HABD Social Services

What is FSS?
Who can apply for FSS?
Why enroll in FSS?
FSS Participants Escrow Accounts

What is FSS?

The Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS)Program was created by Section 554 of the National Affordable Housing Act (the Act), which amended Title I of the Us. S. Housing Act of 1937. The HABD FSS Program was started in 1994.. It's purpose is to promote the development of local strategies to coordinate the use of public housing and Section 8 assistance with other pubic and private resources to enable eligible families to achieve economic independence and self-sufficiency.

Who can apply for FSS?

Anyone family member, 18 or older currently living in Section 8 or Public Housing under the jurisdiction on the Housing Authority of the Birmingham District (HABD) is eligible to participate in the HABD FSS Program.

Why enroll in FSS?

The FSS Program is designed to offer educational opportunities and job training as well as supportive services needed to assist participants in their goals towards self-sufficiency.

Each FSS participant prepares a five-year plan that includes employment goals and identifies training or education needs. The HABD FSS staff will work with house hold to to identify, locate and arrange for the services they need to accomplish their goals. Services included are child care, education, and counseling on parenting, money management, housing and home ownership. A contract is signed by the participant and the Authority, indicating their commitment to work toward the goal of permanent employment and self-sufficiency.

FSS Participants Escrow Accounts

As FSS participants succeed in raising their family income contributed toward their Section 8 or Public Housing, rent payment also increases. HUD regulations allow a percentage of this rent increase to be deposited into an interest bearing escrow account.

If the family meets its goals within five years or sooner and is not receiving any public assistance, they can receive the funds in their escrow account.

The availability of an escrow account is established when the participant begins work and their rent increases as a result of their employment.

The Contract of Participation contains the participant's personal goals to be completed while in the program. At the signing of the contract, the portion of the rent paid by the participant is frozen. When the participant becomes employed or advances in employment, his/her rent increases according to HUD program guidelines, but all increases in the portion of the rent which the participant is responsible for and pays is redirected into the participant's escrow account. As the participant earns more income and pays higher rent amounts, the escrow account increases.

Once the participant completes his/her contract goals, they receive their escrow account balance. The escrow may be used for down payment on a home or any self-sufficiency related goals.