Helping to overcome poverty

Program gives rent back to public housing families

A program to help public housing residents achieve self sufficiency plies rent money as an incentive.

The Family Self Sufficiency program devised by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development removes barriers — such as raised rent when household income increases — to home ownership by placing some of the rent increase in escrow.

“We’re very glad we’re able to do this,” said Executive Director Homer Virden of Lorain Metropolitan Housing Authority at 1600 Kansas Ave. in Lorain. “For many folks, it’s a way out of poverty.”

When the person in charge of the household achieves goals within five years, the escrow is released to pay for a down payment on a home, buy a car or bolster a savings account, Virden said.

Depending on the employment achieved by the person, the escrow earns from $4,000 to $10,000, he said.

“For example, we have people who go out to (Lorain County Community College) to become nurses,” Virden said. “They went to a profession with a higher salary, so the escrow will be higher. That’s the core of that program.”

In 2017, the Family Self Sufficiency program included 144 participants, he said, with eight graduates whose escrows totaled $45,265.

Also, 40 new participants joined last year, Virden said.

Of the participants, 56 are employed, 24 are enrolled in a graduation equivalency degree program and three are in post-secondary education, he said.

The balance in all escrow accounts is $163,187.

“As those persons graduate, they will be receiving those funds when they achieve their goals,” Virden said, estimating the program began about 10 years ago.

Since Family Self Sufficiency is funded by participants, he says it’s unlikely Congress or HUD would disband it.

And the whole family receives care, he said.

“Under the Family Self Sufficiency program, with case management, we tend to refer people to education and other social services,” Virden said. “It’s not just the Housing Authority. There are other resources to help people reach their goals.”

The expertise of helpful agencies includes food pantries or free meals programs, computer classes, mental health counseling, Lorain County Health and Dentistry, Ohio Means Jobs, or child care services.

In Lorain County, one of the biggest barriers is transportation, he said, so connecting people to those resources can be a challenge, as well as keeping them motivated to overcome such roadblocks.

“It’s been one of our more successful programs,” Virden said. “I’ve personally been to graduations, and for many, it’s a new start to their life.”

Family Self Sufficiency begins with goals of the resident, he said, and helping participants trust the process because it seems “too good to be true.”

The head of household fills out a pre-enrollment and assessment form available online.

Information on the form includes the names and ages of each household member, indicating who is employed and the amount of money each makes.

Other questions include veteran status, availability of a vehicle, levels of education and languages.

The person lists helpful agencies visited or contacted in the previous six months, and needs, such as employment or a better job, child care, job training, finishing school, transportation, counseling, money management or parenting skills.

Questions on problems the person faces, several goals to accomplish in the next five years and roadblocks from reaching the goals are followed by listing three strengths, according to the application.

After the completed form is sent to the resident services department at the Housing Authority, the person will be contacted for a one-on-one interview.

Virden said he is not aware of any families turned away from the Family Self Sufficiency program.

Once enrolled, participants may join an email list to receive updates on FSS, job and training opportunities and more.

“It is work for folks to go to school while they’re managing their family and challenges to the program,” Virden said. “For many folks, it’s providing that case management that is the key. We’re supporting them through the process.”

If the goals are accomplished within two or three years, then the graduation and release of escrow happen before the 5-year deadline, he said.

The Family Self Sufficiency program improves more than circumstances for families, Virden said.

“Basically, the self-esteem for folks is higher,” he said. “When the person comes in, they have these goals, and they accomplish them. You can see the difference in the person as they reach their goals.”

In 2017, the Family Self Sufficiency program included 144 participants... with eight graduates whose escrows totaled $45,265.

SUBMITTED BY LORAIN METROPOLITAN HOUSING AUTHORITY David Gidwell is a 2016 graduate of a Family Self Sufficiency program at Lorain Metropolitan Housing Authority.