Family Self-Sufficiency

The FSS program provides FWHS residents a pathway toward full-time employment, higher incomes and less dependency on financial assistance.

Participants set a five-year career and financial plan and work steadily to achieve their goals. Participation is voluntary. Case managers support residents by connecting them with services and resources they need to succeed.

Incomes typically grow as participants earn a college degree or technical certifications and gain full-time employment. In many housing programs, that would mean that residents pay a greater portion of their rent.

In the FSS program, however, an interest-bearing escrow account is established for each participating family. Monthly contributions are made to the account based on increases in rent that a tenant would typically pay as their income increases.

Program graduates who achieve their goals may leave the program with an escrow payment of $10,000 or more, cash that may be used for any purpose.

Participants who have an increase in earned income while on the FSS program could be eligible to establish an escrow account. This is an interest-bearing savings account that receives monthly contributions based on the tenant’s rent increase. This account is established as an incentive for those who complete their goals and graduate the FSS program.

2024 Highlights

37

Graduates in 2024

$268,087

Paid in escrow

85

New participants enrolled in 2024

$1,708,130

Amount in the past 10 years FSS has given out in earned escrow