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Resident urges expansion of Family Self‑Sufficiency program, volunteers for advisory roles
Summary
A Section 8 voucher holder told the advisory committee the Family Self‑Sufficiency (FSS) program has been closed to new applicants for more than a year and urged outreach, funding and additional coordinators so participants can graduate to permanent housing; she also applied to volunteer on the committee.
Weia Fileico, who identified herself during the meeting as a current Section 8 voucher holder, used the public‑comment period to urge Washington County Housing Services to expand and better publicize the Family Self‑Sufficiency (FSS) program so more participants can “graduate from Section 8.”
"I want to advocate for the Family Self‑Sufficiency HUD program... it’s been closed for new applicants for over a year," Fileico said. She called for more funding, more FSS coordinators and clearer outreach so the program’s supports and outcomes are better understood in the community. Fileico also said she applied online to volunteer with the committee and asked to be contacted about next steps.
Staff thanked Fileico for her testimony, noted the department is actively recruiting advisory committee members, and invited her to speak with staff and follow up after the meeting. Housing Services staff also passed along praise for existing FSS coordinators by name and said they would convey Fileico’s appreciation to program staff.
Why it matters: FSS links housing assistance to employment and savings goals for voucher holders; enrollment openings and outreach affect who can access those pathways off subsidy. Committee members heard the resident’s request and staff said recruitment and program accessibility are ongoing priorities.
