Get in Touch!

If you would like to learn how you can volunteer, or if you have questions about donating to Project Self Sufficiency, please fill out the form and we will get back to right away.

Project Self-Sufficiency

307 Placentia Ave. Suite 203
Newport Beach, CA 92663

Common  Questions

How long does an average client stay with PSS

Providing the client remains in compliance with all program eligibility requirements, PSS will continue services until the client earns their degree. 

How did PSS get started?

Project Self-Sufficiency began partnering with the City of Huntington Beach in 1985, when the city participated in the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s national Project Self-Sufficiency Program.

Since then, the program has gained national recognition as one of the best in the country. In March of 2018 we were given a tremendous opportunity to expand our services to all of Orange County. 

What services does PSS Provide?

We assist our clients with a wide range of services:

  • Case management and counseling
  • Educational scholarships
  • Childcare assistance
  • Emergency rental assistance
  • Transportation assistance
  • Housing security deposits
  • Textbook reimbursements
  • Healthcare assistance
  • Supply pantry

How can I volunteer?

Support the amazing work of Project Self-Sufficiency by volunteering your time to participate in fundraising and other events throughout the year.  There’s no better way to give back to your community than helping families become self-sufficient.

What are the client eligibility requirements?

In order to qualify for the program, applicants must meet the following specific requirements. 

  1. Low income
  2. Single parent of a minor child (not living with a partner/significant other)
  3. Have physical/legal custody of at least one minor child
  4. Enrolled in community college or university working toward your Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree and have completed at least 1 semester. We accept clients in a vocational program on a case-by-case basis.
  5. Have 3.0 GPA (or close)
  6. Have a source of income (not necessarily employment)
  7. Live, work, or attend college in Orange County, CA

What is the pss recipe for success?

The Project Self-Sufficiency program model is designed to keep clients in school and on track to becoming economically self-sufficient. The PSS staff maintains close communication with all clients to strategize and address barriers to their success, meeting at least twice a year to update records, assess family needs, review grades, and oversee academic plans. The result – four times more PSS student-parents graduate than the national average for low-income students! PSS students have wide-ranging interests of study and earn a variety of bachelor’s degrees including hospitality management, nursing, and other health related fields. Entry level wages in Orange County for a graduate with a bachelor’s degree in hospitality or nursing are $52k-$84k per year.

Project Self-Sufficiency

A 501(c)(3) nonprofit

Tax ID #33-0597719

307 Placentia Ave, Suite 203 Newport Beach, CA 92663

Located inside the Melinda Hoag Smith Center for Healthy Living

949-478-1914