HOUSING AUTHORITY OF JOLIET6 South Broadway Street

Joliet, IL 60436Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) Program

R. Dale Evans Sr. – Social Services/FSS CoordinatorDeborah Ross – FSS Coordinator

Family Self-Sufficiency is:

Established by the Department of Housing and Urban Development

Designed to promote independence Voluntary 5 year program.

Family Self Sufficiency is:

Although voluntary Does require active participation Commitment; and A winning attitude.

Who Can Apply?

Anyone receiving rental assistance through HAJ’s Housing Choice Voucher Program or Public Housing may apply for the FSS program.

Elderly and disabled are not prohibited from participation.

If you are unable to work at this time this will not prohibit your participation.

If you believe you can succeed you can apply.

Attitude; Your state of mind about a person or situation

The greatest discovery of my generation is that human beings can alter their lives by altering their attitudes of mind. ~ William James ~

You cannot tailor make your situation in life, but you can tailor make your attitudes to fit those situations. ~ Zig Ziglar ~

The Program Is Also Designed to Assist in Identifying and Enhancing

Personal Goals Financial Goals Educational goals Credit repair

The Family Self-Sufficiency Program is designed to:

• Promote employment

• Increase savings

• Accumulate assets

Participants can receive;

❧ A refund of some or all of your rent increase if you comply with the program

❧ Other supportive services.

Some Of the Services Available To You Will Include:

Adult basic education/GED

Higher education Homeownership Credit Counseling

Childcare Transportation Personal and career

counseling Job training and

placement Life skills Soft skills training

The FSS program does not provide financial assistance for the needed services other than the monthly Housing Assistance Payment (HAP).

Reasons to Participate in the FSS Program

Accumulation of Assets Access to Services

SATISFACTION WITH SELF

Steps to FSS Participation

One step at a time or….

Sometimes its ok to take two steps at a time; just stay focused

1. Complete FSS application 2. Attend information meeting3. Interview will be conducted between FSS

Coordinator and Applicant4. Contract completed5. Plan of Action prepared, and6. Begin program activities.

Steps to FSS Participation

LENGTH OF PARTICIPATION

Participants have up to five years to reach Self-Sufficiency.

Participants may receive an additional two (2) years if requested in writing prior to the end of contract and if approved.

Establishing Your Goals

You will set goals you plan to reach within the next five years.

What kind of job would you like to have five years from now?

What steps will you take to reach this goal?

Do You Want to Save Money?

Become employed Remain employed Report income changes as

required Remain independent of state

assistance (TANF Check) one consecutive year prior to end of 5 year contract.

Interim Disbursements

• HAJ may permit you to withdraw funds from the FSS escrow account before completing the contract if the family has completed certain interim goals and need funds to complete the contract:

• School Cost; tuition and books; fees• Repair cost to auto to maintain employment• Cost to purchase a vehicle to obtain employment• Credit repair to clear up credit blemishes to

become mortgage ready

Escrow

HAJ will set up an escrow account in your name.

The escrow or savings account may provide money for you if you successfully complete the program.

The amount of escrow is based on the increase in your earned income.

How Much Will I Earn?

The amount going into the account at the beginning is always zero for everyone.

Nothing goes into the account until your income from employment increases.

Escrow $$$ FOR YOU

Sam enrolls in the FSS program at the Housing Authority of Joliet. He is currently unemployed and has no other source of income.

Sam’s portion of rent = $0 Sam’s portion of rent (0) is the baseline for

his account.

Within one year of enrolling in the FSS program, Sam gets a job working 30 hours per week at $7.50 per hour!

Sam meets with his housing worker during his Annual Re-exam and his rent is recalculated.

Sam’s portion of rent = $250.00 per month paid to the landlord.

Because Sam’s rent increased by $250.00 per month, the Housing Authority of Joliet is going to put $250.00 per month into a savings account for Sam.

HAJ deposits $250.00 per month into savings.

In only 4 years, Sam will have $12,000!

Success Stories

Completed GED requirements Maintaining employment Purchased a home Maintained same employment

for nine years Completed requirements for Child Development

–Certificate of Mastery Completed requirements for RN License Completed Associate and Bachelor’s Degrees.

Completion of the Contract Occurs when:

1. The family has fulfilled all of its responsibilities, including family goals; or

2. The family goes over income before the five years; and

3. Family members certify with proper documentation that no family members has received cash Assistance (TANF) for 12 consecutive months prior to the end of Contract of Participation.

An Opportunity for Success is Open to You

Every person who has achieved any worthwhile success, has had to experience and overcome many challenges.

There is no short cut to success

Please don’t give up. Develop the “I’ll succeed”

attitude and you will succeed.

P U S H

Persist

Until

Something

Happens

You can succeed if you will; persist, persevere, be determined, stick with it, refuse to go away, refuse to give up, be diligent