Family Self-sufficiency (Section 8 HCV)

What is Family Self-sufficiency?

The Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Family Self-sufficiency Program is designed to supply participants with assisted housing and supportive services that can help them achieve economic independence. This program is only available to families having a Section 8 Voucher.

How it Works

Each participating family will sign a contract of participation that spells out the services to be provided to the family and the responsibilities the family agrees to undertake.  Each family will have a service package individually designed to meet its particular needs for services, training, counseling and other assistance.

An Asset Building Opportunity

A FSS escrow account is established by SCAP, for each participating family. An escrow credit, based on increases in earned income of the family, is credited to this account by SCAP during the term of the FSS contract (generally five years). SCAP may make a portion of this escrow account available to the family during the term of the contract to enable the family to complete an interim goal such as education.

If the family completes the contract and no member of the family is receiving cash welfare assistance, the amount of the FSS account is paid to the head of the family.  If SCAP terminates the FSS contract, or if the family fails to complete the contract before its expiration, the family's FSS escrow funds are forfeited.