Housing Authority Insurance Group Member Resident Scholarship Program

The Housing Authority Insurance Group (HAIG) offers an annual Resident Scholarship Program to provide educational opportunities for residents of housing authorities nationwide, including the St. Petersburg Housing Authority (SPHA). The deadline for applications is April 30, 2013.

By completing the application and providing the required supporting materials, current SPHA residents who have resided in public or Section 8 housing since at least August 1, 2012, can be entered into a drawing for a chance to be awarded one of 50 scholarships worth $2,500 each.

In 2012, HAIG received 737 applications from students nationwide and selected 40 recipients in a random drawing. SPHA resident Mike Davis was selected as one of the 2012 Resident Scholarship Program awardees, winning a $2,500 scholarship for the fall semester of the 2012-2013 academic year. From all of us at SPHA, we are very proud of Mr. Davis' achievement!

For more information about this scholarship program, please visit HAIG's website at www.housingcenter.com/riskcontrol/scholarship.aspx, call 800-873-0242, ext. 639, or e-mail scholarship@housingcenter.com.

Public Housing Authorities Directors Association Scholarship Program

The Public Housing Authorities Directors Association (PHADA) offers annual scholarships to deserving high school seniors who reside in public or assisted housing, including Section 8, throughout the United States. This year, SPHA has nominated two eligible residents for consideration for these scholarships. The scholarship deadline was January 28, 2013. More information about the PHADA scholarship program can be found at http://www.phada.org/scholarship_program.php.

Step Up For Students Scholarship Program

Step Up For Students is a nonprofit organization that administers the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship for low-income students in grades K-12. The scholarship program was created by the Florida Legislature in 2001 and is funded by corporations that receive a dollar-for-dollar tax credit for their contributions. Many families still don’t know this option exists, but Florida has the nation’s largest scholarship program giving low-income families the ability to choose the school that best meets their children’s needs.

Step Up For Students is providing scholarships to approximately 50,000 low‐income students during the 2012-13 school year. Parents or guardians have the freedom to choose from any one of more than 1,450 participating private schools across the state. Scholarships for the 2012-13 school year are worth up to $4,335 to attend a private school or $500 to cover transportation to an out-of-district public school, typically in another county. Companies have contributed more than $1 billion to date, providing more than 271,000 scholarships. Scholarships are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.

If you or someone you know is interested in being notified when we will start accepting new applications for the 2013-14 school year, please enter your information into our interest list at www.StepUpForStudents.org/family.

The scholarship also has special eligibility standards for foster and homeless children. Please download the Program Overview (PDF) to learn more or visit www.StepUpForStudents.org.

Please download the following Step Up for Students Program Flyers (PDF) for more information:

For low-income students

For foster or homeless children

For application deadlines and to apply, please visit www.StepUpForStudents.org/family. For additional information, please e-mail info@sufs.org or call 877-735-7837.

United Negro College Fund Scholarship Program

SPHA has teamed with the United Negro College Fund (UNCF) to offer a scholarship program, aimed at providing residents of housing programs operated or managed by the authority, with higher education tuition assistance.

The scholarship will be available to all qualified SPHA residents over the age of 17 years. To qualify, the applicant currently must be served by the housing authority, have a grade point average of at least 2.0 and be a person of good standing in their community and in regard to their assisted housing obligations and responsibilities. Also, the applicant must be enrolled in an education program that leads to a specific degree. In order to provide the most benefit for residents, the scholarships will be renewable annually and will have no set maximum dollar limits.

To apply for this SPHA scholarship, please go to www.uncf.org or call 407-896-6940.