UNDERSTANDING THE FAMILY SELF- SUFFICIENCY (FSS) PROGRAM. Today s Webinar is Sponsored By

Transcription

1 UNDERSTANDING THE FAMILY SELF- SUFFICIENCY (FSS) PROGRAM Today s Webinar is Sponsored By

2 Welcome & Introductions Keith Combs Manager, Financial Empowerment National Disability Institute

3 Listening to the Webinar The audio for today s webinar is being broadcast through your computer. Please make sure your speakers are turned on or your headphones are plugged in. You can control the audio broadcast via the audio broadcast panel If you accidentally close the panel, you can re-open it from the top menu item: Communicate > Join Audio Broadcast 3

4 Listening to the Webinar, continued If you do not have sound capabilities on your computer or prefer to listen by phone, dial: (Toll-Free Number) Meeting Code: You do not need to enter an attendee ID.

5 Captioning Real-time captioning is provided during this webinar. The captions can be found in Media Viewer panel, which appears in the lower-right corner of the webinar platform. If you want to make the Media Viewer panel larger, you can minimize other panels like Chat, Q&A, and/or Participants. 5

6 Submitting Questions For Q&A: Please use the chat box or Q&A box to send any questions you have during the webinar to Keith Combs or Nakia Matthews and we will direct the questions accordingly during the Q&A portion. If you are listening by phone and not logged in to the webinar, you may also ask questions by ing questions to Please note: This webinar is being recorded and the materials will be placed on the National Disability Institute website at 6

7 Technical Assistance If you experience any technical difficulties during the webinar, please use the chat box to send a message to the host Nakia Matthews, or you may also nmatthews@ndi-inc.org. 7

8 Special Thank You To Our Sponsors National Disability Institute would like to recognize and thank its sponsors:

9 National Disability Institute A national research and development organization with the mission to promote income preservation and asset development for persons with disabilities and to build a better economic future for Americans with disabilities.

10 NDI s Real Economic Impact Network An alliance of organizations & individuals dedicated to advancing the economic empowerment of people with disabilities. Consists of more than 900 partners in more than 100 cities in US. Includes non-profits, community tax coalitions, asset development organizations, financial education initiatives, corporations & private-sector businesses, federal/state/local governments & agencies, and individuals & families with disabilities. All partners join forces to embrace, promote & pursue access to & inclusion of people with disabilities in the economic mainstream.

11 Today s Agenda Welcome and Introductions Introduction and overview of the Family Self-Sufficiency Program (FSS) Discussion of eligibility and how individuals/families can apply Explanation of the benefits of the FSS Examples of how the FSS has directly benefited individuals with disabilities Questions 11

12 Webinar Outcomes Attendees will have a better understanding of: The benefits of the Family Self-Sufficiency Program (FSS) The eligibility requirements of the FSS The resources that are available to those individuals/families that are accepted into the FSS program The positive impact that the FSS can have for individuals with disabilities The real-life examples of success of graduates of the FSS 12

13 Presenter Darrin Dorsett Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Housing Voucher Management and Operations Division Office of Public and Indian Housing

14 Darrin Dorsett Program Analyst in the Housing Voucher Management and Operations Division (HVMOD) for the Department of Housing & Urban Development. Prior to joining HUD, worked with the National Association of Counties (NACo) providing technical assistance to elected county officials on the use of HUD funds. Prior to NACo, worked with a national consulting firm providing technical assistance to local, state and federal agencies on a range of affordable housign and community development programs. Master s in Urban & Regional Planning

15 Presenter Sharon Hirota Office of Housing and Community Development Existing Housing Division Manager

16 Sharon Hirota Sharon Hirota is currently employed as the Existing Housing Division Manager for the County of Hawaii, Office of Housing and Community Development. As the Division Manager, she has oversight responsibility for the Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) Program, the Tenant Based Rental Assistance Program, the Residential Emergency Home Repair Program, as well as an elderly and family housing project. Sharon joined the OHCD in September Prior to joining the OHCD, she has held positions of increasing responsibility to include human resources and risk management. Sharon attended the University of Hawaii at Hilo, majoring in Business Administration.

