$500K dedicated for scholarship program for Pittsburgh housing authority residents

The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh said affiliated nonprofits have dedicated more than $500,000 over four years to help students living in HACP housing with college tuition.

HACP’s nonprofit affiliate Clean Slate E3 and its partner organization NEED are offering scholarships to 23 new recipients and nine returning students. The group of 32 students is the largest in the scholarship program’s 13-year history.

The scholarship initiative launched in 2009. Since, Clean Slate E3 has partnered with Pittsburgh-based nonprofit NEED to grant scholarships to 159 students living in HACP housing.

Students who benefit from the scholarship program each receive $4,000 a year from Clean Slate E3 and $1,000 a year from NEED, for a total of $5,000 annually per student. Students can receive the annual scholarship for up to four years.

The scholarship program has sent students to schools around the country, ranging from the University of Pittsburgh to Howard University, according to HACP.

The program awards scholarships to high school seniors who have a cumulative GPA of at least 2.5 and will be attending school full-time.

“This commitment from the Housing Authority and their nonprofit affiliates will make a significant, positive impact on the lives of these students,” Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey said. “I’m very pleased to see the level of interest in the program and proud that both Clean Slate E3 and NEED have stepped up to support the largest incoming class of students in the history of the program.”

Scholarship recipient Nuriyah Mada is a 2020 graduate of Taylor Allderdice High School who is majoring in social work at the Community College of Allegheny County.

“I was extremely happy because with the scholarship, I did not have to worry about paying for school,” Mada said.

Michelle Sandidge, chief community affairs officer for HACP, said the organization is proud to be supporting the program’s largest class of students.

“HACP, Clean Slate E3 and NEED are deeply committed to helping students reach their full potential and we’re extremely proud to be able to broaden the scope of our program this year,” she said.