What is Family Self-sufficiency (FSS)?

Family Self-Sufficiency is a HUD program that encourages communities to develop local strategies to help public housing and voucher families obtain employment that will lead to economic independence and self-sufficiency.

Who can participate in the program?

Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) and Public Housing assistance participants with the Altoona Housing Authority are eligible to participate in the FSS Program.

The goal of the FSS Program is to enable families to become self-sufficient by:

  • Assisting families to improve their earnings potential through education or job training, even if they do not immediately accomplish full economic independence.
  • Providing a framework to achieve these goals by coordinating the efforts of public and private local organizations.
  • Building stronger families by helping them overcome problems that create instability, such as substance abuse, mental health and parenting difficulties.
  • Helping families save money by contributing to an escrow account on their behalf based on the tenant’s portion of the rent.

FSS participants sign a Contract of Participation and complete an Individual Training and Services Plan that outlines the family’s goals, obstacles and objectives.

For more information, contact Diane Himes, FSS Coordinator, at 814-949-2008, ext. 329 or diane.himes@altoonahousing.org