This spring, Compass Working Capital convened advocates, practitioners, and policymakers in Washington, DC to advance a clear agenda: bringing proven wealth-building tools to families who have long been denied the opportunity to build financial security.

The forum centered on opening the door to asset-building opportunities for thousands more families by maximizing the impact of the Family Self-Sufficiency program and expanding its framework into Low-Income Housing Tax Credit properties.

Strengthening FSS: From Insights to Action

Morning sessions explored the momentum behind FSS and the growing case for an automatic enrollment "opt-out" pilot through the Helping More Families Save Act, which has since passed into law as Section 404 in the 21st Century Road to Housing package as of July 2026. When people are enrolled by default into savings opportunities, participation rises dramatically — with some programs seeing rates jump from 64 to 94 percent. Applying that principle to FSS would connect more families to the coaching, savings opportunities, and financial support the program provides.

Over lunch, we welcomed Representative Ayanna Pressley, who spoke about the promise of FSS, its impact on constituents in her Boston district, and the work Compass has done to support those families.

Advancing Alternative Avenues for Asset Building

The afternoon shifted to exploring what asset-building could look like in LIHTC properties and what legislative opportunities could extend financial security to more families. New research from the Asset Builders Alliance finds that renters in LIHTC communities could accumulate $2,000 to $6,000 in savings over five years through tools already available within existing housing policy. As of July 2026, Compass has launched the first LIHTC-based pilot for FSS in the country at three properties in Chicago with the Preservation of Affordable Housing.

We also heard from Damali Omolade, an FSS participant and now a proud homeowner, whose story is a powerful reminder of what becomes possible when families have the opportunity to build savings. It is exactly that possibility that drives Compass' commitment to policies and partnerships that make wealth-building accessible to all families with low incomes.

To stay up to date on our policy work, sign up for the Policy Hub by becoming a member of our online community, Compass FSS Link.