Dubuque's Circles® Initiative and Family Self-Sufficiency Program Brochure Copyrighted
May 15, 2017
City of Dubuque Consent Items # 5.
ITEM TITLE: Dubuque's Circles® Initiative and Family Self-Sufficiency
Program
SUMMARY: City Manager transmitting the public information brochure
on the outcomes of the Dubuque Circles® Initiative and
Family Self-Sufficiency Program.
SUGGESTED DISPOSITION: Suggested Disposition: Receive and File
ATTACHMENTS:
Description Type
Outcomes of Dubuque's Circles Initiati a Staff Memo
outcomes of Dubuque 's U
C I RC LES ° INITIATIVE INITI=S@
The Dubuque Circles Initiative aims to inspire and equip families and communities to
resolve poverty and thrive.
m
The Dubuque Circles Initiative is part of — y
Circles USA, an innovative national model Ji ~' '7 - I. _—
that uses research-based methods to support
the long-term economic success of struggling
families. Circles offers an array of personalized - '�-
tools, including savings and asset building °h
education, peer support, goal setting,
coaching, community engagement, leadership
development, and more, so participants have
the holistic support they need to succeed.
Since1 '. Initiative has 90% 09%
produced 48 Circle leaders who have
el% .
« Circles has
graduated ' made me
Ahead personal developmentprogram
feel more400%
programmingand attend weekly ' empowered 21% v%
knowledgeexpand their 20 and more % °% "%
what they've learned. To date, Getting connected to ° ms mraauu
rm9ioyreorn
n
Ahead has 169 graduates. oaothe community ■ 01
■ e�omra
-
Amy(Clrcle Leader) ■ oemmra,m¢reror�nnc,m
In fiscal year 2016, 81 % of Fourot 21 participardswere homeless prionto
Ahead Class. Three ot 4 nowhousing!
Circle leaders obtained and/ able , connectI
r security depostis
or maintained employment. or first month's
SUB
7MICM www.cityofdubuque .org/circles
JE 350 W. 6thSt., Soite312, Dobuque, IA52001
Masterpiece on the Mississippi Phone: 563.589.4230 EmaiLcircles@cityotdubuque.org
9asun
outcomes of Dubuque 's
FAMILY SELF�SUFFICIENCY PROGRAM
Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS), a federal program offered to housing choice voucher program
participants, is designed to support low-income families who want to become financially
self-sufficient.
Family Self-Sufficiency is a voluntary
participation program for Housing Choice
- Voucher program participants. When
_ r-
participants join Family Self-Sufficiency(FSS),
they work with a coordinator to visualize and
tR set goals that will get them to where they want
to be, including obtaining employment. If a
participant's rent payment increases because
of earned income, they will earn escrow. The
money is put directly into a savings account
that participants receive when they graduate
--- •' from the program.
Since 1997, 105 participants In fiscaltotal of 142 participants were served. Of those
have graduated from participants, 89•• were female • ' • •• were minorities.
Dubuque's FSS program. Ofnine graduates, and eight graduates earned escrow with an average
amount of 0.
. Two participants became homeowners.
those, 90% are off housing
assistance.
1111 1 want to love my
job, I want to have a $3,200 is the
passion for what I do. average amount
experiencedPartipants / 1 want to give back
increase in annual income and to people in the same of escrow that
:'. increase in earned income way that FSS has FSS graduates
completionat given to me. 7
earn.
-Sandra, FSS Participant
or—
THECwww. cityofdubuque. org/FSS
DU!B9aTE 350 W. 6th St., Suite 312, Dubuque, IA 52001
Masterpiece on the Mississippi Phone: 563.589.4230