Klobuchar, Smith Announce Nearly $600,000 in Federal Investments to Help Minnesota Families Reach Self-Sufficiency
Statement
U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Tina Smith (D-MN) announced that 12 public housing authorities and cities across Minnesota will receive a total investment of $593,683 from the U.S. Department of Housing (HUD) Family Self-Sufficiency Program (FSS).
The FSS Program is an asset building program for low-income families across the country. This investment will help HUD-assisted families reach self-sufficiency by providing them with stable affordable housing, individualized financial coaching and a rent incentive in the form of an escrowed savings account that grows as families' earnings increase.
"Minnesotans enrolled in the Department of Housing and Urban Development's Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) Program receive vital support that helps them build stable, successful futures," Klobuchar said. "The expansion of FSS will provide more resources to residents across our state so they are able to access social services, further their education, and gain skills that lead to lasting income growth."
"This investment will make many low-income Minnesota families more self-sufficient by helping to provide them with a stable place to live, the ability to make sound financial decisions and increase their savings," Smith said. "Ultimately, it will lead to less reliance on housing assistance. And we know this investment really pays off. A cost-benefit analysis of two high-performing FSS programs showed that, over a five-year period, every $100 in net cost to run the program returned around $3,700 in benefits to the participating family. I look forward to seeing how this helps families across Minnesota achieve stability and reach their financial goals."
The housing authorities and cities receiving funds to help with family self-sufficiency are:
The City of Brainerd, $67,304
The Dakota County Community Development Agency, $24,876
The Housing & Redevelopment Authority of Clay County, $73,196
The Housing and Redevelopment Authority of Duluth, $73,019
The Housing Authority of St. Louis Park, $41,866
The Housing & Redevelopment Authority of Virginia, $67,053
The Mankato Economic Development Authority, $61,376
The Public Housing Agency of the City of St. Paul, $23,329
The Scott County Community Development Agency, $23,836
The South Central MN Multi-County HRA, $46,034
The Southeastern Minnesota Multi-County HRA, $43,083
The Washington County Community Development Agency. $48,711
More information about the grants here.
Source