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Scholarships

Scholarships

Several scholarship programs are available to help people receiving housing assistance from Seattle Housing Authority. Scholarship funds may be used for vocational or technical schools, two-year colleges or four-year colleges, depending on the program.

Additionally, the Seattle Housing Authority strongly encourages 7th and 8th graders to sign up for the College Bound Scholarship.

Federal student aid for college or training - FAFSA

Completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the first step students can take to invest in their future. The FAFSA can help students access money to pay for school in the form of grants, scholarships and loans.

To get started:

1. Create a federal student aid ID at FAFSA. Applicants will need their Social Security number.

2. Use your student aid ID to login and complete your FAFSA. Applicants will need information about their own or family money earned in the prior year.

Six facts about federal student aid:

1. Around 20 million students complete the FAFSA each year. No matter household income, the FAFSA is the first step to receiving help paying for college. Federal aid options include Pell Grants, loans and work study.

2. There is no deadline to complete the FAFSA but those who complete the FAFSA earlier often receive more aid because some sources are first-come first-serve.

3. Good grades are not a requirement. GPA is not used to determine qualification.

4. People at any age can complete the FAFSA. Applicants do not need to be a high school senior or recent high school graduate.

5. Federal aid can be used for many types of education. There are all kinds of options for continuing education, and federal aid is accepted at most places. Applicants should complete the FAFSA, even if they don't know yet where they want to go to school. Schools will use FAFSA information to determine aid packages.

6. FAFSA is free to complete. Beware of anyone trying to charge a fee for completing the FAFSA.

Start your application today at FAFSA.

Have a question? Call 1.800.4FED.AID (433.3243) or call or text Ariel Davis , Education Engagement Specialist, at 206.475.7026 or email ariel.davis@seattlehousing.org

2023 Dream Big! Scholarship
The Dream Big! Scholarship Fund was established in 2004 by the Seattle Housing Authority Higher Education Project to provide scholarship support for qualified students living in SHA subsidized housing. Scholarships awarded are for $1,000 each, paid directly to the recipient's school for tuition, books and fees. A minimum of two scholarships will be awarded for the 2022-2023 academic year.
 
Application deadline: May 18th, 2023
Eligibility (applicants must meet all of the criteria below):
  • Living in Seattle in Seattle Housing Authority subsidized housing.
  • Minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 from most recent school attended (high school or college).
  • Age 21 or under by May 18th, 2023.
  • Will have graduated from high school or obtained a GED by September 1, 2023.
  • Plan to attend a post-secondary school full-time during the academic year. Post-secondary is defined as community college, technical or vocational school or four-year institution of higher education.
 
Scholarship selection process:
 
Scholarship recipients are selected by a Seattle Housing Authority Higher Education Project Committee. 
 
How to apply:
 
Applicants must submit the following application materials:
  • 2023 Dream Big! Application
  • Personal statement or project.
  • Two letters of recommendation.
  • Most up-to-date transcript from current school (if in college, include high school transcript).
 
Questions:
 
Email Ariel Davis at ariel.davis@seattlehousing.org
 
 
2023 NAHRO Merit College Scholarship

In 2017, The National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials established the NAHRO Merit College Scholarship Program. Eight scholarships are awarded nationwide to candidates, one from each NAHRO region, who are pursuing a post-secondary degree. The scholarships will be judged by the NAHRO Scholarship Committee, which is comprised of Housing America Task Force members who accept and review the scholarship applications.

The winning applicant from the PNRC region will win an additional $500 scholarship on behalf of the region, with the opportunity to reapply for the scholarship from year to year for up to four (4) years. 

Please submit a photo of the candidate as a seperate email attachment when submitting the application.          

Deadline:  June 12, 2023

2023 NAHRO Merit College Scholarship Application

Questions? Email pnrc@nahro.org 

2023 NAHMA Educational Foundation Scholarship
The 2023 NAHMA Educational Foundation scholarship season is open, and the digital application is now available online.
The applications has been revised to make it more user-friendly and to secure more completed submissions. This will be the 17th consecutive year the foundation will make scholarships available to student residents. 
 
