Are you ready to become financially independent? The Family Self-Sufficiency Program is a voluntary program available to those in Johnson County’s Housing Choice Voucher Program, formerly known as Section 8.

The program is part of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s efforts to help those they serve make progress toward economic security. The goal of the program is to assist families in improving their economic situation and reducing their dependence on public assistance.

The program supports voucher holders who are unemployed or already employed but want to increase their income. The Johnson County Housing Authority contacts voucher holders who are not elderly and/or disabled on a fixed income about joining the program.

The Housing Choice Voucher Program waitlist opened to accept applicants on July 31. The first 600 applications were accepted. The Housing Authority opens its waitlist based on availability of assistance.

What are the benefits of the Family Self-Sufficiency Program?

The Family Self-Sufficiency Program helps participants increase their earnings and build financial capability and assets through two key features, which build on the platform of stable housing created by rental assistance.

An escrow savings account is a financial incentive for participants to increase their earnings, and the account grows as residents’ earnings increase. The escrow account helps participants build savings that they can use to improve their quality of life and advance their personal goals. Escrow funds can also help participants cover the cost of services that may be needed to make progress toward goals while enrolled in the program – such as employment training expenses or a car repair.

Additionally, case management, or coaching, helps residents access services they may need to overcome barriers to employment, strengthen their financial capability, and address other challenges holding them back from achieving their goals.

What topics are covered in the Family Self-Sufficiency Program?

Courtney Collins has been the program coordinator of the Family Self-Sufficiency Program since 2018. In that time, Collins has graduated 10 participants.

“Family Self-Sufficiency participants are motivated to improve their economic situation and reach goals. I work with each family to create an individual training and service plan which is all about individualized, socio-economic goals,” said Collins.

Each month, Collins organizes a guest speaker and/or topic such as educational or employment opportunities. Various topics are covered in monthly meetings:

• Financial education subjects through Moneyfit.org (national nonprofit)
• Professional development and job coaching through Aplus Careers and Kansas Workforce Partnership
• Housing education and home buyers’ education
• Mental health
• Nutritional planning for families

“My larger focus is creating genuine relationships with my families to better assist them on their journey to self-sufficiency,” said Collins.

Learn more about the Family Self-Sufficiency Program.