The House of Representatives recently passed a bill reauthorizing the “Family Self Sufficiency Act” (HR 4258). Since its establishment, the FSS program has enabled families living in public or project-based assisted housing or using Housing Choice Vouchers to access workforce training and other resources to pursue higher paying employment opportunities. Families enrolled in the FSS program receive an interest-bearing escrow account, allowing them to save and apply those savings to work-related and education-related expenses.

The bill was introduced by Representatives Sean Duffy (R-WI) and Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO), and it would permanently reauthorize the FSS program; combine the FSS programs for Housing Choice Vouchers and public housing, which are currently run separately; and expand eligibility to include families in privately owned properties subsidized with HUD project-based rental assistance. The program would also offer new services for financial literacy and educational attainment. The bill will now move to the Senate.