HACA’s rental assistance can serve as a springboard that enables families to focus on their lifelong educational, financial, and career goals. The FSS Program is a voluntary program that assists HACA residents and Housing Choice Voucher participants in achieving the ultimate goal of employment in their career field.

FSS Coordinators work with members to create a five-year plan with steps to accomplish their personal, career and financial goals. These steps may include education, job training, job readiness, financial management, and preparing for homeownership.

FSS Program participants are connected to the following services:
•GED Classes
•Computer Training
•Financial Training
•Job Training
•Work Placement Services
•Child Care Assistance
•Transportation Assistance

GROW SAVINGS THROUGH FSS

As an FSS participant’s rent increases, due to earning higher wages, a portion of the increased rent payment is credited monthly to an escrow account, that they will receive upon graduation.

The agency honors the FSS graduates’ achievements each year during the Family Self-Sufficiency and Homeownership graduation ceremony. The goals and accomplishments of each FSS member are announced and acknowledgement is given to their future career, homeownership and educational aspirations.

Ready to get started on your future? The Family Self-Sufficiency program can help you map out a path to a better future for you and your family.
•Get started on your education
•Get a better job earning more money
•Repair or build your credit
•Save money to purchase your own home

Interested? Contact an FSS Coordinator or fill out an FSS interest form at the Central Office or your Property Manager’s Office, and contact a member of the FSS team:

FSS MANAGER
•Becky Summersett (512) 477-4488 EXT 1347; beckys@hacanet.org

COORDINATORS
•Andrea Smith (512) 589-7532; andreas@hacanet.org
•David Velazquez (512) 773-9578; davidv@hacanet.org

HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHER COORDINATORS
•Lisa Marie Garcia (512) 477-4488 EXT 1332; lisamg@hacanet.org
•Brenda Silva (512) 477-4488 EXT 1343; brendas@hacanet.org

The YES (Youth Educational Success) Program is a vital component in the effort to break the poverty cycle, as over half of HACA residents are under age 18. Working with the community, HACA sponsors in-school case management services for students, after-school tutoring programs on site at HACA communities, an academic incentive program and higher education scholarship programs. Additionally, HACA’s YES Program coordinates with local providers of quality non-scholastic after-school enrichment programs to ensure youth are engaged in healthy, safe and meaningful activities during out of school time.

YES ACADEMIC INCENTIVE PROGRAM

Doing well in school has its rewards. And for HACA students, good grades and attendance are extra rewarding! Students who have made the A/B honor roll and/or have perfect attendance can earn a gift card each grading period, and those with these achievements throughout the year have a chance to attend a fun year-end trip. Past incentive trips have included bowling, laser tag, miniature golf, and lunch at the Main Event Fun Center.

We are proud to be working with United Way for Greater Austin to bring parents and caregivers free
learning games and research-based tips sent right to their phone through @BrightByText! Know
someone caring for a child under 8? Tell them to text SMARTATX to 274448, or sign up using
the link to their website: http://bit.ly/SMARTATX

THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB

The Boys and Girls Clubs of Austin provide safe, positive places where children can build their futures as responsible and caring citizens. These clubs provide on-site, off-site, after-school, school break and summer activities for HACA youth. Programs include educational, cultural, risk-prevention, technology and recreational activities. HACA’s Thurmond Heights, Chalmers Courts and Meadowbrook clubs serve HACA youth ages 6-17, with approximately 400 youth participating annually across these three property-based clubs and the community-based East Austin club adjacent to Booker T. Wasington. Clubs are open Monday – Friday, 3pm – 8pm and at 10am during the summer. The Boys and Girls Club is the positive place for kids!

CREATIVE ACTION PROJECT

Creative Action provides afterschool and Saturday arts programming at Santa Rita through a grant provided by the City of Austin to serve the Holly Street neighborhood. Youth ages 6-13 engage in arts activities while working individually and cooperatively on social and emotional skills with the guidance of skilled teaching artists. Summer camps are provided at two to three HACA properties, and spring break and weekend activities are scheduled to begin in 2017 at additional locations.

SCOUTS

Girl Scouts is the opportunity of a lifetime for all girls ages 7-11. The mission of Girl Scouts is to build young women with courage, confidence and character who are prepared to meet real-world challenges and make the world a better place. Girl Scouts of Central Texas serves HACA youth from Georgian Manor, Santa Rita, Shadowbend, Manchaca Village, Booker T. Washington, and Northgate properties. The program currently meets three times per week and serves more than 80 young women.

The Boys Scouts of America provide an educational program for boys and young men to build character, train in the responsibilities of participatory citizenship and leadership, and to develop personal fitness. The Boy Scouts currently meet at Georgian Manor and Booker T. Washington.

PARENTING CLASSES

Parenting classes are provided by Any Baby Can and are offered at Booker T. Washington, Bouldin Oaks, Georgian Manor, Santa Rita, Chalmers Courts, Rosewood, Meadowbrook, and Thurmond Heights. Classes focus on issues including communication and active listening, expressing emotions, limit setting, encouraging independence, choosing appropriate methods of discipline and media influence. Classes include a family development component that includes time set aside so that parents and children can discuss and practice new skills together.

COMMUNITIES IN SCHOOLS

Communities In Schools (CIS) provides school-based case management to HACA youth who live at Rosewood, BTW, Chalmers, Santa Rita, Meadowbrook and Bouldin Oaks. Elementary school sites include Oak Springs, Zavala, Becker and Dawson; Middle school sites include Kealing and Fulmore; Travis is the only High School site. The in-school case management program focuses on academic progress, social and emotional support, crisis intervention, peer networks and family support.

SMARTKIDS TUTORING PROGRAM

CIS SmartKids provides afterschool tutoring and enrichment activities at four HACA sites: BTW and Santa Rita (also serving Chalmers youth) – each four times per week; and Meadowbrook and Bouldin Oaks – each twice per week. SmartKids, complements the CIS in-school Case Management program, with approximately 75% of participants attending both.

COMPASS TO COLLEGE

CIS staff at Travis and Eastside Memorial High Schools assists HACA high school students with career exploration, college tours, testing, financial aid applications and scholarship applications through Compass to College. The program was recognized with an Award of Excellence at the National NAHRO conference in October 2015.

MAINSPRING SCHOOLS

HACA, in collaboration with Child Inc. and Mainspring Schools, maintains an Early Head Start program at Meadowbrook. In early 2016, the former Meadowbrook management office was renovated and transformed into a high-quality early childhood education center for infant to 3-year-old children of HACA and community residents. Child Inc. administers the federal Head Start grant, Mainspring Schools provides quality teachers and curriculum, and HACA provides the building at Meadowbrook at no cost.

PLAY TO LEARN

Play To Learn is an alternative to cost-prohibitive early childhood education and preschool programs, which coaches parents to foster school readiness at home. Parents and their young children attend classes and learn together from a qualified early learning coach through the use of a Samsung Galaxy tablet pre-loaded with age-appropriate and educational applications for children, as well as bookmarked websites and parenting videos for parents. Families that participate in the 10-week program and attend 80% or more of the classes earn a tablet at the end of the program.

LATINITAS

Latinitas is dedicated to empowering Latina youth through use of media and technology. As part of the Austin Pathways Digital Inclusion program, Latinitas is providing monthly digital media and technology workshops for families at Meadowbrook, Bouldin, Shadowbend and Manchaca Village. “Girls Leading Girls through Tech” engaged 7th – 12th grade girls in video gaming, animation, 3-D storytelling and creating “apps,” with a final field trip to participate in a showcase at SxSW Interactive. Girls who complete 80% of the classes are eligible to earn a tablet.