Back to Press Releases

‘FAMILY SELF-SUFFICIENCY’ GRADS SHARE SUCCESS DURING CEREMONY

Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara 5-year program brings work skills, education,
and independence from government assistance – 11 community organizations involved

MEDIA ADVISORY

WHAT: Awards ceremony and dinner to honor the Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara’s Family Self-Sufficiency program graduates

WHERE: Chase Palm Park Center, 236 E. Cabrillo Blvd.

WHEN: Friday, November 17, 6:00 pm, Awards Ceremony and Dinner

WHO: IRS Tax Compliance Supervisor, Orlando Hernandez (Keynote speaker), Santa Barbara City Council Members, Christine Elliott, District Representative for Congresswoman Lois Capps, new and past Family Self-Sufficiency Graduates, Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara Executive Director/C.E.O. Rob Pearson, Board of Commissioners and staff, Community and Corporate Partners, and invited guests

CONTACT: Media contact: Juliana Minsky/Marjorie Wass 687-3322; on-site contact at event: Marjorie Wass, 252-3124

Santa Barbara, CA. – The Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara’s Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) Program will be honoring eight graduates on Friday, November 17, during a ceremony and dinner at the Chase Palm Park Center.

The Housing Authority’s Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) program is an initiative designed to help move families receiving housing assistance and related government subsidies to a more independent lifestyle, free of governmental assistance. Ultimately, FSS aims to help participants achieve their own personal goals and greater socio-economic advancement, including college degrees, professional careers and first time home ownership.

This group received over $60,000 through the FSS savings and escrow program. The total number of graduates from the program to date is 153.

To enable FSS participants to achieve self-sufficiency, the Housing Authority partners with a large group of community agencies. These include Santa Barbara Bank & Trust, Mid-State Bank & Trust, Santa Barbara City College, Continuing Education Division, Catholic Charities, Department of Rehabilitation, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), Internal Revenue Service, AIG Financial Advisors, Consumer Credit Counseling Services, Family Service Agency, Santa Barbara Staffing, and Unity Shoppe. This vast network of service providers provides Financial Literacy workshops, academic counseling, vocational rehabilitation, free-income tax preparation services, family counseling, job placement and assistance with food, clothing and emergency funds.

“It is exciting to see our Family Self-Sufficiency program participants not only graduate from the program but also begin to forge ahead and create new opportunities in their lives,” said Robert Pearson, Executive Director of the Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara. “We are so grateful to our sponsors who help make this program possible.”

The Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara is a local public agency created for the purpose of providing safe, decent, and quality affordable housing and supportive services to eligible persons with limited incomes, through a variety of federal, state, local and private resources. Please visit the website at www.hacsb.org.

###

Download this press release in PDF format