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Family Self-Sufficiency program receives grant

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COLUMBIA – The Columbia Housing Authority received a grant just shy of $103,000 for the Family Self-Sufficiency Program.

The grant pays for two full-time coordinators who help Section 8 housing recipients set goals, continue education and strengthen money management skills. Each Family Self-Sufficiency program participant signs a five year contract when they sign up for the program.

Phil Steinhaus, CEO of the Columbia Housing Authority said, “People have to be motivated to become self-sufficient.” The program is not mandatory, because it would not work otherwise.

Each Section 8 housing recipient pays 30 percent of their adjusted monthly income on rent. If the person signs up for the Family Self-Sufficiency program a benchmark is set of how much is being paid toward rent. As the recipient makes more money, they pay more in rent. As the rent goes up from the original benchmark, the difference is matched in an escrow account. At the end of the five year contract, the program participant keeps his or her savings.

Program coordinator, Gary Anspach said, “They are able to use that money to take care of things that are related to the goals they want to complete.”

The Family Self-Sufficiency Program also partners with Reward, a program funded by the City of Columbia to encourage employers to hire Section 8 housing recipients.  Steinhaus said, “It enables public housing residents who participate in that program to receive a training wage of about $1500, so we can place them with an employer and pay for about their first six weeks of employment. This encourages employers to hire our Family Self-Sufficiency participants.”

Anspach said the program is successful. He said in the past seven years, about 30 Section 8 housing program participants have graduated the five year program with 10 to $15,000 in escrow funds.

The program also focuses on strengthening participants money management skills.

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