24 C.F.R. § 887.101
§ 887.101 Purpose, scope, and applicability. (24 CFR Part 887)
Operative Text
(a) Purpose. (1) The purpose of the Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) program is to promote the development of local strategies to coordinate the use of Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) assistance with public and private resources, to enable families eligible to receive HUD assistance to achieve economic independence and self-sufficiency. (2) The purpose of this part is to implement the policies and procedures applicable to operation of an FSS program under HUD's Section 8 Housing assistance payments programs, as established under section 23 of the 1937 Act (42 U.S.C. 1437u). (b) Scope. Each owner may implement an FSS program independently or by way of a Cooperative Agreement with a Public Housing Agency (PHA) or another owner. Each owner that administers an FSS program must do so in accordance with the requirements of this part. (c) Applicability. This part applies to owners of multifamily rental housing properties assisted by Section 8 Housing assistance payments programs. See part 984 of this title for program regulations applicable to PHAs. (d) Non-participation. Tenant participation in an FSS program is voluntary. Assistance under Section 8 Housing assistance payments programs for a family that elects not to participate in an FSS program shall not be refused, delayed or terminated by reason of such election.
Section 887.101 establishes the Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) program as a framework for coordinating HUD housing assistance with other public and private resources to help eligible families work toward economic independence. The rule applies specifically to owners of multifamily rental housing properties that receive Section 8 Housing Assistance Payments, while separate regulations under Part 984 govern Public Housing Agencies. A key feature of this provision is that tenant participation in an FSS program is entirely voluntary, and a family's decision not to participate cannot be used as a basis to deny, delay, or end their Section 8 assistance.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 887.101, owners of Section 8-assisted multifamily rental properties who choose to operate an FSS program must do so in full compliance with the requirements of 24 CFR Part 887. An owner may run such a program independently or through a Cooperative Agreement with a Public Housing Agency or another owner. Compliant operators take care never to condition, delay, or terminate a family's Section 8 assistance on the basis of that family's decision not to enroll in an FSS program, as the provision explicitly prohibits such actions.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 887.101 makes clear that participation in a Family Self-Sufficiency program is entirely your choice — no one receiving Section 8 Housing Assistance Payments at a covered multifamily property can have their assistance refused, delayed, or terminated simply because they decline to join an FSS program. If a tenant believes their housing assistance has been affected by a non-participation decision, general enforcement paths include raising the violation with the property owner in writing, contacting the local HUD field office, or reaching out to a tenant-rights organization familiar with Section 8 regulations. Reviewing 24 CFR Part 887 alongside Part 984 can help clarify which rules apply depending on whether the assistance is administered by a private owner or a Public Housing Agency.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated September 4, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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