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 $446,150 to Grand Rapids Housing Commission on January 1, 2026, under the Family Self-Sufficiency Program (CFDA 14.896) to fund FSS Coordinator salaries and fringe benefits for the calendar year 2026.

FSS Coordinators hired or retained under this award enroll and maintain families in the self-sufficiency program, prepare individual training and services plans with participants, and build partnerships with employers and community service providers. The program serves residents of public housing, Housing Choice Vouchers, and project-based rental assistance properties. Grand Rapids Housing Commission must maintain the minimum number of participating families required by the grant based on the number of funded coordinator positions; for the first coordinator position, the program must serve at least 25 participating families during the period of performance, with this minimum increasing by 50 families for each additional funded coordinator.

Period of performance runs through December 31, 2026. Work is performed in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The funding supports employment and economic mobility services that enable participants to improve employment, wages, and meet other individual goals over a 5- to 7-year participation arc. The assistance type is a Project Grant, which is distinct from the formula grants the Commission receives for Public Housing Operating and Capital Funds.

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.