[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 149 (Wednesday, October 22, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Pages S13048-S13049]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  IN RECOGNITION OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES COMMISSION

 Mr. SARBANES. Mr. President, I wish to recognize the work of 
the Hous-

[[Page S13049]]

ing Opportunities Commission of Montgomery County, MD. Today, the 
Housing Opportunities Commission is celebrating the 10th anniversary of 
its Family Self Sufficiency, FSS, program, which helps low-income 
families with section 8 housing vouchers or living in public housing 
meet their educational and employment goals. The Housing Opportunities 
Commission has established a wonderful program that provides resources 
to low-income families to help them find and retain employment along 
with the opportunity for families to put away savings. These savings 
allow families to pay for educational opportunities, transportation or 
even the purchase of a home. While many housing authorities operate 
Family Self Sufficiency programs, I believe that the Housing 
Opportunities Commission has done an extraordinary job of helping its 
residents achieve economic independence.
  In the 10 years that the Commission has operated the Family Self 
Sufficiency program, almost 350 people have graduated and are well on 
their way to financial independence. These families faced significant 
barriers to gaining employment--33 percent were on welfare or were 
unemployed, many had no high school degree and 95 percent are single 
parents. Despite these obstacles, all 347 graduates have been able to 
retain stable employment, and 25 percent of the FSS graduates have 
purchased their own homes, a remarkable achievement.
  The Housing Opportunities Commission, HOC, has been committed to this 
important program for 10 years. By providing intensive case management, 
opportunities for education and job training and assistance in finding 
and paying for child care, HOC has ensured that the families enrolled 
in FSS can make the transition from welfare to work a successful one.
  In addition to working to better the lives of Montgomery County 
residents, the Housing Opportunities Commission has been a strong 
advocate for the program, helping me and others in Congress fight to 
continue and even expand the FSS program. In 1998, my colleagues and I 
fought to keep this program and thankfully, we were able to strengthen 
it by requiring that certain increases in income were disregarded for 
purposes of determining the amount of rent a family pays. Families who 
take part in FSS and increase their incomes are able to save money in 
an escrow account instead of paying more in rent. This is a great 
encouragement for families to find better employment, and it ensures 
that funds are available when necessary for emergencies. In addition, 
last year, I introduced legislation which would expand the program so 
that families living in project-based section 8 developments could also 
benefit from a housing agency's self-sufficiency programs.
  The Family Self Sufficiency program is one that changes lives for the 
better, and that is evident when looking at this year's participants in 
HOC's program. This year, 36 new families will graduate from the FSS 
program in Montgomery County, and I want to recognize the work that 
they have done to become self-sufficient. Ninety-two percent of these 
graduates have participated in education and/or job training courses 
and seven graduates have become homeowners.
  These individuals are not only better positioned to participate in 
the job market, but they are providing stability for their families and 
models for their communities. The staff at HOC and the graduates of the 
FSS program, present, past, and future, are to be commended for their 
efforts.

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