Lorain Metropolitan Housing Authority

Family Self Sufficiency (FSS)

Often think you're alone? No help! No support! No ideas! Put those thoughts out of your mind and take LMHA's helping hand toward achieving a dream.

What's FSS and how does it work?
The Family Self Sufficiency (FSS) program is a voluntary program assisting individuals to achieve Total Self-Sufficiency. It is available to residents of the LMHA Section 8 and Public Housing sectors.

The application is the first step. It will be used as a tool to provide information about the applicant during an interview with the FSS Coordinator. At the interview, goals are established and a plan will be suggested. The plan will always consider the applicant's daily obligation to family, etc. Goals can be changed at any time during the participation of the FSS program.

As an individual progresses in accomplishing goals, one of the best benefits of the FSS program is the Cash Benefits.

How does the FSS program provide CASH BENEFITS?
As a participant of the FSS program, you may benefit from many activities of the program: home ownership seminars, credit counseling, information on cost-cutting techniques, training programs, etc. FSS participants view the ESCROW ACCOUNT as the most important facet of the program. Why? Because it will offer a cash incentive toward reaching self-sufficiency. In most cases, it is a committment you have already made. Each FSS participant must sign an FSS contract which gives them five (5) years to reach their goals. The most important lines on an FSS contract are:

-	Total Family Income (Income from all sources)
-	Earned Income (Income from a job)
-	Total Tenant Payment (rent calculation before the utility allowance reduction)

The LMHA employee must report any change in income, of the FSS participant to the FSS Department. If the increase in income is from Earned Income (income from a JOB), not only will the rent increase but an ESCROW ACCOUNT is started. The ESCROW ACCOUNT is like a savings account that is administered by LMHA. Every month that your income includes an increase in Earned Income, a deposit is made to the ESCROW ACCOUNT. Therefore, any future increases in EARNED INCOME are like money in the bank.

How do I receive the ESCROW ACCOUNT?
One way to access the funds in their escrow account is through an INTERIM DISBURSEMENT. At times, a participant may need assistance to repair a car, pay for educational fees, buy uniforms, etc. If there is no other assistance available, a disbursement may be made from the ESCROW ACCOUNT so that the FSS participant may be able to proceed toward self-sufficiency.

To receive the FINAL ESCROW ACCOUNT, the FSS participant must achieve all his/her goals which must include being "Welfare Free" for 12 consecutive months. "Welfare Free" means NO CASH BENEFITS' from Welfare. Medical assistance, Food Stamps, and Childcare benefits are not considered welfare assistance for the purposes of this program.

At the end of the year, LMHA pays interest on the deposits. Before the interest is distributed to the account, the FSS Department asks if there are any outstanding accounts due to LMHA. These accounts are generally repayment agreements. If there are funds in the ESCROW ACCOUNT, they are applied to any outstanding balance of an established repayment agreement. This may help pay down your debt to LMHA. As you see, the FSS funds will help you in many ways.

So now that you know about FSS, what's stopping you from joining? It's FREE. It'll help you set goals, and you may get a nice cash benefit to help you buy a home, a car or just make you proud of your accomplishments. LMHA hopes you will let them help you help yourself.

FSS is a hand UP, not a handout.

Click here to view the FSS Forms

	FSS Application (pdf file, 8 pages)

	FSS Pre-enrollment Form (pdf file, 5 pages)