As part of our community's awesomeness, in July 2023, the Centre County Housing Authority (CCHA) expanded the Family Self-Sufficiency Program (FSS). FSS is the catalyst to help low-income individuals determine their strengths and needs through goal setting. The program coordinator coaches the participants to engage in individual, family, community, and local strategies that will enable them to increase earned income, build financial assets, and reduce the need for public assistance. The CCHA creates strong, sustainable, inclusive communities and quality, affordable homes for nearly 700 Centre County residents. The FSS program currently has a participant roaster of 27 households. By 2025, the program will be at capacity with 40 families.

The best resource for bridging the socioeconomic gap is education and mentoring opportunities. Funding is needed to create quarterly programs that will connect FSS participants to basic skills, resources, and the community and to cross economic boundaries. The grant will help educate participants on creating a vision for their future, navigating special education laws, understanding your child's IEP, positive parenting programs, networking, and cultural opportunities in the community. The 3Dots grant will help provide resources for all the programs and expand attendance to include all socioeconomic statuses for special education training and networking opportunities. Because this is a client-driven program, for many participants, this will be their first experience of crossing the economic gap.