Nine FSS Graduates Leave Program With Over 28K In Earned Savings

On Wednesday August 31, the Housing Authority of Bexar County hosted a graduation celebration for nine participants in the Family Self-Sufficiency Program.

These unstoppable nine participants completed all the requirements for the five-year incentive program, which included job skills training, homeownership classes, financial literacy classes and more.

District 2 Councilman Jalen McKee-Rodriguez joined HABC as their special guest speaker to honor the graduates and all their hard work to provide a better tomorrow for their families.

“I hope that through this program you found, more than anything, a sense of  self-worth, and that you recognize that you are loved, and that you can find it within yourself to continue this challenge; continue to move past these challenges and obstacles that are going to keep coming. They are going to keep coming, and there will continue to be life circumstances, but you have the tools, you have everything you need inside of you,” McKee-Rodriguez told graduates at the ceremony.

One graduate, Marissa Vela, moved her family to San Antonio six-years-ago from The Valley in South Texas to provide more opportunities for her children. She said while it hasn’t been easy, she is grateful for the program.

“It’s been a journey, I’m not going to lie, it has been hard, but I am so grateful for my case worker. She pushed me and was always there behind me and always there to support me, and I just can’t believe I did it.”

The FSS Program is a 5-year incentive program for Section 8 Voucher holders to help them strive toward self-sufficiency. Participants accrue money in an escrow account as their income increases over time. At the completion of the participant’s 5-year contract, the family graduates and is presented with their escrow disbursement.

FSS graduations happen quarterly, and this quarter, these nine FSS graduates walked away with over $28,000.

Congratulations to all of our graduates!