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PS-S Practical Support Program

Car Repair
Transportation to work, school and child care is critical. Volunteers donate their time and talent to repair participants’ vehicles.

Cars for Families
The program, operated in cooperation with the Larimer County Workforce Center, results in the donation of approximately 50 cars from citizens and businesses each year to benefit families from both programs.

Computer Donations
Community members & businesses can donate unwanted computers with Pentium 4 processors or better to PS-S to be given to program participants for personal and academic use.

Mental Health Fund
Financial assistance is available to identify and address the mental health barriers that prevent participants from reaching their goals and to find providers and resources to address and mitigate these barriers. 

Participant Assistance Fund
PS-S budgets $275 per family per year to help participants with special needs such as car insurance, car parts, dental appointments, childcare to study for an exam, and other expenses not otherwise met.

Housing
Housing is provided to many PS-S families through special arrangements with the Housing Authority of the City of Loveland. The award-winning Willow Place complex is home to 20 single parent families enrolled in PS-S. The housing was designed especially for single parent families enrolled in Project Self-Sufficiency. 

The families at Willow Place offer support, encouragement and practical help to one another. The Housing Authority of the City of Loveland manages the property and provides rent subsidies.

In 2010 the Fort Collins Housing Authority set aside apartments at their Matuka Court property for PS-S families. As other families move out, PS-S families will be given the opportunity to move into the property. Eventually 20 PS-S families will be able to enjoy the supportive benefits of living at Matuka Court.
 


PROGRAMS & SERVICES OVERVIEW

>Eligibility
Project Self-Sufficiency supports low-income, single parent families in their efforts to become economically independent.

In order to be eligible for PS-S, families must be headed by a single parent, have at least one child age 13 or under living with her/him half time, and be low-income according to poverty guidelines.

>Advisement
Each single parent who is accepted into the program is assigned to an advisor who assists her/him in setting goals, developing a self-sufficiency action plan, identifying resources, resolving problems, and providing emotional support. 

>Holistic Approach
Project Self-Sufficiency takes a holistic approach, emphasizing areas such as self-esteem, parenting and recovery from domestic violence along with specific career and educational goals. 

>Participants Served
All PS-S participants are single parents who are striving to gain the skills necessary to support their children. The average age of enrolled single parents is 33 and the average number of children is two. 25% to 28% are typically members of an ethnic minority.

Some participants are receiving public assistance or small child support payments. Many are in low paying jobs when they enter the program. Most program participants return to school during their tenure with PS-S.