 
Eligibility:
Applicants are required to be an SHA resident in good standing at an AHMA - or NAHMA - member mutlifamily community and be either a high school senior with a minimum GPA of 2.5; or a high school equivalency diploma holder or matriculated college student with a minimum GPA of 2.3 at an accredited community college, university, or trade/technical school. Applications from students in graduate-level programs are not accepted. 
 
Requirements: The required application components include an application form, one reference, an essay, and a certification of residency in good standing form. Additionally, an official grade transcript showing courses taken and grades awarded through the fall semester of the 2022/2023 school year is also required, and it is the only component submitted to the foundation via mail. All necessary forms are provided within the web-based software. 
 
How to apply:
 
If you have questions about the application process:
Contact Dr. Bruce W. Johnson, NAHMA scholarship program administrator, at bjohnson@tmo.com or call 215.262.4230.
 
Please note that this scholarship is awarded by NAHMA and not Seattle Housing Authority.
College Bound Scholarship

The College Bound Scholarship supports low-income youth in Washington State through an early commitment of financial aid for students whose families might not consider college because of the cost.

The scholarship is a state-funded program administered by the Washington Student Achievement Council. The scholarship will cover tuition for up to four years at a Washington public or private university or a community, technical or private career college. It also covers some fees and a small book allowance.

Eligibility
  • Students who are in public school and eligible for free-and-reduced price lunch in 7th, 8th, or newly eligible in 9th grade. 
  • Students who are in state foster care, or a dependent of the state between 7th grade and high school graduation. 

 

Some students do not fit into either scenario but are interested in applying for College Bound. Students and families can contact the College Bound program to apply if they meet one of the following criteria. 

  • Attend a private school or homeshool program in Washington State and meet the income requirements.
  • Are in another type of foster care and not eligible for free-and-reduced  price lunch. 

 

In order to receive the scholarship, the student must pledge to and achieve this:

  • Fullfill the scholarship pledge requirements and meet state residency requirements.
  • Be accepted to an attend an eligible college within one academic year of high school graduation.
  • Be in good standing at their college. This could be GPA or student code of conduct and is specific to each school. 
  • Complete the Free Application for Student Aid (FAFSA) or Washington Application for State Financial Aid (WASFA) and be accepted to an eligible program or college

Learn more about Auto-Enrollement and the College Bound Scholarship Here: 
 
Do you have questions? You can call or email the following:
2023 HAI Resident Scholarship
The Housing Authority Insurance Group (HAI Group) provides scholarships to eligible housing authority residents nationwide. Scholarship awards are $6,000 each and are issued to your educational institution before the fall 2023 academic term. A total of 20 scholarships will be awarded. Scholarships may be awarded to past recipients of the scholarship program. Prior recipients who enter and fullfill all requirements shall be awarded preference over new applicants, and remaining scholarships shall be awarded to new applicants after such preference is given. 
 
Eligibility:
  • The scholarship program is open only to current residents of one of the fifty (50) United States and the District of Columbia, excluding Puerto Rico and United States territories and possessions, who:
    • is or will be enrolled in the fall for the 2023-2024 academic year in an accredited and/or licensed technical school or accredited two-or-four year college or university in the United States. 
    • resides in a housing authority or in a property with a Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) administered by a housing authority that is a Member of Housing Authority Risk Retention Group, Inc. (HARRG), or Housing Authority Property Insuance, A Mutual Company (HAPI).
 
The entry process is simple; fill out the entry form, completely answer the questions and upload all required documents to be entered into a drawing for a chance to be awarded a $6,000 scholarship. Limit one entry per resident, per year. For more information and to apply, visit HAI's Resident Scholarship website.
 
Deadline: Friday, April 28, 2023 at 3p.m. ET. 
 
If you have questions about the application process:
 
Please note that this scholarship is awarded by HAI Group and not Seattle Housing Authority.