Plano Family Self-Sufficiency Program helps families become financially independent

Plano is a city north of Dallas in the state of Texas, located mostly within Collin County. Plano is named for the flat plains of the area. 

What is the Plano Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) program?

The Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) program is voluntary program that helps families become financially independent and become free from government assistance. The program is designed to help participants meet their short & long term personal, educational, and professional goals. The program will also assist in building a savings account which is then given to the participants upon
successful graduation. The FSS Program is free to join.  

Who Can Participate in the Plano FSS Program?

Any family who has participated in the House Choice Voucher Program or has lived in Public Housing through the Plano Housing Authority for a minimum of 1 year.

Why Should you go Through the FSS program?

The FSS program will help you find the services required to become self-sufficient. They include:

• 1.      Education       

• 2.      Life Skills                    

• 3.      Budgeting       

• 4.      Career planning         

• 5.      Program Nights          

• 6.      Home Ownership
  
  
   

     BEST of all, you are financially "rewarded" for working hard and increasing your wages!

How Plano FSS Program Works (Example Scenario)

BEGINNING - So at the beginning of the FSS Program your lease payment structure may look like the picture above; your rent is $1000/month and Plano Housing Assistance (PHA) pays $500 and you pay $500.

PROGRESS - In the future as your earned income increases, so will your portion of lease payments due to government rules. Let’s say now you need to pay $800 and PHA pays $200.

SAVINGS - However every time your rent portion increases, a portion of that increase is now placed into a savings account by the PHA every month, e.g., $150/month. You then receive the entire amount saved up when you complete the FSS program.

• Do you want to truly be free from being dependent on government assistance and not having control of how long it will last?

• Have you been a member of the Plano Housing Authority or Family Choice Voucher Program for at least one year?

• Want to take advantage of FREE classes to learn valuable life skills?

• Want to be financially "rewarded" for working hard and increasing your income?

Consider the Plano Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) Program!
FSS Program is offered from Plano Texas Housing Authority (PHA)  

HOW TO JOIN:

The head of the household enters into a contract with the PHA. This contract contains an action plan developed with a PHA staff member that identifies
the education & employment goals of the participant. It also outlines the activities and services necessary to achieve this goal.

Plano FSS Program REQUIREMENTS:

Attend quarterly Life Skills          Meet with Program                     Complete a Community  Become gainfully employed
Workshops                                Coordinator every 6 months        Service Project every year

1.     Attend quarterly Life Skills Workshops 

2.     Meet with Program Coordinator every 6 months

3.     Complete a Community Service Project every year

4.     Become gainfully employed

5.     Attend Program Nights

6.     Become Welfare free 12 months prior to graduation (excluding SNAP & Housing assistance)

WHAT IF I DON'T FINISH THE FSS PROGRAM:

You can continue on your housing assistance program but your escrow (savings account) is reverted back to the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Interested in finding out more about Plano FSS Program?

Please contact:

Rebecca Williams
Plano Housing Authority
1740 Avenue G
Plano, TX 75074
972-423-4928 Ext. 360
rwilliams@planoha.org

Take control of your future today.

Plano Housing Authority

www.planoha.org