Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS)-Presentation

Presentation - FSS

Pdf Summary

This training guide provides a comprehensive overview of HUD’s Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) program for housing professionals, especially senior staff, supervisors, and FSS coordinators/managers. It explains the program’s purpose: helping low-income families increase earned income, achieve economic independence, and reduce reliance on public assistance. The course covers the program’s regulatory history, including key CFR requirements, rule changes, and HUD oversight findings.<br /><br />Major topics include designing and managing an FSS program, developing HUD-approved Action Plans, building strong Program Coordinating Committees (PCCs), and using community partnerships to support participants. The guide emphasizes fair participant selection, allowable motivational screening, outreach and marketing strategies, and methods for client assessment, strengths-based case management, and goal setting. It also details how to create Individual Training and Service Plans (ITSPs), including mandatory goals such as welfare independence and employment for the head of household.<br /><br />A major portion of the training explains Contract of Participation (CoP) rules, including contract dates, extensions, participant responsibilities, and how older contracts convert to the updated regulations. The guide also teaches escrow calculations: how earned income growth can generate escrow credits, how to manage escrow accounts, how to handle underreported income, and how to report balances and interest. It outlines graduation rules, forfeitures, use of forfeited escrow funds, and termination options.<br /><br />Additional modules address portability between housing authorities, homeownership options under HCV, PIC/IMS reporting requirements, action codes, and monitoring tools such as the FSS Achievement Metric (FAM). The course closes with review questions, exam logistics, and certification information.

Keywords

HUD Family Self-Sufficiency

FSS program

housing professionals

Action Plan

Program Coordinating Committee

case management

Contract of Participation

escrow calculations

homeownership

PIC IMS reporting