GAHRA is partnering with the Georgia Department of Community Affairs and Georgia Housing and Finance Authority to conduct a statewide inventory of all public housing authorities. DCA and HFA are conducting a Housing Needs Assessment and have expressed their interest in learning about the affordable housing needs for PHAs across the state. Based on the survey responses, DCA and HFA will evaluate their current policies, programs and funding resources to determine how they might better assist PHAs in preserving and developing affordable housing for many of Georgia’s lowest income households.

The survey will be distributed to all GAHRA membership on or about December 1, 2021. Last week, GAHRA hosted DCA to present a draft of the survey at its weekly meeting forum. Access to the recorded session will be provided in the near future.

A second presentation will be made at GAHRA’s meeting on December 2 from 11 am to 12 pm. Plan to join us so you can see a sample of the survey with DCA’s consultants explaining how to complete it and answer your questions. A third presentation will also be available on December 16 from 11 am to 12 pm.

GAHRA will distribute the survey to its full membership on or about December 1 when it becomes available.  

Request for Qualifications

For Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) Consulting Services

For

The City of LaGrange Housing Authority

The City of LaGrange Housing Authority is seeking proposals from consultants to provide services to assist in the conversion of affordable housing through the RAD program.  To obtain a copy of the proposal documents, please visit our website at www.phalagrange.net

The GAHRA Scholarship Committee is privileged to announce that this year GAHRA will be awarding up to $37,500 in scholarship funds to graduating high school seniors and adult students of GAHRA member agencies.

For high school students, GAHRA will fund academic scholarships for programs leading to an undergraduate degree as well as vocational/technical scholarships. In addition, SERC/NAHRO will fund two academic scholarships. For adult students, GAHRA will fund academic scholarships and vocational/technical scholarships.

Please identify your prospective candidates and inform them of this opportunity immediately. The enclosed eligibility and application materials are separated into two packets – one for high school students and one for adult students. Please copy and distribute to your candidates as needed. Your authority should solicit as many students as possible to determine your authority’s applicants. Only one academic and one vocational/technical application per authority may be submitted to the Scholarship Committee for the High School Student Scholarships. Similarly, only one academic and one vocational/technical application per authority may be submitted to the Scholarship Committee for the Adult Student Scholarships. Therefore, the maximum number of total submissions for any authority/agency would be four, one only in each of the four categories.

Completed high school and adult student applications should be received at your authority in time for you to screen and rank them before submitting your top candidates to GAHRA for consideration. As a GAHRA member, you may set your own deadline for the applications to be returned to you. However, your authority’s nomination(s) must then be submitted to the appropriate GAHRA Scholarship Committee no later than
March 19, 2021.

High School Student Applications
Completed High School Student applications should be submitted to Danita Wiggins, Albany Housing Authority, P.O. Box 485, Albany, GA 31702. A hard copy AND an electronic copy of the application is required. Electronic copies should be submitted to: dwiggins@albanyha.com

Adult Student Applications
Completed Adult Student applications should be submitted to Brenda Smith, Dublin Housing Authority, 500 W. Mary Street, Dublin, GA 31021. A hard copy AND an electronic copy of the application is required. Electronic copies should be submitted to:
dhousing@bellsouth.net

All applicants and sponsoring housing authorities will be notified of selection or non-selection for a personal interview around mid-April. Scholarship awards will be announced on May 16,2021 following interviews with the finalists at the GAHRA Spring Conference to be held in Jekyll Island, Georgia.

Authorities submitting applications to GAHRA are requested to publicize their winner(s) in the local media. They are also encouraged to seek local scholarships both to supplement this program and to highlight education as a means of success for our residents.

Thank you for participating in the 2021 Scholarship Program!

• 2021_Scholarship_HighSchool_Flyer
• 2021_Scholarship_HighSchool Application
• 2021_Scholarship_Adult_Flyer
• 2021_Scholarship_Adult Application

TO: Members of the Georgia Association of Housing and Redevelopment Authorities
RE: 2019 Scholarship Program
DATE: January 13, 2020

The GAHRA Scholarship Committee is privileged to announce that this year GAHRA will be awarding up to $37,500 in scholarship funds to graduating high school seniors and adult students of GAHRA member agencies.

For high school students, GAHRA will fund academic scholarships for programs leading to an undergraduate degree as well as vocational/technical scholarships. In addition, SERC/NAHRO will fund two academic scholarships. For adult students, GAHRA will fund academic scholarships and vocational/technical scholarships.

