What is the purpose of the Family Self-Sufficiency
Program?
The purpose of this program is to connect our clients with public and
private employment, social and economical resources to affect positive
changes in their lives, leading to their independence from all forms of
public assistance.
Who are our clients?
Our clients must be a participant of the Muncie Housing Authority’s
Section 8 voucher program.
Are there any benefits and incentives of being a
participant in the FSS program?
YES! If the families earned income increases, the housing authority
compares the family rent to the baseline rent when COP is signed, and ,
in most cases the difference is escrowed.
What is an escrow account?
An escrow account is a special savings account created specifically
and only for FSS participants, as an incentive reward for attaining self-sufficiency.
As a Section 8 recipient and FSS participant, you are eligible to escrow
a percentage of any increase in your earned income since your contract
of participation date. If the families earned income increases, the Housing
Authority compares the family rent to the baseline rent, and in most cases,
escrowed.
What happens if I lose my job?
Your escrow stops until you find another job. It will remain “frozen”
until then.
How do I get this money and when?
Upon graduation from the FSS program, you will have a check issued
to you in the amount you have escrowed since you began your contract plus
interest.
What happens to the escrow if I quit FSS or don’t
complete the contract?
Remember, this isn’t your money until you complete the program. If
you quit or don’t complete the program, the money is forfeited and lost
to you and your family.
Can the escrow help me pay a debt that I have?
Yes, upon graduation, the escrow can be used for anything you like,
including paying debts, buying a home or car and paying school loans. If
you owe money to the housing authority however, we will automatically deduct
the amount owed from your escrow before giving it to you.
What are my responsibilities as an FSS participant?
When you first decide to participate in the program, you will have
an appointment with the program coordinator, Melissa Loveall. In that appointment,
you will be helped in identifying your needs, goals, and identifying obstacles.
Your coordinator will network with other agencies to help you overcome
those obstacles, and to achieve your goals.
Also at the first appointment, you will receive a copy of “Responsibilities
of the participant”. It outlines not only what you must do communicate,
but what we must communicate to you.
You will also be signing an Action Plan, and be expected to seek and
maintain employment.
What is an Action Plan?
An Action Plan is a specific plan designed to assist you with identifying
your strengths, goals, handicaps, needs, and abilities. Once identified,
together we have a realistic idea of what it is going to take, and possibly
how long it will take to accomplish the goals to ensure your long and short-term
success.
The following criteria are necessary to create an action plan:
*An action plan is essential and must coincide with your COP
*other adult family members can choose to have an action plan
*Available resources and services will be noted
*it will have short and long term goals
*one final goal is always obtaining and maintaining suitable employment
*another final goal is to be free from all forms of public assistance
(TANF, Food stamps)
*interim goals will be completed before the contract expires
What is a COP (Contract of Participation)?
The Contract of Participation is a signed agreement between The Muncie
Housing Authority and the participant acknowledging the clients desire
and willingness to work with the FSS coordinator to achieve self-sufficiency
over a 5 year period of time.
What is meant by seeking and maintaining employment?
It simply means that the head of the Section 8 household, is obligated
to find and continue to be gainfully employed. If employment is not met,
then it is up to the head of the household to prove that they have made
consistent attempts at employment. We do this through written and verbal
notice. Employment is based upon each individuals applicable circumstances
and is defined by those circumstances. It is acceptable to work part-time
and go to school part-time, or even go to school full-time and before their
contract expires, obtain employment.