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The Family Self-Sufficiency program (FSS) is a Housing Authority initiative designed to move families receiving housing assistance and related government subsidies to a more independent lifestyle, free of governmental assistance.  To achieve self-sufficiency, the Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara has established strong cooperative relationships with other social service agencies to ensure their services are made available to FSS participants.  Those in the program may receive assistance with employment, education, child care and financial planning, as well as home-ownership counseling.  FSS also offers a financial incentive to families through the establishment of a savings account which becomes available to the family upon successful completion of the FSS program (a percentage of increases in rent, as a result of increases in earned income are deposited into an escrow account).  Ultimately, FSS aims to help participants achieve their own personal goals and greater socio-economic advancement.