The family self-sufficiency program (FSS) is governed by section 23 of the 1937 housing act

The Department of Housing and Urban Development's Public and Indian Housing Office awarded $115,292 to Opelika Housing Development Inc. on January 1, 2026, under the Family Self-Sufficiency Program (CFDA 14.896) to fund salary and fringe benefits for FSS Program Coordinators.

Opelika Housing Development, a tax-exempt nonprofit based in Opelika, Alabama, will employ or retain coordinators responsible for enrolling and maintaining participating families in the FSS program, preparing individual training and services plans (ITSPs), and partnering with employers and service providers to connect families with employment resources and financial literacy services. For each funded coordinator position, the grantee must maintain a minimum participation threshold: at least 25 families for the first coordinator, with an additional 50 families required for each additional funded position. Over 5–7 years of participation, FSS families are expected to achieve employment, improve wages, and meet individualized goals.

The award covers the period of performance January 1 through December 31, 2026, with place of performance in Opelika, Alabama. This is Opelika Housing Development's third consecutive annual award under the FSS program; combined potential value across the 2024, 2025, and 2026 awards is $273,000.

Activities

Funds under FSS grants are used solely to fund salary and fringe benefits for FSS coordinators. Responsibilities of FSS coordinators under the award include, but are not limited to, enrolling, and maintaining families in the program, working with families to prepare individual training and services plans (itsps), and building partnerships with employers and service providers in the community. The required number of participating families that a grantee must maintain is outlined in the funding notice and is based on the number of coordinators for which a grantee receives funding. Generally, the grantee must hire/retain one full-time equivalent (FTE) FSS program coordinator for each funded position. For the first full-time FSS coordinator position funded by HUD, programs must serve at least 25 participating families in FSS during the period of performance (the calendar year following the appropriation), and this number increases by 50 families for each additional funded coordinator after the first.

Expected outcomes

Grantees will hire/retain the number of coordinators for which they are funded. These coordinators will serve at least the minimum number of participants required by the grant. Over the 5-7 years of their contract of participation, participants will become employed or improve their employment and wages and meet other individual goals.

Intended beneficiaries

The intended beneficiaries of FSS are families currently residing in public housing (section 9), families currently participating in the housing choice voucher (section 8) program, and those living in project-based rental assistance (pbra) properties.

Subrecipient activities

The recipient does not intend to subaward funds.