SHANNON PATRICK STRUGGLED to find affordable housing for several years after she left an abusive relationship. Like some single mothers, she held several jobs, ranging from teaching assistant at Gateway Montessori to working in medical centers and nursing homes, but she never earned enough to make ends meet. As the cost of living continued to increase across Boulder County, Patrick and her children found themselves couch-surfing with church friends. “I felt like a bad mom because I had my kiddos and wasn’t able to provide everything that they needed,” Patrick told Denver VOICE. But all of that began to change when Patrick, 33, was accepted into Boulder County’s Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) program. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) created a national FSS program in 1990, although Boulder County started its own FSS program in 1988 under the name “Project Self-Sufficiency.” FSS is a free, five-year, academic, employment, and savings incentive program designed to help low-income households receiving public benefits improve their family’s financial situation. The program has become a critical lifeline for families on the verge of experiencing homelessness at a time when the cost of living in Colorado is rising sharply. According to the latest snapshot data, Colorado saw a 134% increase in homelessness among families with children between 2023 and 2024, which was the largest increase in the nation. Alicia Sheflin Thompson, who oversees the FSS program at the Boulder County Housing Department, told Denver VOICE that the program is designed to be flexible to serve each participant’s needs. There are classes available in behavioral health, career development, financial literacy, and various other subjects. Participants benefit from living in affordable housing while they’re enrolled, Thompson added. They don’t pay more than 30% of their income in rent and have regular access to social workers who can connect them with additional benefits, like food stamps or welfare. Additionally, participants can save money in an escrow account. The total savings are based on HUD’s FSS standards for income and voucher payments. Graduates average $8,260 in savings over the five-year program, according to Boulder County data. Patrick keeps in touch with one individual, who graduated from the program with $40,000 in savings. Seeing the impact FSS has had on others inspired Patrick to continue her journey, she said. In 2025, 36 people graduated from Boulder County’s FSS program, collectively saving more than $478,000 toward their education, employment, and housing goals, according to data from Boulder County. One graduate became a homeowner, and 12 graduates completed college or career training. Several others used their savings to pay down debt. “It can really make a huge difference in a short period of time,” Thompson said. One of the biggest impacts the program had on her life was being PREVENTING HOMELESSNESS THROUGH FAMILY SELF-SUFFICIENCY By Robert Davis Shannon Patrick and her children pose in front of a pumpkin patch. | Photo courtesy of Shannon Patrick connected with her case manager, said Patrick. That relationship helped her navigate the COVID-19 pandemic, which began shortly after she enrolled. The regular check-ins with her case manager also helped her return to school, which had been a long-time goal. At the beginning of the program, Patrick finished her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Colorado Christian University. By the end, she had obtained her master’s degree in applied behavioral analysis from Arizona State University. She now works at Trail Ridge Middle School as a registered behavior technician, a role in which she provides hands-on support to autistic students, and says she loves every minute of it. Stories like Patrick’s are a testament to the strength of the FSS How a more than three-decade-old program in Boulder County is helping keep families out of shelters and off the streets. program. The program has funding to operate through 2026, but funding for 2027 is unknown; the Trump administration has moved to reduce federal funding for similar service programs. Thompson has heard rumblings that Congress will approve funding for the program, but for now, nothing has been confirmed. On March 12, the U.S. Senate passed the 21st Century ROAD Act, which increased funding for HUD’s FSS program. However, the bill could face pushback in the House of Representatives because it includes a provision prohibiting institutional investors from purchasing more than 350 homes. “The cost of living across Colorado has made it very challenging to find affordable, safe housing,” Thompson said. “So, for families who want to make a major change in their life, this is one of the few programs that will give them something for multiple years where they’ve got the stability, they’ve got the reduced rent, and they’ve got the support.” DENVER VOICE FEATURE 7
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