FY 2022 Family Self-Sufficiency NOFO
The Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) program supports the Department’s strategic goal of increasing economic opportunity for HUD-assisted families. FSS provides grants to Public Housing Authorities (PHAs) to support the salaries and training needs of FSS Program Coordinators who assist participating families receiving housing assistance through the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV/PBV) and Public Housing (PH) programs. FSS Program Coordinators develop local strategies to connect participating families to public and private resources to increase their earned income and financial empowerment, reduce or eliminate the need for welfare assistance, and make progress toward economic independence and self-sufficiency. PHAs and each individual participating family execute a five-year Contract of Participation that incorporates the responsibilities of each party, as well as a training and services plan to help the family become more self-sufficient. PHAs are not permitted to limit FSS participation to those families most likely to succeed.
On May 24, 2018, The Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act became Public Law No: 115-174. Section 306 of the Act amended the United States Housing Act of 1937 to revise the Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) program. The Act specifically changes program requirements related to program eligibility, escrow deposits, and supportive services; allows the Secretary to establish a funding formula; and extends eligibility by allowing private owners of PBRA properties to voluntarily make an FSS program available to their tenants. Please note that HUD published the Final Rule implementing the changes to the FSS program on May 17, 2022. The Notice can be accessed at https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2022/05/17/2022-09528/streamlining-and-implementation-of-economic-growth-regulatory-relief-and-consumer-protection-act.
Responsibilities of FSS Program Coordinators. An FSS Program Coordinator must:
- Implement the FSS program as required by 24 CFR 984 (and 24 CFR 887 for PBRA owners). Be sure to become familiar with the updated regulations published on May 17, 2022.
- Create, Maintain and Update the FSS Action Plan (24 CFR 98 CFR 984.201) and all relevant local program policies.
- Create and implement an outreach plan and enroll FSS participant families, maintaining at least the minimum number to be served per this NOFO award.
- Ensure that an Individual Training and Services Plan (ITSP) is prepared for head of FSS family and each adult member of the FSS family who elects to participate in the FSS program. See Section I.A.4 for more information on eligible families.
- Build partnerships with employers and service providers in the community and work with the Program Coordinating Committee (PCC) and with such local service providers to ensure that FSS program participants are linked to the supportive services they need to achieve self-sufficiency, including services for participants with limited English proficiency. See Section I.A.4 of this NOFO ("Definitions") for the definition of PCC. For more information on Partnerships and Collaborations, see Notice PIH 2011-51, and for more information on partnerships between PHAs and Department of Labor Workforce Development Boards/One Stops, see "From the Ground Up: Creating Partnerships between Public Housing Authorities and Workforce Investment Boards" at https://www.hud.gov/sites/documents/14_DOL_PUBLICATION.PDF.
- FSS Coordinators may also perform job development functions (e.g., outreach to potential employers) for the FSS program.
- FSS Coordinators are encouraged to ensure that participants have greater access to financial education/literacy/empowerment/coaching programs that will help them acquire the knowledge and skills to make informed and effective decisions that ultimately help them reach their goals and achieve self-sufficiency and financial stability. This includes partnering with organizations that conduct financial education workshops that cover topics such as credit, debt, savings, budgeting, asset building and banking services; and/or organizations that can provide financial coaching. For information on financial empowerment tools and resources available to help HUD-assisted families enhance their financial empowerment and asset building skills, please see Notice PIH 2014-26 (HA) and the two-webinar series posted on https://www.hud.gov/strongfamilies
- Ensure that the services and supports included in the participants' Contracts of Participation are provided on a regular, ongoing and satisfactory basis; participants are fulfilling their responsibilities under the Contracts; and FSS escrow accounts are established and properly maintained for eligible families. This includes ensuring that FSS families are provided with a statement of their escrow account balance at least once each year, but more often is encouraged.
- Monitor the progress of participants, promote opportunities for them to increase their income and address and eliminate barriers to advancement and graduation.
- Oversee the account of forfeited escrow funds in accord with 24 CFR 984.305(f)(2) and local policy.
Program Office: Public and Indian Housing
Funding Opportunity Title: 2022 Family Self-Sufficiency NOFO
Funding Opportunity Number: FR-6600-N-04
Assistance Listing Number: 14.896
OMB Approval Number: 2577-0178
Due Date for Applications: 10/03/2022
Available Funds: Funding of approximately $ 113,000,000 is available through this NOFO. HUD expects to make approximately 800 awards from the funds available under this NOFO.
Preference Points: This program does not offer any preference points.
FONSI: Not applicable
Agency Contact: HUD staff will be available to provide clarification on the content of this NOFO. Questions regarding specific program requirements for this NOFO should be directed to the FSS email inbox at fss@hud.gov.
Persons with hearing or speech impairments may access this number via TTY by calling the toll-free Federal Relay Service at 800-877-8339. Please note that HUD staff cannot assist applicants in preparing their applications.