Family Self-Sufficiency

To apply for the Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) program, you must live in Boulder County.

You may qualify if you:

• Are part of a low-income household (see income limits below) and want to continue your education or get job training
• Are willing to meet regularly with an FSS support specialist to work on your goals
• Are committed to improving your family’s financial situation through hard work
• Already receive Housing Choice Voucher assistance from Boulder County Housing Authority or Boulder Housing Partners — or are applying for it
• Are eligible for housing assistance

Income Limits

• Everyone in your household who is 18 or older must qualify for housing assistance from Boulder County Housing Authority or Boulder Housing Partners.
• Your household income must be at or below 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI).

What does 80% of AMI mean?

Each year, the federal government sets income limits based on the average income in Boulder County. For example, in 2025, 80% of AMI for a one-person household is $78,400 (for a family of four it’s $112,000 per year). Income limits are adjusted for household size — smaller households have lower limits, and larger households have higher limits.

Watch this video to hear from Danielle, a graduate of Boulder County’s Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) program:

Step 1: Complete the application

To apply for the Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) program, you must submit the FSS Program Application (Solicitud del Programa de Autosuficiencia Familiar).

You can send your application by:

• Fax: 303-441-4852
• Email: kfrye@bouldercounty.gov
• Mail: Family Self-Sufficiency, 2685-A Mapleton Ave., Boulder, CO 80304

Your application must also include:

• A personal statement about your goals and why you want to join the program
• A letter of recommendation from a teacher, caseworker, employer, or another professional who has known you for at least 6 months and can describe your strengths

Important: Incomplete applications will not be accepted.

Step 2: Interview

If your application is complete, we will contact you to schedule an interview. After the interview, you may be asked to complete some personal goal tasks to show your commitment.

Step 3: Waitlist

Once your tasks are done, you will be placed on the FSS waitlist.

• Being on the waitlist does not guarantee a spot in the program or housing help.
• The FSS program is not emergency housing.
• Wait times can be up to one year or longer.

Step 4: Monthly check-ins

While you are on the FSS waitlist, you will check in with an FSS support specialist once a month. These check-ins help you stay connected to the program while you wait for a spot to open. During the check-in, your specialist will ask how you are doing with school, work, or other goals. They can also connect you to resources if you need extra support. The goal is for you to keep making progress — even small steps — while you are on the waitlist.

Step 5: Program start

When your name reaches the top of the list, you will be offered an FSS housing unit and assigned an FSS support specialist. At that point, you officially begin the program.

If you have questions about the FSS Program, contact:

Katie Frye
Phone: 303-441-3923
Email: kfrye@bouldercounty.gov

Mariela Ruiz Mondragón
Phone: 303-441-1221
Email: mruizmondragon@bouldercounty.gov

Question: What happens after I apply?

Answer: Once we receive your completed application, we will contact you to schedule an interview. After the interview, you may be asked to complete a few personal goal tasks to show you are ready for the program. If those tasks are completed, you will be placed on the FSS waitlist.

Note: Being on the waitlist does not guarantee a spot in the program or in housing.

While you are on the waitlist, an FSS support specialist will check in with you every month to see how things are going. When your name reaches the top of the list and a housing unit becomes available, you will be assigned a support specialist and officially begin the program.

Question: Will I need to move to be in the FSS program?

Answer: Yes. You will need to move into an FSS apartment unless you already have a Housing Choice Voucher with Boulder County Housing Authority or Boulder Housing Partners.

FSS apartments are set aside for families in the program and are located in Boulder and Lafayette. Once you move in, you will pay about 30% of your monthly income for rent.

Question: Does the FSS program pay for school or child care?

Answer: No. The FSS program does not pay for education or child care.

• If you are in school, you can apply for Pell Grants, student loans, or part-time work.
• If you need help with child care, we can connect you to the Boulder County Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP).

Question: What is the FSS savings account?

Answer: One of the benefits of the FSS program is a savings account. If your job income goes up, part of that increase is set aside in a special account for you.

This savings account only applies to work income—not money from SSI, child support, unemployment, or TANF.

You get the money in your account when you graduate from the program, after you:

• Meet your goals
• Get a job
• Are no longer receiving TANF (cash assistance)