Please allow us to assist you with your housing needs!
Truth or Consequences Housing Authority
108 S. Cedar Street
Truth or Consequences, NM 87901
Phone: (575) 894-2244 ext 21
Fax: (575) 894-0756
Email: manager@torchousing.org
Office Hours:
9 am-12 pm
1 pm-4 pm
Monday-Friday
Family Self-Sufficiency Program
Achieving Financial Independence
Truth or Consequences Housing Authority | |
@ Hacienda Orgullo 1425 E. 2nd St | |
Truth or Consequences, NM 87901 | |
Phone: 575-894-7718 | |
Fax: 575-894-0756 |
|
Email: fss@torchousing.org | |
Do you have a Housing Choice Voucher (formerly Section-8 Voucher) issued by the Truth or Consequences Housing Authority or are you a public housing resident at the Truth or Consequences Housing Authority?
Want to be financially independent?
Are you able to work?
Do you dream of owning your own home or business?
Do you want to get out of debt?
What is the Family Self-Sufficiency?
Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) is a voluntary program that helps low-income families obtain the education, job training, and life skills necessary to move toward financial self-sufficiency. This program helps households learn to take control of their lives and achieve complete economic independence from all welfare programs within five years. The FSS Program does not affect housing subsidy.
Who is Eligible?
Any current Housing Authority client who wishes to be free of all welfare programs may enroll.
How does FSS work?
Each head of household voluntarily enrolls in the FSS program by signing a Contract of Participation. The contract outlines the responsibilities of the participant and FSS to meet stated employment goals. Participants are assigned a case worker who helps them define and choose suitable career goals through counseling and professional referrals.
The case worker and participant work as a team to identify and eliminate obstacles to self-sufficiency.
What About Support Services?
The participant and case worker develop economic independence strategies with local agencies. Working with local service providers, FSS case workers use a combination of education, job training, counseling, and other support services to help each participant find full-time employment.
Other supportive include:
 | Child care |
| Education |
| Money management |
| Job Search skills |
| Placement assistance |
| Home ownership counseling |
What is the FSS Escrow Savings Account?
Once the household has successfully completed its five-year contract, the escrow account is theirs to use as they wish.
As a household's rent increases due to an increase in earned income, a portion of the rent increase is deposited into the escrow savings account. The household continues to pay the rent required by the increase in income. The escrow account and the interest are not required to be reported to the Department of Health and Human Services, since it is not the household's property until contract completion. In addition, the Internal Revenue Service has ruled that FSS escrow payments are nontaxable.
What are my Responsibilities?
Participating FSS households must complete and sign a Contract of Participation. Each participant has five years to reach self-sufficiency. Individual Service and Training Action Plans are included as part of the contract and must be fulfilled to qualify for contract completion and to access the escrow savings account.Participants are also responsible for maintaining contact with their assigned case worker, and attending workshops and classes, as well as following through on other commitments established in the contract. The program offers households the flexibility to adjust for emergencies and unusual situations.
Services & Programs Intro / Family Self-Sufficiency / Resident Opportunities & Self-Sufficiency (Seniors)
Resident Opportunities & Self-Sufficiency (Home) / Individual Development Account / Home Program