Agenda

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C.5

To:	Contra Costa County Housing Authority Board of Commissioners
From:	Joseph Villarreal, Housing Authority
Date:	February 25, 2014

Contra

Costa

County

Subject:

Award of Family Self-Sufficiency Coordinator Grant

Action of Board On: 02/25/2014

APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED

OTHER

Clerks Notes:

VOTE OF SUPERVISORS

AYE:

John Gioia, District I Commissioner
Candace Andersen, District II Commissioner
Mary N. Piepho, District III Commissioner
Karen Mitchoff, District IV Commissioner

ABSENT:

Federal D. Glover, District V Commissioner
Geneva Green, Tenant Seat

Contact:

925-957-8028

I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of an action taken and entered on the minutes of the Board of Supervisors on the date shown.
ATTESTED: February 25, 2014
,

BY:	, Deputy

RECOMMENDATIONS

ACCEPT report on the award of Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) Coordinator grant funds to the Housing Authority of the County of Contra Costa (HACCC) from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

BACKGROUND

HUD’s FSS program encourages housing authorities to develop local strategies aimed at helping voucher families obtain employment that will lead to economic independence. Housing authorities work with welfare agencies, schools, businesses, and other local partners to link program participants to the supportive services, schools, training and job opportunities they need to obtain employment that pays a living wage.

BACKGROUND (CONT'D)

Each FSS participant family signs a 5-year contract that specifies the unique goals and services required by them to reach independence. Family members must fulfill all of the 5-year contract's requirements in order to graduate from the program. In addition to each family's specific goals, the FSS contract requires that the family comply with the lease, that all family members become independent of welfare, and that the head of the family seek and maintain suitable employment. An interest-bearing FSS escrow account is established by HACCC for each FSS family. Funds are placed in this account by HACCC based on increases in earned income of the family. A portion of this escrow account may be made available to the family during the term of the contract to enable the family to pay for interim goals required for independence such as completing a degree program.

If the family completes the contract and meets all requirements, the full amount of the FSS escrow account is paid to the head of the family. If HACCC terminates the FSS contract for any reason, or if the family fails to complete the contract before its expiration, the family's FSS escrow funds are forfeited and become part of HACCC's restricted Section 8 reserves.

HACCC has graduated over 266 families from its FSS program. Currently, approximately 146 families participate in the program.

FISCAL IMPACT

HUD has awarded HACCC $135,678 under the Department’s FY 2013 FSS Coordinator Program. These funds will be used to pay for a portion of the salaries associated with this program in 2013/2014.

CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION