Academic Scholarships Awarded to Local Affordable Housing Residents

The Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority (FCRHA) awarded $5,000 scholarships to ten local students who are affordable housing residents. The academic scholarships will be applied to their education and training.

Scholarships are designed to promote postsecondary education and technical training for Fairfax County residents who live in affordable housing.

Recipients reflected on their experiences of affordable housing and their scholarship award:

“Affordable housing also reminds me that someone out there cares. A program that looks at someone and says, ‘We see you, and we want to help you stay,’ has an important human quality in a world that sometimes feels uncaring about hardship.” -Mena, Northern Virginia Community College

“This is far more than just having a place to live; it is about building better habits and creating a stronger future for me and my children, it is also about having a safer environment where my family can grow.” -Sharde’, Northern Virginia Community College

“Affordable housing allowed me to budget responsibly, continue working full time, and pursue my master’s degree without the constant fear of eviction or displacement.” -Farrah, Radford University

“By earning this degree and working hard, I can garner the means to provide all that my family deserves.” -Sandrine, Trinity Washington University

“Affordable housing is the foundation that allows individuals and families to live without the constant stress of choosing between basic necessities like rent, food, healthcare, and education.” -Jamillah, Northern Virginia Community College

“Affordable housing is not just assistance. It is hope, it is opportunity, and it is the anchor that restored my family and allowed us a place to rebuild.” -Marissa, Northern Virginia Community College

About the Scholarships

Scholarships are designed to promote postsecondary education and technical training for Fairfax County residents who live in affordable housing supported by the FCRHA. To qualify, scholarship awardees must have been a member of a household currently receiving housing assistance through the FCRHA; a resident of Fairfax County for at least six months prior to application deadline; and accepted into an accredited post-secondary education institution.

Scholarships are aligned with the FCRHA’s designation as a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development “Moving To Work” agency. Moving To Work promotes locally designed strategies that use federal dollars more efficiently and help residents become economically self-sufficient.