Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS)

Program Description

New York City Housing Authority’s (NYCHA) Office of Resident Economic Empowerment and Sustainability (REES) can help NYCHA Section 8 voucher-holders establish savings. If you are a NYCHA Section 8 voucher-holder, you are eligible to join the Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) program.

The FSS program works with families and individuals who seek to pursue financial independence through education, job training, employment and money management. Participants set education, job training and employment goals. The FSS program allows you to save money when your rent goes up as a result of your income increasing.

When a FSS program participant gets a rent increase, NYCHA will save the difference between your old rent amount and your new rent amount in a savings account for you. Money in this account grows when a participant’s earned income increases and his or her rent increases as a result. When FSS participants achieve these goals, they graduate and receive money from an escrow/savings account maintained by NYCHA.

REES is now recruiting NYCHA Section 8 voucher holders to join the Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) program! To learn if you’re eligible and enroll, please click here to register for an upcoming information session or call (718) 289-8100.

Program Services

Program participants access the wide array of program services offered by NYCHA’s Office of Resident Economic Empowerment & Sustainability (REES). Participants are referred to high-quality partner organizations offering the following services:

Education and vocational training
Employment and career advancement
Financial education and counseling
Business development training, coaching and other resources

Family Unification Program & FSS

18-to 21-year-old youth aging out of foster care who hold Section 8 Family Unification Program (FUP) vouchers derive special benefits from FSS, including:

An extension of the youth Section 8 FUP voucher assistance from three to five years
The opportunity to build a savings account
A chance to set and achieve life-changing goals
Access to educational, job training and employment resources to help secure a brighter future

Eligibility

Any household receiving NYCHA Section 8 assistance
All members of the household listed on the lease may participate
Only the head of household may sign a Contract of Participation
Not open to people on the waiting list or in violation of Section 8regulations
May not enroll if effective date of most recent recertification is over 120 days

Graduation Criteria

Suitably employed
In good standing with NYCHA and the Section 8 program
Achieved final and short-term goals
No member of the household received cash public assistance benefits over the preceding 12months

Other Info

Escrow payments are free from federal and state income taxes
Graduates may retain their Section 8 voucher after graduation if they still qualify financially

Success Story

Mr. D resides in a NYCHA development and holds a Section 8 voucher. Since he was unemployed, Mr. D enrolled in NYCHA’s Resident Training Academy (NRTA) and successfully completed the program for a Caretaker J. Upon obtaining a job as a Caretaker, Mr. D attempted to join the Earned Income Disallowance (EID) program but soon realized that as a Section 8 voucher holder, he did not qualify. His Housing Assistant gave him a referral to the FSS program, which he joined. Mr. D’s goal in the program was to obtain additional training and improve his employment. Subsequently, he enrolled in and graduated from NYCHA’s Heating Plant Technician training program. Thus, he completed his training goal as well as his goal of improving his employment. Mr. D graduated early with over $9,000 in escrow savings.

NYCHA Program Statistics

(as of December 31, 2019)

1,045 participants
415 escrow accounts*
Amount in escrow: $2,270,859
Largest amount: $37,083
Average amount: $5,472

* Number reflects graduation and escrow forfeitures

Enrollment

To learn more:

Attend day or evening info sessions held at the Bronx and Brooklyn Customer Contact Centers.
Email us at nychafss@nycha.nyc.gov

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