Family Self-Sufficiency
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Q: What is the Family Self-Sufficiency Program?
A: The goal of FSS is to help families become free of their need for public assistance and is designed to assist you in identifying and reaching your educational and career goals. FSS can help locate available job training programs, child care agencies, transportation, and other supportive services.
Q: Who can participate?
A: In order to participate in the FSS Program, the head of the household must be a tenant of the Housing Choice Voucher Program or a Public Housing Resident, be 18 years of age or older, be committed to entering a job training and/or educational program, be currently in "good standing" with the Fort Wayne Housing Authority and be willing to enter into a FSS Contract of Participation. Other members of the household may participate and receive social services as well.
Q: What can FSS do for me?
A: FSS can help families become self-sufficient by helping you to create an Individual Training and Services Plan (ITSP) that will encourage progress towards your educational and career goals. The FWHA's FSS Coordinators (Michelle Williams and Christi Stevens) will work with each family to identify the problems they may have encountered in becoming self sufficient and determine possible solutions.
Q: How can I make more money?
A: While participating in FSS, as the family's earned income increases, the FWHA opens a special savings account called an escrow account. The HUD matches a portion of the rental increase each month that the family has the increase in earned income. The family can recieve this money when it successfully completes the FSS program.
Q: What is considered earned income?
A: Earned income includes income from wages and salaries, overtime pay, commission, tips, bonuses, military pay, self-employment and other compensations for personal services.
Q: Does everyone in FSS get a savings account?
A: No. If there is no increase in earned income, then there will be no savings account.
If you have any additional questions regarding the FSS program, please contact: Christi Stevens (260.449.7725 ext. 274) or Michelle Williams (260.449.7725 ext. 271)