The HSI Association (HSIA) was born of the recognition for the need of support for current and retired HSI employees and their families. Since the inception of the Department of Homeland Security, there have been 13 HSI line of duty deaths, which changed the trajectory of the lives of their surviving families. Experiencing the death of a family member is not only a traumatic event for the family itself, but the effects of the loss on the financial well-being of the family is forever changed.

 

As an agency, HSI is limited in the financial support it can legally provide to families. Currently, the Death Gratuity Benefit is the only financial benefit available. Unfortunately, it is only payable if the death is determined to be a “line of duty” death. These restrictions create a gap in support for HSI families in need. After struggling with these realities throughout their careers, a group of HSI retirees came together to find a solution. Former agency members,  with specialized backgrounds gathered to create an Association that could support not only families of those who died in the line of duty, but all HSI families affected by tragedy.