Family Self Sufficiency Award announced

On Thursday (Sept 22), the Department of Housing and Urban Development announced awards for the Housing Choice Voucher Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) program.  FSS programs are designed to assist people receiving Housing Choice Vouchers ("Section 8 Vouchers") obtain employment that would eventually lead them to be more economically independent.  There is a similar FSS program for public housing residents.

FSS program services may include, but are not limited to:

• child care
• transportation
• education
• job training and employment counseling
• substance/alcohol abuse treatment or counseling
• household skill training
• homeownership counseling

HUD awarded $60 million across the nation, including $566,120 in Wisconsin.

Appleton Housing Authority $49,600

Brown County Housing Authority $135,462

City of Kenosha Housing Authority $67,266

Dane County Housing Authority $38,572

Dunn County Housing Authority $18,698

Housing Authority of Racine County $66,190

Housing Authority of the City of Milwaukee $69,000

Sauk County Housing Authority $52,332

Winnebago County Housing Authority $69,000

HUD believes that the program works, and issued a new report evaluating the program.

After 4 years in the FSS program, 24 percent of the study participants completed program requirements and graduated from FSS. When the study ended, 37 percent had left the program without graduating and 39 percent were still enrolled in FSS. Program graduates were more likely to be employed than other exiters or the still-enrolled participants. Program graduates also had higher incomes, both when they enrolled in FSS and when they completed the program, than participants with other outcomes.

At first take, having more drop-outs than graduates isn't exactly a picture of a rousing success.  The report states that 31 of 63 who left the program did so involuntarily; they were removed due to violations of either FSS agreement (such as showing up for review meetings) or due to voucher program violations.  Others left the program for various reasons, usually due to family & work obligations making it difficult to keep in contact with the FSS staff person.  The fact that keeping in contact seems to be a big factor for those who leave the program involuntarily and for those who leave voluntarily makes me wonder if the FSS program couldn't have better outcomes if the FSS staff showed more flexibility.  My limited experience with the rental assistance program is that they tend to tell people, "show up at this date & time, or else."

Outcomes were generally positive for those who graduated from the program, with some clues for improved program efficiency.

This study finds that the financial benefits are substantial for participants who remain in and graduate from the FSS program. The study also highlights certain personal and program characteristics that tend to make families more successful in FSS. (For example, those with higher levels of education at enrollment did better.) These findings suggest approaches that program administrators can take to target FSS services more effectively.