Family Advancement

Family Advancement (FA) is a program to support MHACB’s HCV-holding families in increasing financial stability through providing connections to resources that move you towards your goals for employment, training and education, increased income, and personal development.

FA is completely voluntary. If your household does not wish to participate, your housing choice voucher will not be impacted and you will continue on with it as you are currently. Similarly, if you do participate but withdraw from the program, you will still retain your voucher.

You choose your goals and your FA Coordinator will work with you to make sure they are achievable and that the steps to reach them are clear. They can help problem solve when bumps in the road arise.   

Individual Training and Serve Plans

The goals and steps to reach them that you create will make up your Individual Training and Service Plan. Each person in your household may have their own ITSP under the household Contract of Participation, even if they are minors. 

HUD requires that all Heads of Household have at least two goals. First is that the HoH must be “suitably” employed at the time of program graduation. Second is that all household members will be off of any cash assistance program (e.g. TANF, F.I.P.)

Suitable employment varies for each individual. Your FA Coordinator will work with you to define suitability based on your familial obligations, health or disability restrictions, skills, interests, education, training, and available job opportunities in the community.

Eligibility

1.     Families who hold and are leased up with an MHACB Housing Choice Voucher, and;

2.     Head of Household must be willing and able to work, and;

3.     Family must not owe money to MHACB or any other PHA OR be in good standing with a repayment plan.

Escrow Account

One of the most substantial benefits of the FA program is the escrow account. The goal of the program is to increase income through new or improved employment in order for families to become more financially secure. As income increases, families will pay an increased Total Tenant Payment (TTP), e.g. share of their rent. MHACB will establish an escrow account for each participating family and every month a portion of the difference between your base rent (TTP at the time you sign the Contract of Participation) and the increase in your rent after your income increases will be deposited into the escrow account. Each time your income increases, your escrow deposit does too.

MHACB will provide families with an accounting of their escrow balance and interest at least once per year.

Upon completing the program by all goals being met, escrow accounts, plus interest, are given to families. These funds are not taxed and there are no strings on how the money may be spent. Families who complete FA are eligible to enter into the HCV Homeownership program and many families use the funds for closing costs and down payment on a home.

Support to reach your goals

While you will do the hard work to reach your goals, your FA Coordinator is there to help you out. MHACB works to know and make connections to available services and supports within the community. Some examples are:

·      Referrals to job training programs

·      Assistance applying for childcare assistance

·      Educational opportunities

·      Referrals to Financial Literacy, Budgeting, and Homeownership Counseling

·      Assistance accessing mental health care providers

·      Connecting with substance abuse counseling

·      Referrals to Legal Aid to resolve lingering issues 

If you are interested in learning more about Family Advancement, please contact us at info@mhacb.org.

The FA program is intended to have approximately 25 households at a time participating. If the program is full, MHACB will maintain a waiting list. You will be notified of your placement and contacted again when you have reached the top of the waitlist.