The Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara (HACSB) honored 17 Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) program graduates on Oct.17 in the Presidio Springs community room on Laguna Street. Eight of the 17 graduates attended.
FSS is a voluntary five-year program in which an Individual Training and Services Plan is developed with each participant to design a clear path of goals and objectives designed to achieve living-wage employment, and gain economic self-sufficiency. It is available to families who are part of the Section 8 Housing program.
During the program, participating families are required to sign a Contract of Participation with HACSB that outlines the services to be provided and the obligations required during participation.
Throughout the five-year contract, the FSS case manager monitors a participant’s progress and assists the participant by providing referrals and services so they may successfully complete each level on their journey to self-sufficiency.
Participants receive supportive services during their time with FSS, ranging from financial coaching, credit counseling, career and entrepreneurship services, and homeownership counseling.
To honor the graduates, HACSB conducts a yearly FSS graduation to recognize them for their accomplishments, completing their goals and graduating from FSS.
This year, the 17 graduates collectively increased the earned income in their households by $339,301 and collected an aggregate total of $229,889 in escrow savings.
The escrow account is a financial incentive the FSS participants accumulate during their participation in FSS, and it’s the result of the increases in their earned income. Three out of the 17 families are off of Section 8.
Of the 17 graduates, Delia Anguiano became a homeowner; and Lisa Tejeda, whose goal was to open her own catering business, Tacos Alegria, was successful in her ventures and catered the event.
During the commencement, graduates shared their life stories and insights on how they benefited from FSS and the Section 8 program as they received their award recognitions. There was a commemorative cake-cutting afterw the ceremony.
The FSS program currently has 135 participants and is supported by both Housing Authority staff and the FSS Program coordinating committee, comprised of a network of 23 local businesses/service providers, including Family Service Agency, Workforce Resource Center, American Riviera Bank, Department of Rehabilitation, SBCC School of Continued Education, Union Bank, World Financial Group, Girls Inc, Women’s Economic Ventures, CommUnify, Spherion, and Transition House.
Learn more about FSS at https://hacsb.org/family-self-sufficiency/.