U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan announced today that 33 public housing agencies in Texas will receive a total of $3,295,806 to link low-income families with the necessary education and job training to put them on the path to self-sufficiency. DFW agencies received nearly half of the grants awarded in Texas at $1,260,655. Nationally, 600 agencies received nearly $54 million in grants.
The City of Garland received $51,368; Dallas County $64,000, City of Fort Worth received four awards for $269,856; City of Arlington was awarded 3 grants for $162,702; City of Plano received $37,338; Tarrant County $125,951 and City of Dallas received 8 awards totaling $549,440.
Funded through HUD’s Housing Choice Voucher Family Self-Sufficiency Program (HCV/FSS), the grants to Texas provide funds for 33 public housing authorities (PHAs) to fund salaries for 64 coordinators (or caseworkers) to work with welfare agencies, schools, businesses, and other local partners to develop programs to help individuals participating in HUD’s Housing Choice Voucher Program – Section 8 – increase their education or gain marketable skills that will enable them to obtain jobs.
“This program is absolutely critical in today’s economy,” said Donovan. “The research demonstrates that the FSS program works. When families are given the tools they need to move beyond the voucher program, they do. Ultimately, they become self-sufficient and more vouchers become available for other families. For America to win the future we need a trained and skilled workforce.”
The Family Self Sufficiency (FSS) Program is a long-standing resource for increasing economic security and self-sufficiency among HCV participants. A new report just issued by HUD, which evaluated the effectiveness of the FSS Program from 2005 to 2009, shows the financial benefits are substantial for participants who remain and complete the program.
Participants in the HCV/FSS program sign a contract that requires the head of the household to get a job, and the family will no longer receive welfare assistance at the end of the five-year term. As the family’s income rises, a portion of that increased income is deposited in an interest-bearing escrow account. If the family completes its FSS contract, the family receives the escrow funds which they can use for any purpose, including paying educational expenses, starting a business or paying back debts.
The FSS program in Dallas, TX is a joke…I completed the program successfully and NEVER received any of the approx. $11,000 that was owed to me. I was due to graduate from the FSS program on 01/2010. I decided to graduate earlier so I signed my graduation paper on 10/2009. I was strung along by the Dallas Housing Authority FSS for about 7 months. Around 05/2010, I was told that the FSS program has transitioned and that I need to complete extra steps to complete the program and my FSS would be extended until 01/2011. I completed the list of things that FSS required me to do before the time frame. This time, I signed my FSS completion papers on 10/2011, but this time I was told that I could not get my funds until FSS held a “graduation” for the participants that completed the program which was supposed to be held in 02-03/2012. Well, that “graduation” NEVER happened nor did I receive my escrow money. Ifinally got tired of waiting on that money and bought my own house. However, I feel like they should not have promised me something and they knew they were not going to give me the money in the first place…BUT my frustration with DHA was my motivation to get off Section 8…but I STILL WANT MY $11,000 THAT SECTION 8 PROMISED ME!!!!!!!!!!
I completed the program October the 15th 2012 it is now January the 13th 2014 and I have not steal received any funds I have purchased a home I have started a business and I have since married tu no prevail Dallas Housing Authority has not released any of my family self-sufficiency funds I have went through several different case managers Tyler Jackson mit Kiki Shepard now I have a Miss Nikki Sanders no one is informing me of anything I need help I was told back before 1 case manager left that this is what I would have to experience dealing with Dallas Housing Authority I have been patient my house is not fully completed they know this but to no prevail no one is taking my case seriously I need some help with someone please help me exposed Dallas Housing Authority in their incompetence
I have been on the FSS program since 2012 in which my income was over inflated due to overtime I was working and never accrued money in the escrow. I never received a statement from my caseworker either. I was never informed, nothing. I will be going all the way to get this resolved. Going to the Board of Commissioners meeting on Monday.