The Ark-Tex Council of Governments (ATCOG) has announced a series of informational events for its Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) Program, designed to help Housing Choice Voucher participants build financial independence.
The FSS Program offers current Housing Choice Voucher participants an opportunity to convert rent increases into personal savings through an escrow account. As participants increase their earned income, resulting rent payment increases are deposited into these accounts.
“The FSS Program has proven to be transformative for our participants,” said Daneshia Cherry, Housing Director at ATCOG. “We’ve seen graduates use their accumulated savings to pursue higher education, make down payments on homes, and get training to improve their job prospects. This program is about creating pathways to long-term financial freedom.”
The informational events will take place at three Workforce Solutions Northeast Texas locations:
- Tuesday, June 17 at 10:00 a.m. in Mt. Pleasant (312 North Riddle)
- Wednesday, June 18 at 10:00 a.m. in Paris (5210 SE Loop 286)
- Thursday, June 19 at 10:00 a.m. in Sulphur Springs (1513 Houston Street)
Space is limited for each informational session and registration is recommended.
Participants in the voluntary five-year program work with dedicated coaches to develop personalized financial goals and receive connections to resources for education, job training, and financial literacy. While maintaining their housing assistance, participants build savings that become fully accessible upon program graduation.
“Many people don’t realize that as their income increases through employment, they could be building significant savings instead of just paying higher rent,” Cherry explained. “We’ve had participants graduate with over $6,000 in savings that they’ve used to transform their financial situations.”
The program is available exclusively to current ATCOG Housing Choice Voucher participants. Interested participants can register at ATCOG.org/FSS or call 1-800-988-3331 for more information.