Please identify your prospective candidates and inform them of this opportunity immediately. The enclosed eligibility and application materials are separated into two packets – one for high school students and one for adult students. Please copy and distribute to your candidates as needed. Your authority should solicit as many students as possible to determine your authority’s applicants. Only one academic and one vocational/technical application per authority may be submitted to the Scholarship Committee for the High School Student Scholarships. Similarly, only one academic and one vocational/technical application per authority may be submitted to the Scholarship Committee for the Adult Student Scholarships. Therefore, the maximum number of total submissions for any authority/agency would be four, one only in each of the four categories.

Completed high school and adult student applications should be received at your authority in time for you to screen and rank them before submitting your top candidates to GAHRA for consideration. As a GAHRA member, you may set your own deadline for the applications to be returned to you.  However, your authority’s nomination(s) must then be submitted to the appropriate GAHRA Scholarship Committee no later than March 20, 2020. 

High School Student Applications

Completed High School Student applications should be submitted to Danita Wiggins, Albany Housing Authority, P.O. Box 485, Albany, GA 31702.  A hard copy AND an electronic copy of the application is required.  Electronic copies should be submitted to:  dwiggins@albanyha.com

Adult Student Applications
Completed Adult Student applications should be submitted to Brenda Smith, Dublin Housing Authority, 500 W. Mary Street, Dublin, GA 31021.  A hard copy AND an electronic copy of the application is required.  Electronic copies should be submitted to: dhousing@bellsouth.net

All applicants and sponsoring housing authorities will be notified of selection or non-selection for a personal interview around mid-April. Scholarship awards will be announced on May 18, 2020, following interviews with the finalists at the GAHRA Spring Conference to be held in Jekyll Island, Georgia.

Authorities submitting applications to GAHRA are requested to publicize their winner(s) in the local media. They are also encouraged to seek local scholarships both to supplement this program and to highlight education as a means of success for our residents.

Thank you for participating in the 2020 Scholarship Program!

Danita Wiggins, Chair                                             Brenda Smith, Vice Chair
Scholarship Committee                                          Scholarship Committee

• Adult Scholarship Flyer
• Adult Scholarship Application
• High School Scholarship Flyer
• High School Scholarship Application

This survey has ended.

The Georgia Association of Housing and Redevelopment Authorities (GAHRA) was recently pleased to present $ 36,250.00 in scholarships to residents of public and assisted housing in the State of Georgia.  The awards were made at the Scholarship Awards Luncheon at GAHRA’s Spring Conference held at Jekyll Island, Georgia on May 20, 2019. 

Awards were presented in Academic and Vocational categories to both Adult and High School Scholarship Winners.  Six applications were submitted for the Adult Scholarships. The winners will be pursuing careers in Pharmacy, Health Care, Cosmetology, Legal Services and Education. 

Thirteen applications were received for the High School awards.  All of the candidates exhibited tremendous qualities including outstanding grade point averages, various extra-curricular activities, and many worked after-school jobs but still maintained their excellent academic standing. 

Both Adult and High School applicants, residing in GAHRA properties or receiving assistance from a GAHRA member agency, were eligible to apply for scholarship funding.  The scholarship funds awarded each winner will be forwarded, for their benefit, to their chosen academic institution.

The GAHRA Scholarship Committee is Chaired by Harden A. Oldfield from Augusta and the Vice Chair is Danita Wiggins from Albany.  Members include:  John Marria from Cairo, Bruce Herring from Elberton, Angela Strickland from Brunswick, Kevin Price from Wrightsville, Ella Murphy from Marietta, Ann Dobson from Jasper, Vickie Paris from Dallas, Joe Thomas from Camilla and Charles Alexander from Columbus.

Assisting with the presentation of the Awards were current GAHRA President, Michael Boatwright from Moultrie and Current NAHRO Senior Vice President Sunny Shaw from Pocatello, Idaho.

Adult Scholarship Winners
Vocational/Technical
Alisha Parker, McDonough                            $ 2,000
ZyDaja Beckum, Dallas                                 $ 2,500
Academic
Crystal Leary, Warner Robins                        $ 1,000
Anna Jackson, Northwest Georgia                 $ 1,500
Latasha Harmon, Marietta                             $ 2,000
Jessica Ushry, Dekalb                                     $ 2,500

High School Scholarship Winners
William Redding, Cordele                              $ 5,000
Mario Bembry, Decatur                                  $ 4,000 continuing, paid $1,000 per year
Dionte Doreus, Dallas                                     $ 4,000 continuing, paid $1,000 per year
Rylee Sharpton, Tallapoosa                           $ 2,500
Mackenzie Powell, Moultrie                          $ 2,500
Shunterria Nelson, Northwest Georgia         $ 1,500
Keimondre Dixon, Jesup                                 $ 1,000
Ayana Williams, Conyers                                $ 750
Lirric Fenderson, Reidsville                            $ 750
Alexis Jones, Albany                                       $ 750
Savannah Polley, Gainesville                          $ 750
Zahara-London smith, Atlanta                       $ 750