I applied, now what?
- Once an application is received, the applicant will be contacted to schedule an initial interview if the application is complete.
- Following the interview, applicants may be asked to complete specific, personalized tasks related to goal achievement.
- Once the tasks are successfully completed, an applicant will then be placed on the FSS waitlist. Placement on the waitlist does not guarantee FSS participation or housing eligibility.
- There will be a monthly “check in” done by FSS support specialist to see how things are going for an applicant while they are on the FSS waitlist.
- When the applicant’s name reaches the top of the waitlist and moves into a FSS housing unit, the applicant will be assigned a support specialist and will begin the program.
Would I have to leave my own house or apartment to be in the FSS program?
Yes, you would have to move into a designated FSS apartment unless you currently have Housing Choice Voucher assistance with Boulder County Housing Authority or Boulder Housing Partners. There are apartments that are designated specifically for FSS families to live in during the 5 years they are participating in the FSS program. These units are located in, Boulder and Lafayette. Once you are in the apartment you would pay 30% of your monthly income towards rent.
Does the FSS program pay for my schooling or child care cost while I work or attend school?
No, the FSS program doesn’t assist participants with their education or child care costs while working or in school. FSS participants who attend school utilize Pell Grants, Student Loans or work part-time. For FSS participants that need help with child care they are directed towards the Colorado Childcare Assistance Program (CCAP) which provides financial assistance to low-income families who are in need of child care services. These families must be working, in school, searching for employment or in training, or enrolled in the Colorado Works Program.
What is the savings account and how does an increase in my work income help me?
A benefit of participation in the FSS program is that as a household’s income increases due to an increased in earned income, a portion of that increase is deposited into an interest-bearing savings account. This income must be from an increase in employment salary and not from SSI, unemployment, Child Support, TANF, etc. The saving account is released to a participant when he/she successfully graduates from the FSS program by completing his/her goals, securing employment, and being free of TANF by the end of their program.
