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Housing authority outlines Family Self-Sufficiency grant renewal, cites participants and outcomes
Summary
Cochise County Housing Authority presented a renewal request for a Family Self-Sufficiency grant that requires a minimum of 25 participants (about 28 now), funds a coordinator salary and EREs, and has produced roughly 150 program graduates over 20 years.
The Cochise County Housing Authority briefed supervisors at the Feb. 19 work session on renewal of its Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) grant, describing the program structure, participant numbers and how grant funds are applied.
Anita Baca, appearing for the Housing Authority, said the FSS grant is a renewable, typically five-year grant that helps participants receiving housing assistance create a case plan to increase household income and move off subsidy. Baca told the board the grant requires a minimum of 25 participants to qualify; the program currently has about 28 participants and, over its roughly 20-year history, has produced about 150 graduates who used escrowed funds for down payments, education or small-business purchases.
Baca explained how grant funds are applied to staffing costs: the grant pays the coordinator’s base salary plus employee-related expenses (EREs) — which she estimated at about 40% on top of salary — and the county bills a portion of certain supervisory work to the grant depending on time spent. She said some grants do not cover overhead but this particular FSS grant covers base salary and EREs.
The program’s mechanics were described in concrete terms: as a participant's household income rises and rent-share increases, the housing-assistance portion decreases and the difference can be placed in an escrow account for the participant; at program completion participants can use escrow funds for home purchases, tuition or business startup costs, and interim withdrawals are allowed for specific eligible expenses.
Supervisor (unnamed) asked how many people currently participate and Baca answered that the count is 'around 28' and that the program has had about 150 graduates. The board expressed support and asked staff to include the FSS renewal on the upcoming regular meeting agenda for formal approval.
Next step: the housing authority will pursue the annual renewal process; the board will consider the grant renewal at the upcoming regular meeting.
