TGHA celebrates one year of MTW FSS successes

GREENVILLE, SC – More than 500 families living in homes managed by The Greenville Housing Authority have entered into a program aimed at them gaining financial self-sufficiency in the past year.

Last July, TGHA unveiled the Moving to Work Family Self-Sufficiency (MTW FSS) Program, known as the Success Paths Program. Moving To Work is a special designation awarded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) that allows housing authorities more flexibility to design and test innovative strategies for providing housing assistance. 

In Greenville, Success Paths Program participants are actively working toward goals related to education, employment, financial stability, entrepreneurship, and homeownership. During a ceremony this week sponsored by Truliant Federal Credit Union, key achievements of the past year were announced.

• 17 participants have launched small businesses, including estheticians, hair braiders, nail technicians, real estate brokers, and corporate cleaning businesses.

• 9 participants who have completed a professional certification (Commercial Driver’s License, Certified Medical Assistant, Certified Nursing Assistant, Phlebotomy)

• Three GED recipients

• One participant earned an associate’s degree.

• Three participants earned bachelor’s degrees.

• Two participants earned master’s degrees.

• 47 participants obtained new full-time gainful employment.

• Ten participants celebrating 1 or more years of full-time gainful employment.

• 25 participants have increased their earned income by more than 3%.

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“The Success Paths Program is designed to help families achieve greater economic independence through a combination of coaching, education, employment support, financial literacy, and community partnerships,” said Jenneh Jones, the program’s coordinator for the TGHA. “Participants work closely with MTW FSS staff who provide individualized coaching, goal setting, accountability, and referrals to resources and training opportunities.”

Participants choose or are guided into one of four success paths:

• Path 1: Path to Independence

• Path 2: Path to Education

• Path 3: Path to Financial Stability

• Path 4: Path to Homeownership

Participants can earn cash incentives for achieving milestones such as attending financial education classes, meeting with coaches, earning a GED or degree, obtaining employment, improving credit, increasing savings, or purchasing a home. Incentives vary by pathway and goal.

In addition, participants enrolled in the Family Self-Sufficiency component may be eligible for an FSS escrow savings account. As their earned income increases, a portion of the resulting rent increase is deposited into an interest-bearing escrow account that can be used toward self-sufficiency goals such as education, transportation, childcare, work expenses, or homeownership.

Much of the success with the program comes from TGHA working with community partners such as USC Upstate, the Greenville Chamber of Commerce, United Way of Greenville County, Greenville Literacy Association, Greenville First Steps, Goodwill Industries of the Upstate/Midlands South Carolina, Able SC, SC Works, Fifth Third Bank and Hollingsworth Funds.

“Becoming an MTW designee was a major step for our organization, but more importantly our residents,” said Matt Grandy, TGHA’s chairman. “The Board is very proud of our MTW staff for their dedicated work to ensure our residents have the tools available to create upward economic mobility.”

About TGHA:

The Greenville Housing Authority administers federal funds and provides vouchers for 3,000 households which serve nearly 9,000 members including the elderly, disabled, veterans and children disabled households. TGHA issues payments of $30 million to private property owners annually. It plans, undertakes, finances, constructs and operates affordable housing projects and programs in the city of Greenville and Greenville County. Learn more at tgha.net.