Authors
Hannah Thomas, Lesley Freiman, Jeffrey Lubell, and Armando Vizcardo, Abt Global
Abt conducted a series of qualitative studies examining different aspects of the nonprofit Compass Working Capital’s implementations of HUD’s Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) program in partnership with three Massachusetts housing agencies
Interviews with graduates of FSS programs co-administered by Compass Working Capital and three Massachusetts housing agencies
This report summaries the results of interviews with recent graduates of a Compass FSS program to understand their experiences both in the FSS program and after graduating, and the ways in which the FSS program has affected their financial security and well-being.
Interviews with early exiters of FSS programs co-administered by Compass Working Capital and two Massachusetts housing agencies
Some households enroll in the FSS program but leave without completing it. The result is that, in addition to not receiving a full course of FSS program services, some forfeit escrowed savings they have accrued while participating in the program. This report analyzes interviews with households that exited from the program without graduating to understand their experiences in the FSS program, their reasons for not completing the program, and how some may be supported to successfully graduate from the FSS program.
Non-enrollment in FSS programs co-administered by Compass Working Capital and two Massachusetts housing agencies
This report uses descriptive statistics and qualitative interviews with eligible households that did not enroll in an FSS program to understand who enrolls in FSS, who does not, some of the reasons for not enrolling, and possible ways of growing enrollment.