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 the Wilmington Housing Authority $150,800 on January 1, 2026, under the Family Self-Sufficiency Program (CFDA 14.896), a Project Grant.

The award funds salary and fringe benefits for FSS coordinators who serve residents of public housing, Housing Choice Vouchers, and project-based rental assistance properties. Coordinator responsibilities include enrolling and maintaining families in the program, preparing individual training and services plans with participants, and building partnerships with employers and service providers. The Wilmington Housing Authority must hire or retain the funded coordinator positions and serve a minimum number of participating families during the period of performance; for the first coordinator position, the program must serve at least 25 families, with that number increasing by 50 families for each additional funded coordinator.

The award covers the period January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2026, with place of performance in Cape Fear, North Carolina 28401. Expected outcomes include employment gains and wage improvements for participating families over the 5–7 year participation period, with families meeting individual self-sufficiency goals. The Family Self-Sufficiency Program, governed by Section 23 of the 1937 Housing Act, funds approximately 900 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.