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SANTA BARBARA, CA – March 17, 2026 – The Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara (HACSB) recently celebrated 23 graduates who completed the organization’s Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) program. These 23 graduates have a combined escrow of $578,608.93 and an average income increase of $43,007. Of this group, seven are no longer receiving housing assistance.
The FSS program is a voluntary five-year program in which a plan is developed with each participant to design a clear path of specific goals and objectives in order to achieve living wage employment and gain economic self-sufficiency. Participating families are provided with an interest-bearing escrow account made up of the difference of the rent the family pays when entering the program and the increased rent that would be charged as the family’s earned income increases. On completion of the FSS plan, a family may claim its escrow account if they are employed, no family member is receiving welfare assistance, and the family has met their other individual goals.
The ultimate goal of FSS is to help participants achieve their own personal goals and greater socio-economic advancement, including college degrees, professional careers, and first-time home ownership. The FSS program builds partnerships with employers and service providers in the community to help participants obtain jobs and services. These services may include education and vocational training, career planning, resume writing, interview preparation, job search assistance, financial planning, and homeownership preparation…