Compass Working Capital will host the 8th National FSS Conference this year, October 19–20, in Chicago and virtually.

As the country’s only conference designed specifically for Family Self-Sufficiency professionals, the event brings together practitioners, supervisors, and housing agency staff to trade strategies, dig into policy updates, and bring home tools for their own programs. This year's theme, "Together We Rise, United by Purpose, Equipped for Impact," reflects the shared goal that brings this community together: helping families with low incomes build the assets they need for lasting economic mobility.

We'll welcome speakers such as our CEO, Markita Morris-Louis, staff from housing providers across the country, and participants from our own FSS programs.

This Year's Keynote

Michael O'Bryan, founder of humanature and The Wealth + Work Futures Lab, will deliver the keynote address. His work explores humanity-centered economic development, from the future of work to asset building and life-sustaining income, grounded in developmental science and trauma-informed practice. He's helped organizations like the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia and NeighborWorks America rethink how they understand human development, and lectures at UPenn's Weitzman School of Design.

For FSS professionals, that means designing programs and conversations that meet people where they are, not where a checklist assumes they should be.

Agenda Highlights

This year's sessions are built around the real, day-to-day work of running an FSS program, such as:

The Budgeting Think-Tank: Solving the Toughest Coaching Challenges

Tim Tomkowiak, Compass Working Capital

You've seen it all — the surprise car repairs, the soaring utility bills, the dreaded benefit cliffs. This isn't a lecture, it's a lab. Bring your toughest coaching scenarios and leave with practical, tested tools your clients can use.

Driving Culture Change in Your FSS Program

Tia Marten and Eric Janoski, Housing Authority of Jackson County

Learn how the Housing Authority of Jackson Country evolved their FSS program from a punitive model to a trauma-informed, client-centered one, including the shift from a standardized ITSP to a strengths-based service plan. The session includes a hands-on activity for building your own flexible, person-centered plan.

Moving to Work Program Spotlight Panel

Joanne McKenna, Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities

Briana Aguirre, City of Reno Housing Authority

Karmin Halberg, Seattle Housing Authority

A moderated panel of MTW agencies putting FSS flexibilities into practice: what's working, what they've learned, and how their programs have evolved.

FSS Innovations: Preparing for a National Opt-Out Demonstration

Justin Kasian and Amartya Zarate, Compass Working Capital

FSS has long been one of the most effective, yet underutilized, tools for asset building. Its opt-in design has historically reached only the most self-motivated residents, leaving millions of eligible families on the sidelines. This session digs into the automatic enrollment pilot authorized by the Helping More Families Save Act and what lies ahead for implementation.

More sessions will be announced as the agenda fills out.

Save Your Spot

The National FSS Conference is built around the work FSS professionals do every day. It's also an extension of unwavering belief in people and their ability to achieve their goals, and a commitment to sharing what we've learned about client-centered work with practitioners everywhere.