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

The Department of Housing and Urban Development Public and Indian Housing Office awarded $192,136 to Maine State Housing Authority on January 1, 2026, under the Family Self-Sufficiency Program (CFDA 14.896) to fund FSS coordinator salaries and fringe benefits through December 31, 2026.

FSS coordinators implement the program for residents of public housing, Housing Choice Vouchers, and project-based rental assistance properties. Coordinator responsibilities include enrolling and maintaining participating families, preparing individual training and services plans, and building partnerships with employers and community service providers. Maine State Housing Authority must hire or retain coordinators funded by the award and maintain a minimum number of participating families during the performance period—at least 25 families for the first funded coordinator position, with the family count increasing by 50 for each additional funded coordinator.

The program operates across approximately 900 public housing authorities and property-based rental assistance property owners nationwide. Over 5 to 7 years of participation, FSS families are expected to achieve employment or employment improvements, increase wages, and meet individual goals. The award covers the calendar year following the 2026 appropriation and is subject to standard federal audit and compliance requirements under 2 CFR 200 and 24 CFR Parts 84 and 85.

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.