After five years of commitment, 41 graduates are celebrating their achievements and looking ahead to new financial opportunities for themselves and their families.
For 41 graduates of the Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) program, Oct. 8 marked more than the completion of a five-year commitment. It was a celebration of financial growth, personal determination and the possibilities that come with building a stronger financial foundation.
At the second annual FSS graduation in Boston, this year’s graduates were recognized for their achievements, including saving an average of $18,000 through the program. Those savings can help families weather unexpected expenses, pursue education, prepare for homeownership and take meaningful steps toward their financial goals.
“The freedom feels a whole lot better,” one graduate shared in a video presented during the celebration. That sense of freedom captures the purpose of FSS: helping residents develop the financial skills, savings and confidence to shape their futures.
Five Years of Progress, One Goal at a Time
Financial progress takes time, particularly when families are balancing work, caregiving, rising costs and the unexpected challenges of everyday life. Through FSS, participants work toward individual financial goals with guidance from financial coaches and support from community partners and housing teams.For graduate Pamela Walker, one goal was opening a savings account and learning to prioritize saving.
Walker credited the program and her financial coach, Tim, with helping her stay accountable throughout the five-year journey. She looked forward to their regular check-ins and the opportunity to share updates on her progress.
“And yeah, through this five years, I’m here. Here I am,” she told attendees.
Her achievement reflects the commitment required to stay focused on a long-term goal while navigating life’s competing demands.
Emilio Dorcely, CEO of Urban Edge, recognized that commitment in his remarks to the graduates.
“The key to success is not what you get in immediacy, but it’s what you get when you stick with something,” Dorcely said.
Turning Financial Goals Into Real Opportunities
Every participant’s financial goals are different. Some prioritize emergency savings, while others hope to purchase a home, fund an education, prepare for retirement or start a business.
Across the FSS program, emergency savings and homeownership account for 80% of participants’ primary financial goals. These priorities reflect the importance of both immediate financial security and longer-term aspirations.
For one family, greater financial security may mean having money available when a car needs repairs or an unexpected bill arrives. For another, it may mean saving for a first home, returning to school or helping a child pursue an education. The impact can extend beyond the individual participant, reaching children and future generations
During the graduation, Connected Communities President Mai Dang shared examples from previous graduates, including a mother who passed along financial lessons to her son, helping him purchase his first home, and another graduate who saved enough to help pay for her daughter’s education
“These stories remind us that the impact of FSS extends beyond an individual,” Dang said. “It reaches children, families and future generations.”
Measuring the Impact of Financial Empowerment
Since its launch, FSS has helped residents build financial knowledge, increase earnings and accumulate savings while working toward greater economic mobility.
Today, the program’s impact includes:
- 45 active FSS sites
- 1,216 residents who have participated in the program
- $4.7 million in escrowed assets saved by participating residents
- $26,445 in average earned-income growth among graduates
For the 2026 graduating class, average escrow savings reached $18,000.
Behind these numbers are families gaining greater financial flexibility and the ability to plan for the future. As Dang noted during the event, savings can provide a cushion when unexpected expenses arise, helping families manage financial setbacks without losing sight of their long-term goals.
The program’s results also reflect the collective effort required to make FSS successful. Connected Communities works alongside housing teams, community-based organizations, financial coaches and other partners to help residents navigate the program and remain focused on their goals.
Gilbert Winn, CEO of WinnCompanies, recognized the complexity of the program and the collaboration needed to sustain it.
“It’s you, it’s the graduates that are showing up every day and doing the work that’s needed to graduate from this program,” Winn said, acknowledging the participants’ commitment and the teamwork behind their achievements.
Building on What Comes Next
Financial assets can take many forms. During the celebration, Mario Gutierrez of Compass Working Capital, the program’s financial coaching partner, highlighted how education, career advancement, improved credit, homeownership and retirement savings can help residents build a more secure future.
He shared the story of one FSS graduate who returned to school to pursue nursing and earned all A’s in her first semester. She went on to secure full-time employment, complete the program and move into market-rate housing, opening the door to a new chapter in her life.
Other graduates have used their escrow savings to make down payments on their first homes. One graduate completed the program with more than $43,000 in savings to help fund her son’s college education and her own retirement.
These stories illustrate what becomes possible when residents have access to financial guidance, practical tools and support to pursue their goals. The impact extends beyond the savings themselves, creating opportunities for individuals and their families to build a stronger future.
For this year’s graduates, the ceremony marked the completion of a significant commitment and the beginning of what comes next.
As Emilio Dorcely, CEO of Urban Edge, reminded attendees, success comes from staying committed to a goal. The right support can help residents turn their determination into action.
Through FSS, Connected Communities and its partners are helping residents build financial security, pursue their aspirations and create opportunities that can benefit their families for years to come.
Congratulations to the 2026 FSS graduates. Their achievements demonstrate that when residents have the tools and support to pursue their goals, the impact reaches far beyond savings.
Hear From Our FSS Graduates
Every financial journey is personal. Watch highlights from the 2026 Family Self-Sufficiency graduation and hear how residents are building savings, pursuing their goals and creating new opportunities for their families.
Interested in Supporting Economic Mobility?
Connected Communities Foundation works with housing teams, community-based organizations and financial partners to advance economic mobility for residents. Through programs like Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS), residents receive financial coaching and support to build savings, strengthen their financial security and pursue long-term goals.
Interested in learning more about the program or exploring opportunities to support this work? Contact us to start a conversation at info@connectedcommunites.org
Lacey Finch-Bennett, Communications & Fund Development Manager
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