When we lift up families with a Housing Choice Voucher, we will
lift up every Contra Costa working family. We hope you can join us!
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HOW DOES THE FAMILY SELF-SUFFICIENCY PROGRAM WORK?
THE PROGRAM IS AVAILABLE TO FAMILIES ON THE HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHER (HCV) PROGRAM:
Families with “extremely low income” are selected from a waitlist and issued a Housing Choice Voucher. Housing Voucher recipients pay about 30 percent of their monthly adjusted income towards their rent; the Housing Authority pays the rest. In providing access to safe and affordable housing to over 6000 families, the Housing Choice Voucher program helps Contra Costa County families to move away from crisis and towards stabilization.
FAMILIES ENROLL IN THE FAMILY SELF-SUFFICIENCY PROGRAM (FSS) TO SAVE MONEY:
When a family with a Housing Choice Voucher increases their household income, the portion of rent that they pay also increases (again the family rent portion is about 30 percent of their monthly adjusted income). If the family signs up for the FSS program and their portion of the rent increases because of an increase in household earned income (causing the Housing Authority’s portion of the rent goes down), the difference is put into a savings account for the family. (See diagram with piggy bank) Each time the family pays rent another deposit is made. The family benefits from the FSS savings for up to 5 years. If the family engages case management and connects to community based resources listed on their service plan, they are awarded the funds. The funds are “unrestricted” but are most often used to fund I.D.A.’s, self-employment, fixing/ purchasing a car or continued training and education. The FSS Action Plan details the way our Housing Authority facilitates the FSS Program. FSS is also the 1st step towards the Homeownership Program.
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HOW TO ENROLL AND SUCCEED IN THE FSS PROGRAM
READ SIGN AND SUBMIT AN INTEREST CARD:
You can pick up an Interest Card at the HCV office or at select FSS partner agencies. Once we receive the completed Interest Card, program staff will contact you for a brief phone meeting, where you will learn about the ways that FSS Membership can benefit you!
ATTEND THE FSS GROUP ORIENTATION:
After your phone meeting, you’ll be invited to the next available orientation around the month of your Annual Recertification effective date. You’ll receive an Application at your orientation
COMPLETE THE ENROLLMENT MEETING:
The FSS Program Outreach worker will contact you to schedule an enrollment once there’s a program slot available. The worker will help you create an Individual Training and Services Plan and review the Contract of Participation with you
SEEK AND MAINTAIN FULL-TIME EMPLOYMENT & ADVANCEMENT:
Throughout the course of the FSS Contract of Participation, members are supported to actively seek and maintain employment or advancement. The FSS program is partnered with Habitat for Humanity of the East Bay and Silicon Valley. Habitat for Humanity facilitates 1:1 Financial Empowerment counseling on-site for FSS Members. For all other services, FSS members are guided to the nearest employment and empowerment organizations/ partner that offers services relevant to the families specific needs
WHEN YOU INCREASE YOUR EARNED INCOME IN FSS, YOU SAVE MONEY:
All families with a Housing Choice Voucher pay about 30 percent of their monthly income towards the rent. When their income goes up, so does their rent portion. When that happens to an FSS family, HUD puts money into an account each time the qualifying family pays their rent. Your FSS worker sends you an accounting of the monthly accrual
WHEN THE CONTRACT OF PARTICIPATION IS COMPLETED, YOU GET THE MONEY:
To graduate from the FSS program, the family must work full-time in at least the last 12 consecutive months of the contract, have not received GA or TANF in at least the last 12 consecutive months of the contract and all of the Service Plan goals must be completed and verified. The family must must be in good standing with regards to the HCV and FSS family obligations.
