Family Self-Sufficiency Program – New Applicants
The Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) program supports the Department’s strategic goal of increasing economic opportunity for HUD-assisted families. FSS provides grants to Public Housing Authorities (PHAs) to support the salaries and training needs of FSS Program Coordinators who assist participating families receiving housing assistance through the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV), RAD-affected Project-Based Voucher (PBV), and Public Housing (PH) programs. FSS Program Coordinators develop local strategies to connect participating families to public and private resources to increase their earned income and financial literacy, reduce or eliminate the need for welfare assistance, and make progress toward economic independence and self-sufficiency. PHAs and each individual participating family execute a contract that incorporates the responsibilities of each party, as well as a training and services plan to help the family become more self-sufficient. PHAs are not permitted to limit FSS participation to those families most likely to succeed.
On May 24, 2018, The Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act became public law No: 115-174. This bill amends the United States Housing Act of 1937 to revise the FSS program, an employment and savings incentive program for families that reside in public housing or having vouchers. Specifically, the bill:
- Combines existing, separately operated FSS program into a single program;
- Extends program eligibility to tenants of certain privately-owned properties subsidized with project-based rental assistance (PBRA);
- Revises program requirements related to eligibility, supportive services, and escrow deposits; and
- Other modifies the FSS program.
This bill will not be in effect until HUD issues implementing regulations for the FSS program. This bill will not impact funding awarded under this NOFA,
b. Responsibilities of FSS Program Coordinators. An FSS Program Coordinator must:
- Build partnerships with employers and service providers in the community and work with the Program Coordinating Committee (PCC) and with such local service providers to ensure that FSS program participants are linked to the supportive services they need to achieve self-sufficiency, including services for participants with limited English proficiency. See Section I.A.3 of this NOFA ("Definitions") for the definition of PCC. For more information on Partnerships and Collaborations, see Notice PIH 2011-51 and for more information on partnerships between PHAs and Department of Labor Workforce Investment Boards/One Stops, see "From the Ground Up: Creating Partnerships between Public Housing Authorities and Workforce Investment Boards" at http://www.wf31.org/view/5001417448285409284/info.
- Ensure that an Individual Training and Services Plan is prepared for the head of the FSS family and each adult member of the FSS family who elects to participate in the FSS program.
- Ensure that the services included in the participants' contracts of participation are provided on a regular, ongoing and satisfactory basis; participants are fulfilling their responsibilities under the contracts; and FSS escrow accounts are established and properly maintained for eligible families. FSS coordinators may also perform job development functions (e.g., outreach to potential employers) for the FSS program.
- Monitor the progress of participants and evaluate the overall success of the program.
FSS Coordinators are encouraged to ensure that participants have greater access to financial education/literacy/empowerment/coaching programs that will help them acquire the knowledge and skills to make informed and effective decisions that ultimately help them reach their goals and achieve self-sufficiency and financial stability. This includes partnering with organizations that can conduct financial education workshops that cover topics such as credit, debt, savings, budgeting, asset building and banking services; and/or organizations that can provide financial coaching. For information on financial literacy tools and resources available to help HUD assisted families enhance their financial literacy and asset building skills, please see Notice PIH 2014-26 (HA).
Funding of up to $1,000,000 is available through this NOFA.
Funding Opportunity Number: FR-6200-N-50
Opportunity Title: Family Self-Sufficiency Program – New Applicants
Competition ID: FR-6200-N-50
CFDA No: 14.896
OMB Approval Numbers: 2577-0178
Opening Date: April 15, 2019
Deadline Date: June 13, 2019
PLEASE REVIEW AND START NOW. DUNS and SAM registration required (as for all federal grant programs). Partner commitments required.
PLEASE NOTE – ONLY PHAS (only PHAs that have *not* been funded for FSS in FY16, FY17 or FY18) are eligible to apply. Individuals, non-profits, tribes/TDHEs, Resident Associations, and PBRA owners are NOT ELIGIBLE TO APPLY. Like the FSS Renewal program, this is a grant for the salary/fringe of an FSS Program Coordinator.