Scholarships & Professional Development
Scholarships
The Housing Authority of the City of Elizabeth, which manages the Resident Opportunities and Self-Sufficiency (ROSS) Grant Program, partners with Prevention Links to provide service coordinators to assess residents’ needs and enable them to utilize supportive services and resident empowerment resources available in the community. The goal is for residents to increase their earned income, reduce or eliminate the need for welfare assistance, and make progress toward economic independence and housing self-sufficiency. By meeting professional, financial, health, and educational goals, residents have the tools to become more self-sufficient.
Apply for a HACE Scholarship
The Housing Authority of the City of Elizabeth believes that education contributes to a successful future and improves the lives of residents. In addition to providing housing and supportive services, HACE will be awarding five scholarships for $2,000 each to residents/section VIII participants of HACE owned and/or managed properties. These scholarships, at the discretion of the award winners, will go to college, technical/trade school expenses for books, tuition & fees, transportation, etc. The following scholarships are available.
Please review residency requirements prior to completing the scholarship application.
APPLICATION DEADLINE: JUNE 30, 2023
Submit an online application HERE
Email the scholarship committee with any questions or concerns at scholarshipfund@hacenj.com.
Scholarships will be awarded on July 14, 2023.
Annual NJNAHRO Scholarship
The New Jersey Chapter of the National Association of Housing & Redevelopment Officials (NJNAHRO) accepts applications to its scholarship program annually. Since 2011, over $50,000.00 in scholarships have been distributed to deserving, low & moderate income students. The program is open to both High School Seniors and applicants that previously graduated and would like to go back to school. It is available for college and trade schools. You must be a resident of public housing or Section 8 for a minimum of 12 months prior to submitting an application.
All applications must be submitted by your Housing Authority and must be 100% complete with all required attachments. Information about the Scholarship Program can also be obtained at: NJNAHRO.ORG
Additional Scholarship Opportunities
HACE assists residents in identifying and accessing scholarship opportunities for young adults interested in attending college. This includes providing assistance in applying for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). It also includes publicizing The Housing Authority of the City of Elizabeth (HACE) Scholarship. Other scholarship opportunities include The Housing Authority Insurance (HAI) Group Scholarship and the City of Elizabeth Arabella Miller Halsey Trust Fund.
The Housing Authority of the City of Elizabeth (HACE) Scholarship was established in 2012. This scholarship provides a one-time (non-renewable, up to) $1,000.00 scholarship offered to high school graduating seniors and college freshmen, sophomores, juniors, or seniors at historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) or an approved New Jersey College or University. Applicants must have a 2.5 Grade Point Average (GPA), a permanent address within The Housing Authority of the City of Elizabeth, and be a public housing/Section 8/Tax Credit resident. In addition, HACE provides a one-time (non-renewable, up to) $1,000.00 scholarship for a current graduate student enrolled at any accredited four-year college or university within the United States. Applicants must have a 2.5 GPA, a permanent address within The Housing Authority of the City of Elizabeth, and be a public housing/Section 8/Tax Credit resident.
Professional Development
College Tours
Every fall and spring, high school residents have the opportunity to partake in college tours around the country to explore education and diverse career paths. We offer residents more than just a tour of each college, we also help expose students to the area the college is located in, giving them a full experience of what to expect and helping them to envision their future.
Job Readiness
Residents have access to job readiness assistance that includes, but is not limited to, drafting resumes and cover letters, and engaging clients in job search activities such as completing online employment applications, preparing for attendance at job fairs, and referring them to partners like Union County College (UCC). These partners offer opportunities to develop new skills like computer literacy and English as a Second Language (ESL) classes which are either free or affordable and will increase a job candidate’s appeal to prospective employers.
Clients visit the office to access information about employment opportunities. Therefore, in partnership with a Job Developer at Union County College (UCC), copies of a weekly Job Connection bulletin are made available for review and consideration. Clients are also provided with information on employment websites that post currently available positions.
HACE provides local residents with free access to needed technologies such as computers and printer, copier, and fax machines. This equipment is utilized to address a variety of needs like the following: surfing employment websites and checking job postings, completing employment applications, applying and checking New Jersey Unemployment Insurance benefits online, paying traffic violations and NJ Motor Vehicle Commission fines, completing educational and occupational training assignments, applying for USF (Universal Service Fund)/LIHEAP (Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program), accessing rental or utility assistance programs (i.e. PROCEED Inc., Catholic Charities, Urban League, St. Joseph’s Social Services), and referrals to Furniture Assist, food pantries, and/or other such services that are needed.
HACE encourages all clients to establish a free email account to assist with job search activities, as all online applications require one. Also, we encourage them to check their emails on a regular basis by making use of the Computer Lab, if they do not have access to this technology at home.
HACE staff is available to work with clients who express an interest in vocational training by assisting them to identify potential funding sources to cover the cost of training (i.e. One Stop, Pell Grants, Division of Vocational Rehabilitation – DVR, other Financial Aid) and to select an appropriate cost-effective program to meet their training and/or employment goals.
HACE’s Jobs Plus team has practical experience in aiding local residents who require assistance with the process of expungement of criminal records. Though not all criminal records can be expunged, when successful, expungement opens doors and allows individuals whose criminal backgrounds impeded their efforts at job search to secure employment.
HACES’s Jobs Plus Program at Mravlag Manor
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development awarded HACE with funding to implement its Jobs Plus University Program. This program allows Mravlag Manor residents to work and earn more money without an increase in rent. The Housing Authority of the City of Elizabeth has partnered with organizations to provide education and training to our Jobs Plus Participants:
- Job Searching, Networking, & Placement
- Resume Writing Support
- Communication & Interview Skills
- Virtual & In-Person Hiring Events
- Computer & Financial Proficienc
- Transportation Resources
- Business Attire Resources
- Child Care Resources
- Education Advancement (ESL & GED)
- Assistance with the Expungement of Applicable Charges
Break down the barriers to your success with Jobs Plus!