The Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA) is the recipient of a $755,480 grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for the Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) Program. The agency received the largest amount in the state of California. Nationally, HUD granted $75 million through the FSS Program.
FSS is a program designed to assist Section 8 participant families in identifying and reaching their educational and career goals by connecting them to services and resources in the community that can help them achieve economic self-sufficiency. Upon enrollment in the program, FSS families have access to job search assistance, referrals to available trainings, employment opportunities, and on-going case management services. The FSS Program gives participant families the possibility to qualify for a special savings (escrow) account and the opportunity to apply for the Section 8 Homeownership Program.
“The grant enables the Housing Authority to continue providing valuable services for families who are participating in the FSS program,” said HACLA President and CEO Douglas Guthrie. “Currently, there are 523 families who are enrolled in the program utilizing 99% of the slots. We are pleased that we can continue to extend this program to our families and ensure that they have the necessary support and resources they need to acquire financial independence.”
The Authority will maintain 11 service coordinator positions through the grant to support families in the program. Participants sign a five-year contract that requires the head of the household to obtain employment and that no family member receives welfare assistance at the end of the five-year term. If the family successfully completes its FSS contract and has qualified for an escrow account, the family receives the funds and it can use it for any purpose, including down payment on a home, paying educational expenses, or starting a business.