Promote Upward Mobility 

Navigation: Support Self-Sufficiency Programs | Connect Educational Opportunities to Housing

Updated July 10, 2025

Support Self-Sufficiency Programs 

Self-sufficiency programs available to public housing and federal rental assistance residents have proven successful in helping them gain independence. These programs provide the tools and resources necessary to reduce reliance on federal assistance and become self-sufficient. 

The Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) program is an important, effective, and successful example of how PHAs can help their residents reach self-sufficiency. The FSS program allows PHAs to hire program coordinators that link residents with training opportunities, job placement organizations, and local employers. Residents participating in the FSS program enter into a Contract of Participation where they create a five-or less-year plan to increase their self-sufficiency. Residents may earn escrow credit, based on increased earned income, which can be accessed upon completion of the program. Successful graduation includes becoming and staying employed, becoming independent from Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), increasing income levels, and achieving the goals included in their Contract of Participation. 

The Resident Opportunities and Self-Sufficiency (ROSS) program helps PHAs provide residents of public housing with supportive services, resident empowerment activities, and assistance in becoming self-sufficient. 

The Jobs Plus Initiative allows PHAs to develop locally-based, job-driven approaches to increase earnings and advance employment outcomes through work readiness, employer linkages, job placement, educational advancement technology skills, and financial literacy for residents of public housing. The Jobs Plus Initiative consists of 3 core components: employment-related services like work-readiness training, employer linkages, financial counseling, educational advancement, job placement, and employment counseling; financial incentives, including a 100% income disregard that remains in place for up to 48 months; and community support for work that targets all residents within a public housing development. 

Recommendation: Expanded funding for FSS, ROSS, and Jobs Plus would help even more families in federal rental assistance programs become self-sufficient.  

Navigation: Back to Top

Connect Educational Opportunities to Housing 

HUD is uniquely positioned to play an important role in improving outcomes and school success for the children of the economically challenged families the agency serves.  HUD, especially through its public housing developments, is the only non-custodial civilian federal agency with a 24/7/365 relationship with families and therefore able to meet families where they are, literally as well as figuratively.  

By reducing housing insecurity, HUD’s public housing developments represent a remarkable opportunity hidden in plain sight. HUD can serve as a solid platform for connecting systems of care, learning and development, and for partnering with the schools and school districts in which these children enroll. 

Recommendation: HUD should take the lead in establishing an Interagency Collaboration with Education, Health/Human Services and Agriculture. This collaboration would have as its mission improving the odds that the children in public housing communities will (1) receive the full array of the services and supports in the correct sequence, at the appropriate time, and for the necessary duration; (2) meet the health, developmental and academic milestones that predict success in early childhood, success in school and success in life; and (3) benefit from programs and interventions designed and delivered to improve the economic and overall well-being of their parents and caregivers. 

Recommendation: HUD should improvement internet/digital access in low-income areas to improve education options for low-income Americans, expand the Book Rich Environments program, and accelerate the cooperation between schools and PHAs through improved data sharing.

Navigation: Back to Top | Support Self-Sufficiency Programs | Connect Educational Opportunities to Housing