What is FSS?
The Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) Program is a 5-year voluntary work-based program designed to assist families in becoming economically independent and self-sufficient through increases in earned income and rental portions. With the support of local agencies, FSS combines intensive case management, education, job training, and ongoing support to aid each family in making positive changes in their lives. See Our Brochure.
How the FSS Program Works
The FSS program helps families establish goals and identify barriers which could prevent achievement of those goals. The program will provide resources and services necessary for success and develop a plan with specific activities and actions needed to achieve goals. The program provides case management services, encouragement, motivation, and moral support to help families achieve their goals.
The Program Coordinating Committee (PCC)
PCC is a committee where community agencies meet quarterly with SNRHA Resident Programs which includes Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS), Resident Opportunity for Self-Sufficiency (ROSS), and Senior Supportive Services who all work together and provide services to participants. The committee's main function is to assist in securing commitments of public and private resources to enable the housing authority to provide the necessary services to participants along their journey of becoming self-sufficient.
FSS Program Resources & Services
In collaboration with local agencies and service providers, the FSS Program attempts to address a wide variety of family issues including career counseling, job training, education (high school diploma, GED, college), financial planning and budgeting, legal services, individual and family counseling, parenting skills, and home buyer education.
Benefits of the FSS Program
Families who participate in the FSS program have the opportunity to obtain resources and services to make positive changes in their lives. They have an opportunity to possibly receive an escrow check upon successful achievement of their goals and completion of the Contract of Participation. The FSS program can also provide Certified HUD Housing Counseling for those FSS families who have the intent of eventually moving towards homeownership.
Escrow Account
Some participating families may qualify to have an escrow account opened on their behalf. The escrow account contributions is a savings account established when your rent increases due to an increase in earned income. Escrow account contributions are based on a formula established by HUD and may not match rent increases dollar for dollar. Participants must successfully achieve all goals established in the Individual Service and Training Plan in order to be eligible to receive escrow funds upon completion of the FSS program.
FSS Program Eligibility
Anyone 18 years of age or older and currently residing in a Southern Nevada Regional Housing Authority (SNRHA) Public Housing development or receiving a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) is eligible to participate in the Family Self-Sufficiency Program.
Enrolling in the FSS Program
Anyone interested in enrolling in the FSS Program are placed on the interest list. FSS Interest Forms are available at each SNRHA Asset and Property Manager's office, or Click here for the Family Self-Sufficiency Interest Form. Managers forward the FSS Interest Forms to the FSS Coordinators, and all those interested in enrolling in the FSS Program receive invitations to an orientation session.
