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 Pinellas County Housing Authority $150,000 under the Family Self-Sufficiency Program on January 1, 2026, with period of performance through December 31, 2026.

The funding supports salary and fringe benefits for FSS Program Coordinators who enroll and maintain families in the program, prepare individualized training and services plans, and build partnerships with employers and community service providers. FSS Coordinators serve low-income families residing in public housing, Housing Choice Voucher properties, and project-based rental assistance properties. The award carries a minimum participation requirement: grantees must maintain at least 25 participating families for the first funded coordinator position, with participation increasing by 50 families per each additional funded coordinator during the performance period. Over a typical 5-to-7-year participation arc, enrolled families are expected to gain employment, improve wages, and meet individual economic mobility goals.

The assistance type is a project grant. Place of performance is Largo, Florida. This award is one component of the Family Self-Sufficiency Program (CFDA 14.896), which funds approximately 900 FSS programs operated by public housing authorities and project-based rental assistance property owners nationwide, with renewal applicants prioritized by statute.

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.