FSS is an initiative enacted by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) as a part of the National Affordable Housing Act of 1990. The program assists Housing Choice Voucher families to achieve economic independence. The FSS program links participants with education, job training, counseling, and other services necessary (child care, transportation, etc.) for them to become employed and earn self sufficient wages so they no longer need to rely on government financial assistance.

In the fourth quarter of 2009 FSS at GHA had participants to complete education and training as an entrepreneur, a Registered Nurse, and received a Bachelor's degree in General Studies from U of H downtown; and a participant to complete the Homebuyers Education certification class and purchased a new home.

How Can You Benefit from FSS?

The FSS program allows participants to take advantage of schooling, training and gain work experience, while receiving housing assistance. The FSS coordinator works with each family to develop a plan to learn the skills that will lead to increased earning power. In addition to this assistance, the Galveston Housing Authority will set aside money in an escrow account for employed FSS participants who begin to pay a larger portion of their rent due to their increase in earned income. Successful FSS graduates have used their escrow funds to purchase a home, a new car or continue their education.

Why Choose the FSS Program?

Participation is voluntary. Housing Choice Voucher holders that choose not to participate in the FSS program lose opportunities to improve their future. Two key things needed to participate in the program are "commitment and desire." Participants must express a desire to do better, and commitment, to doing more than "just good enough" so that they can attain and maintain self sufficiency.

Resident Opportunities and Self Sufficiency/ Public Housing Family Self-sufficiency (PH FSS)

This program is designed for Public Housing Authorities (PHA) to provide counseling to residents with training opportunities, job placement organizations, and local employers. Residents enter into a contract of participation which outlines their responsibilities towards completion of training and employment objectives over a five year period or less. The contract of participation also stipulates PHA responsibilities towards helping residents achieve their goals. For each participating family that is a recipient of welfare assistance, the PHA must establish an interim goal that the family becomes independent from welfare assistance and remain independent from welfare assistance at least one year prior to the expiration of the contract. During the period of participation, residents may earn an escrow credit, based on increased earned income, which they may use in a variety of ways upon successful graduation from the program.