Extending the Family Self-Sufficiency Program to the Multifamily Affordable Housing Sector: Insights From an Emerging Field of Practice

Reid Cramer
Compass Working Capital

Meaghan McCarthy
Housing Partnership Network

Although the Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) program was initially restricted to public housing agencies (PHAs) when Congress created it in the early 1990s, administrative eligibility for the program was expanded in 2015 to owners receiving project-based rental assistance. A first wave of multifamily providers soon began to offer the FSS program to their residents without designated coordinator funding, and in 2023, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development awarded the first grants that multifamily groups could use to help cover the costs of program administration and staffing.

This article assesses the experience of the early adopters of the FSS program in the multifamily sector, describes distinct implementation dynamics between multifamily housing owners and PHAs, and presents a set of emerging best practices that can maximize the program’s impact. Interviews with staff in multifamily housing organizations administering or considering the FSS program illuminate a set of program challenges and opportunities for effective program administration and future expansion. With concerted support from HUD, Congress, and practitioners, the FSS program can expand its reach and effectively support the integration of a meaningful and accessible asset-building opportunity into the delivery of federal housing assistance in the multifamily sector.