Massachusetts Moving to College Housing Scholarship
Scholarship Name: Massachusetts Moving to College Housing Scholarship
Status: OPEN
Posted Date: June 9, 2020
Due Date: No Deadline But Students Should Submit ASAP
This scholarship is intended for graduating seniors who are experiencing housing instability and homelessness and despite all that are determined to continue their education.
The Massachusetts community colleges, state universities and UMass campuses are working with the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, the Department of Higher Education, the Department of Housing and Community Development and the Commission for Unaccompanied Homeless Youth to conduct a pilot program to address student housing insecurity and homelessness. Students accepted into the program from high school will be eligible for on-campus housing and meal plans, as well as academic and social services during the academic year. Applicants may be asked to complete a new application each year. Twenty (20) students from Fitchburg, Framingham, Lynn and North Adams will be accepted into the program, and each student will receive scholarship money worth $10,000.
Applicants may enroll at either a community college or a state university participating in the program; those attending a community college would live at the nearest participating state university campus and commute to classes at the community college, and/or take classes online. Campuses participating in the Moving to College program include: Fitchburg State University, Framingham State University, Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts and Salem State University.
APPLICANT ELIGIBILITY AND REQUIREMENTS
- Applicant must be Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) income eligible. Guidelines can be found at: https://www.huduser.gov/portal/datasets/il.html (HCV uses 50% AMI)
- Applicants must meet HUD’s definition of Unaccompanied Homeless Youth or have recently aged out of foster care and meet HUD’s criteria of an independent student
- Applicant must maintain full-time enrollment (12 or more credits) in a degree-seeking program and maintain passing grades in order to be eligible for a renewed scholarship.
- Applicants must agree to work with a case manager to 1) develop a summer plan including a paid job, internship and/or academic coursework, and 2) to create a transition plan to secure permanent housing post-graduation.
- There is no GPA requirement. However, students must maintain good academic and behavioral standing as defined by the campuses where they are registered and (if different) reside.
There is currently no deadline to submit the application, but interested students should submit the application ASAP.
For an application, click MA Moving to College Housing Scholarship – Student Application
Completed applications and supporting documents must be sent in ONE email to Sarah.E.Slautterback@mass.gov
If you need assistance, please contact your guidance counselor by email.