Family Self-Sufficiency Program
Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) is a voluntary, five-year program that requires participation in areas that will allow participant to meet their goals. Areas of development could be in job training, career planning, financial literacy education, budgeting, saving, and establishing good credit. MVPHA Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) program helps reduce the dependency of low-income families on Welfare assistance, federal, state, and/or local subsidies. To meet this objective, the FSS program matches housing assistance families with existing community services to achieve economic self-sufficiency.
How the Program Works
The Family Self-Sufficiency program is available to all Housing Choice Voucher participants who have been in the program at least one year and are in good standing, want to overcome barriers, and take advantage of their educational and earning potential.
In the program, the head of household works with the FSS Coordinator to establish goals and develop a personalized action plan to meet those goals. Services are tailored to the participant's needs and include skills assessment, GED preparation, career planning, computer literacy and skills training, money management workshops, childcare referrals, and credit repair workshops.
An attractive incentive of the program is the Savings (Escrow) Account that is opened for the family. As the FSS participants reach their goals, and their earned income increases, MVPHA deposits money into the escrow account for the participant families. Once FSS participants achieve all their established goals, including maintaining full-time employment, do not rely on rental assistance, then they receive the money in the account plus interest.
Once a participant is accepted into the FSS program, he/she must sign a Contract of Participation and together with the FSS Coordinator will develop an Individual Training and Service Plan (ITSP). To graduate, the FSS program participants must achieve all the goals in their ITSP plan, be welfare free for 12 consecutive months prior to graduating, and have a suitable job. When they graduate from the FSS program, participants may use these funds as they wish. Completion of the FSS Program is a great way to start and build a better life for you and your family.
Benefits of the FSS program include
- Career and Educational counseling
- Educational workshops (e.g., nutrition, parenting skills, GED preparation, ESL, money management and obtaining the proper basic skills and education needed to enter the workplace)
- Community Networking
- Job Preparation assistance
- Educational institution and financial aid assistance
- Credit repair assistance
- FSS Escrow accounts
- Homeownership counseling
- Referral services
FSS Success
To date, many families have graduated from the FSS program successfully. Achieving educational goals and commencing on rewarding careers in a variety of fields. FSS graduates have used their savings for down payments on homes, to pay for schooling, to purchase cars, to pay off debt and more. The following FSS graduates have escrowed from $1,000-$17,000:
FSS GRADUATES
| 2016 |
Jessica Arellano |
| 2017 |
Sally Nichols; Teresa Castillo |
| 2018 |
Naomi Jackson |
| 2020 |
Christina Nevarez |
| 2021 |
Cristina Torres; Tiffany Dons Gillespie; Ernesto Rodriguez |
| 2024 |
Liberty Fitzgerald; Muriel Bowles; Nancy Salas; Brittanie Chavez |
| 2025 |
Loretta Legarda |
TESTIMONIALS
"As an FSS participant, the most I got from this program was to become a homeowner, which was my main goal after completing the program. Without this program, I don't feel I would be able to accomplish this goal since I took advantage of all the tools this program offers. I hope more future participants can succeed with this program." - Ernesto A Rodriguez
"The FSS program was amazing. I am honored to be a graduate. I could have not done it without the help of Maria, She was an amazing coordinator there was never a dumb question for her. She would always be happy to help. Most importantly she was there to support you in any possible way she always kept me focused and motivated. THANK YOU FSS PROGRAM FOR ALLOWING ME THIS OPPORTUNITY!" - Iris Hernandez
"As an FSS participant I would like to say that this program is amazing and gives you the opportunity to be able to take advantage of all of the tools they equip you with to become more knowledgeable, self-sufficient, and get ahead in life. I am honored and blessed to be a graduate of this program. I would like to thank all the staff for how patient and quick they always were to help. Especially with the help of Maria and Sheila they are such wonderful women. Thank you all again for this opportunity to be a part of this amazing FSS program!" - Liberty Fitzgerald
"Prayer, Hard work and Determination helped me to be in a position to graduate from the MVPHA FSS Program. I am looking forward to home ownership! Never Give Up!!” - Muriel Bowles
“I am so grateful for the opportunity that was given to me years ago to start this program. And although I tried to convince myself that this was not such a big accomplishment, it truly is something. I wholeheartedly am grateful and proud to have succeeded my way through. This marks the end of something great, but the beginning of what’s to come from this blessing. Thank you all for this opportunity again. Most of all, I want to thank my children, for keeping me going and for motivating me to be the best version of myself. I love you all and hope to have made you all proud!” - Nancy Salas
“The FSS program came referred to me by the Housing Choice Voucher Program. I have been in the housing assistance program for the last ten years and this program has not only provided opportunities for educating me in money management, financial independence, and first-time home buying, but it has motivated me to push myself to reach my goals. When I started, I only had a high school diploma and then I decided to go back to school and obtain my Cosmetology License. Since then, I have been consistently working in the industry and have continued my education. I have gotten certified in so many different aspects in the field I am in. I have received my establishment License and now I own my first Salon. I have been able to create steady employment and income for myself. I am financially independent and recently have been approved through a mortgage company to buy my first home. From Someone who comes from nothing, I want to thank those who make things like this possible. My family is grateful for the program, resources and support made accessible for us who really want to better ourselves.” - Brittanie Chavez (August 2024 - Graduate)
"Graduating from the Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) Program has been one of the most transformative experiences of my life. When I first joined, I was looking for a way to become more financially independent and build a better future for my family—but I gained so much more than I expected.
Through the program, I received guidance, support, and resources that helped me set clear goals, improve my credit, increase my income, and eventually become more confident in managing both personal and professional challenges.
Thanks to FSS, I’m proud to say that I’ve reached goals I once thought were out of reach. Most importantly, I now feel equipped to keep moving forward and create lasting stability for my family. I’m deeply grateful for the opportunity and would encourage anyone who wants to make a positive change in their life to take that first step—this program truly works.”
- Loretta Legarda
Become a success story, put in the effort and hard work to reap the reward. Enroll in the FSS Program.