Working Papers

1.  HUD's FSS Program -- A Promising Alternative Vehicle for Helping Low-Income Families Build Assets

This 4-page Q&A provides a brief overview of the FSS Program.  It explains how FSS works, describes some of its accomplishments, and contrasts FSS with Individual Development Accounts (IDAs).

2.  Recommendations for Strengthening FSS -- April 21, 2006

This paper summarizes the joint recommendations for strengthening FSS of the American Association of Service Coordinators (AASC), CFED, FSS Partnerships, the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO), the National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC), and the New America Foundation.

Full Analysis (Word) (PDF)
Executive Summary (Word) (PDF)

3.  FSS Evaluation Summary

On October 21, 2005, HUD released the first-ever national evaluation of FSS.  Based on a comprehensive examination of HUD administrative data from 1996 to 2000, supplemented by site visits, the evaluation found that FSS participants increased their incomes and decreased their dependence on welfare much faster than non-FSS participants and that FSS graduates experienced substantial asset growth.  Click here for a two-page summary of the Evaluation's findings.  Click here for the full report.

 4.  A Diamond in the Rough -- the Remarkable Success of the FSS Program 

This paper reviews the theoretical underpinnings of FSS and compiles recent data on earnings growth, asset accumulation and homeownership attainment by FSS graduates.  As the paper explains, the available data confirm the impression of practitioners that FSS is a strong and effective model for helping low-income families build assets and make progress towards self-sufficiency.

5.  Expanding Asset-Building Opportunities for Low-Income Families through FSS

This paper discusses how to take advantage of FSS as a resource to expand asset-building opportunities for low-income families.  Among other subjects, it covers (a) strategies for building partnerships between public housing agencies and agencies that can provide or fund case management services to support an expansion of local FSS programs; (b) potential sources of case management services or funding; and (c) different partnership models.

6.  Partnerships between TANF and Housing Agencies 

This is a one-pager designed to introduce TANF agencies to FSS and encourage them to partner with housing agencies to expand participation in FSS.

If you are interested in preparing a working paper on FSS, please send a brief description of the proposed paper to Jeff Lubell at jlubell@fsspartnerships.org.  We're looking in particular for write-ups of innovative models for partnering with other organizations to advance the goals of FSS.  We're also interested in descriptions of other innovative practices that could potentially be replicated by other FSS programs.

© 2004 FSS Partnerships.  All Rights Reserved.