What is the Family Self-Sufficiency Program?

Designed to help you build financial stability. The Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) Program is designed to help you in accomplishing your goals and building a stable financial future.

Set your own long-term goals. In the FSS Program, you establish a long-term goal and work with service providers and agencies who specialize in those fields to achieve them.

FSS Escrow Account. Once enrolled in the FSS Program, an interest-bearing savings account with be started for you. This is a powerful way to save for the goals you set. Learn more about how this works under the Save Your Rent Increase with the FSS Escrow Account.

Five years to graduate. The FSS Program is a 5-year program. These 5 years give you time to work on your goals and fulfill the program requirements. If you complete the goals sooner, you can graduate early.

How can the Family Self-Sufficiency Program help?

Case Management. Meet with the FSS program coordinator to discuss progress on your goals or barriers in your path. Continued meetings mean progress!

Resources. Your FSS coordinator has a wealth of resources and connections that can be shared with you on your journey of completing your goal.

Navigation. During the meetings, you and the FSS program coordinator will discuss a pathway for you to follow that will make your goal obtainable.

Save your rent increase with the FSS Escrow Account.

If you are enrolled in the Family Self-Sufficiency Program, you are rewarded when you have an increase in earned income. An increase in earned income can be new employment, more hours or overtime, or a raise. When you increase your earned income, your rent will increase, but you get to save part of that increase into the FSS Escrow Account.

Kokomo Housing Authority will automatically deposit your portion of your monthly rent increase into an FSS Escrow Account on your behalf. You will do nothing different when paying your rent to your landlord.

To receive the funds in the FSS Escrow Account that you have accumulated, you will need to be employed, be free of welfare assistance (TANF), and complete your personal goal!

Who can participate in the Family Self-Sufficiency Program?

For a person to be eligible for the Family Self-Sufficiency Program, you must:

• Have a Section 8 Voucher (i.e. Housing Choice Voucher, Choice Mobility Voucher, or Project Based Voucher) or,
• Live in Low Income Public Housing (Garden Square Apartments)
• Be in good standing with the Kokomo Housing Authority
• Be willing to become employed and stay employed. (You do not need to be employed before entering into the program.)
• Be a motivated individual.