17 Presenter Darrin Dorsett Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Housing Voucher Management and Operations Division Office of Public and Indian Housing

18 A Brief Overview of HUD's Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) Program

19 FSS Overview FSS promotes the development of local strategies to enable families to achieve economic independence and self-sufficiency. Supportive services available through FSS include child care, transportation, education, job training, and counseling. PHAs develop an action plan for HUD approval

20 FSS Administration Administered by PHAs with program coordinating committees (PCCs) PCCs are made up of representatives of local government, employment and job training agencies, welfare agencies, nonprofit providers, and local businesses. Must include a PHA representative and a voucher program participant or public housing resident. (See 24 CFR )

21 FSS Components Contract between PHA and participants that specify rights and responsibilities of both parties (including that the participant will no longer be receiving welfare benefits). Individualized training and services plan for each participant Interest-bearing escrow account set up by the PHA for each participating family. Credits based on increased earned income

22 FSS Escrow Account Possible interim disbursements during contract term to complete goals. To claim escrow at contract completion, head of household must be employed and no family member receiving welfare assistance.

23 Who is eligible to Participate in FSS? Current public housing residents and Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) families are eligible Participation is voluntary for families Targeted population : unemployed and underemployed public housing residents and HCV program participants

24 How is FSS Funded? Services not funded by program. PHAs are required to leverage public funds with private resources to provide supportive services Funding for FSS program coordinators provided through annual NOFAs.

25 FSS History Starting in FY 1993, PHAs were required to develop an FSS program for their families if they received new funding for Section 8 certificates/vouchers or public housing rental units Mandatory minimum FSS program size requirements for the Section 8 certificate/voucher and public housing programs based on the number of new units funded

26 Changes to FSS over the years New allocations of rental certificates/housing choice vouchers or new public housing units after October 21, 1998 no longer increase mandatory FSS program slots PHA s mandatory minimum FSS program size is reduced by one slot for each graduate Confirmed continued authority for PHAs to administer voluntary FSS programs

27 Presenter Sharon Hirota Office of Housing and Community Development Existing Housing Division Manager

28 County of Hawaii FSS Program The County of Hawaii implemented its FSS program in March 2004 and over the last ten (10) years, have been successful in connecting families to local resources in their journey to become less reliant on government assistance.

29 County of Hawaii FSS Program Local marketing efforts: Monthly informational meetings Family Briefing Packets Annual Re-certifications Packets Community Outreach Participates in Community Resources Fairs VITA Tax Site

30 County of Hawaii FSS Program Marketing Results 330 individuals have shown interest 182 signed a FSS Program Contract 39 Graduates

31 County of Hawaii FSS Program Program Challenges Family understanding of what s in it for me Letting go of government assistance Understanding escrow savings account Financial Literacy Concepts budgeting, savings, paying debt, banking options

32 County of Hawaii FSS Program Examples of Family Success 14 individuals have attained a post-high school education degree 52 individuals increased their employability skills and moved from being under-employed or unemployed to gaining full time employment status

33 County of Hawaii FSS Program Examples of Family Success Year # of Families Increase in Annual Income Average Increase per Family $ 360,061 $ 11, $ 244,383 $ 9, $ 365,409 $ 17, $ 277,783 $ 13, $ 396,467 $ 16, $ 226,039 $ 11, $ 90,318 $ 11,290

34 County of Hawaii FSS Program 39 PROGRAM GRADUATES 22 No longer receiving rental assistance 14 Homeowners $ 299, disbursed escrow savings to families (Average: $ 7,683) $ 27, was the largest disbursement used to pay debt and purchase a single family unit

35 County of Hawaii FSS Program Examples of Family Success 14 SUCCESSFUL HOMEOWNERSS 10 Homeowners through Habitat for Humanities, Self-Help Program or Mortgage Qualified 1 No longer receiving mortgage assistance 3 Receiving mortgage assistance

36 Questions & Answers

37 Join us for our next webinar: Wrap-Up & Thank You Joining the Economic Mainstream Wednesday, June 11, p.m. 4:30 p.m. EST Check out future webinars and archived webinars (such as today s recording) by going to our website

38 Special Thank You To Our Sponsors National Disability Institute would like to recognize and thank its sponsors:

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