By Carine Eugene
What is FSS?
The Family Self Sufficiency (FSS) Program is a program that helps HUD assisted Families to increase their earned income and build financial capability and assets, reducing the dependency on welfare assistance and rental subsidies.
Once a family is selected to participate in the program, the housing authority, and the head of household of each participating family executes a FSS contract that specifies the rights and responsibilities of both parties. Participation in FSS is completely voluntary; the term is generally
Five years. Families who choose to enroll with FSS work with an FSS case manager\FSS Coordinator who helps them identify a series of intermediate and long term goals.
FSS Managers/Program Coordinators are the backbone of the FSS program. The Case Managers or Coordinators make referrals and link the families with education training and other supportive services.
The families are offered credit classes, budgeting classes, life skills, and home ownership opportunities. One hundred and Seventy five families are actively enrolled in the FSS Program at the Broward County Housing, One hundred eighty five families are enrolled with Housing Authority of the City of Fort Lauderdale and twenty nine are enrolled in Deerfield Beach Housing Authority. If you are interested in joining a FSS program contact your local Housing Authority.
This past Saturday June 29, 2019 three local housing authorities, Broward County Housing, Deerfield Beach Housing and the City of Fort Lauderdale Housing hosted a community event that celebrated families. The Strong Families event was held at Northwest Gardens III, in Fort Lauderdale. This event provided local resources for the family as a whole. Agencies who attended: City of Fort Lauderdale Neighbor Volunteer Office, Broward College- Broward Up, TRIO, Genesis Community Health, Boca Helping Hands, Family Success- CAA, Urban League- CWF, Broward Regional Health Planning Council, Jack and Jill Childcare, Title I, Hollywood Institute, Heal thy Planet, YMCA- LA lee Branch, Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies, Old Dillard Foundation, In Jacobs Shoes, Debt Management Credit Counseling, JC Penney, Jack and Jill, Ceramics on Wheels, WellCare Health, Mosaic Group and Bazaar groceries. Working together, we can improve the quality of life for families.
