportunities.  If you are affected by the Virginia Independence Program of Welfare Reform (presently receiving TANF or Food Stamps) the FSS Program will benefit you by helping you gain the education, training and job search skills you will need to be successful in your job search.  The overall aim is to have our participantsworking in full-time jobs and earning enough money to support their family without depending on government subsidies.

Send mail to SRHA@Suffolkrha.org with questions or comments about this web site.  
Last modified: 02/24/03