Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS)-Participant Guide

Participant Guide - FSS

Pdf Summary

This document is a training guide on HUD’s Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) program, covering regulations, program design, recruitment, case management, contracts, escrow, reporting, graduation, and monitoring.<br /><br />Key points:<br />- FSS is a HUD program for public housing, Housing Choice Voucher, and multifamily participants that helps families increase earned income, achieve economic independence, and reduce reliance on welfare and housing assistance.<br />- Major regulatory updates in 2022 expanded program applicability, changed escrow calculations, updated definitions, required Action Plan revisions, and revised the ITSP/Contract of Participation forms.<br />- PHA/owners must have a HUD-approved Action Plan before operating FSS. The plan must include local goals, selection procedures, outreach, incentives, services, grievance procedures, implementation timelines, and coordination with workforce and supportive service partners.<br />- A Program Coordinating Committee (PCC) is required for public housing and HCV programs and should include PHA staff, participants, and community partners such as employment, education, childcare, nonprofit, and financial empowerment providers.<br />- Recruitment and marketing strategies include briefings, orientations, annual recertification meetings, peer outreach, and clear client education about escrow, goals, and graduation.<br />- Case management emphasizes assessment, identifying strengths/barriers, motivational interviewing, goal setting, and matching services to participant needs.<br />- The ITSP must include interim and final goals; the head of FSS family must seek and maintain suitable employment, and families receiving welfare must become independent of welfare by the end of the contract.<br />- Escrow credits are based on income growth and rent increase, deposited into an interest-bearing account, and reported annually.<br />- The Contract of Participation lasts 5 years from the first recertification after execution and may be extended up to 2 years for good cause.<br />- Graduation, forfeiture, portability, and termination rules are explained, along with HUD reporting requirements in PIC/IMS and SEMAP monitoring measures.<br /><br />The appendix includes practice case scenarios and sample HUD forms.

Keywords

HUD Family Self-Sufficiency

FSS program

Action Plan

escrow account

case management

Program Coordinating Committee

Contract of Participation

income growth

graduation requirements

SEMAP monitoring

escrow credits

earned income

graduation

HUD reporting