Press Release: Grand Re-opening of Frederick Douglass Family Self-Sufficiency Center

News Release — DC Housing Authority

Contact: Christy Goodman

February 25, 2020

The Southeast Center to House Services for D.C. Residents to Reach Their Goals

WHAT: The District of Columbia Housing Authority is opening a new one-stop shop for its Family Self-Sufficiency program. The Frederick Douglass Family Self-Sufficiency Center was recently renovated to house the multitude of services that help DCHA customers reach their individual goals in education, employment, and homeownership.

The center will house service coordinators who work directly with DCHA customers, as well as D.C. residents, to connect them to innovative strategies, programs, and services that already exist in the local community, such as credit counseling, financial literacy training, and homeownership preparation. Partner organizations also can use the space to host classes and trainings.

FSS participants sign a five-year contract that requires the head of the household to obtain employment and that no member of the household will receive certain types of public assistance at the end of the five-year term. These families have an interest-bearing savings account established for them. The amount credited to the family’s escrow account is based on increases in the family’s earned income during the term of the FSS contract. If the family successfully completes its FSS contract, the family receives the escrow funds that it can use for any purpose, including debt reduction to improve credit scores, educational expenses, or a down payment on a home.

Currently, more than 250 DCHA customers are enrolled in the FSS program. Nearly 60 DCHA customers have successfully purchased a home in the past 15 years.

Families who qualify for the homeownership programs have up to five years to purchase a home. DCHA helps residents set up savings accounts to help with down payments. Others use their housing choice voucher to support their mortgages. Some of our customers secure their mortgages without any DCHA subsidy. The purchaser is required to take classes, such as first-time home buying, receive credit counseling, and partner with other public and private agencies for guidance with local lenders and real estate agents.

WHO: The District of Columbia Housing Authority

WHERE: Frederick Douglass Family Self-Sufficiency Center, 2000 Alabama Avenue, S.E.

WHEN: Thursday, February 27 at 10 a.m.