Frequently Asked Questions
Use the toggles below to find answers to common inquiries about eligibility, the application process, award details, and more, to assist you in successfully applying for our scholarship opportunities.
What can the scholarship money be used for?
The $6,000 scholarship check that gets sent directly to your school can only be used for tuition, school supplies, or books for the fall 2025 academic term. Unused funds from the fall 2025 academic term may then be used during the remaining 2025-2026 academic year (winter 2026, spring 2026, summer 2026 semester; if applicable). It is the responsibility of the school to hold these funds in the F.B.O (For the Benefit Of) account for the student. Please note that school supplies must be purchased through your school to use your scholarship funds.
Can the scholarship funds be used toward past tuition expenses?
The 2025 Resident Scholarship funds awarded to the recipient’s school may only be used for the 2025-2026 academic year for tuition, school supplies, and books. Funds may not be used towards past due balances before the 2025-2026 academic year.
Can I choose which semester in the 2025-2026 academic year to use the scholarship for?
If you receive the 2025 resident scholarship, it must be used for the fall 2025 semester. If there are funds remaining after the fall 2025 semester, you are allowed to roll those extra funds over to the winter 2026 semester, spring 2026 semester, and/or summer 2026 semester. If you choose to do so, please notify your financial aid office of your academic plans. If your school accidentally returns the remaining scholarship funds that you intended on using for the remainder of the 2025-2026 academic year, contact us at scholarship@haigroup.com as soon as possible so that we can return the funds to your F.B.O. account. Important: Your school will be notified to return any remaining funds after the summer 2026 semester to us no later than September 1, 2026.
Will I be notified if I’m not selected to receive a scholarship after submitting my entry form?
Yes, once we have officially selected all 20 scholarship recipients for a given year, we will send an email (around July 2025) to all applicants to notify them that the scholarship program has officially closed.
How many times can I apply for this scholarship?
You are only allowed to apply to our scholarship program one time per year. If you submit multiple applications, we will only accept your first submission in our drawing.
What are the eligibility requirements to apply for this scholarship?
To be eligible to apply, you must be a legal citizen of the United States or be a permanent resident in the United States (with a green card) and live (by the date that you submit your application) in a public housing authority or a property with a Housing Choice Voucher administered by a housing authority that is insured by HAI Group. If you are unsure if HAI Group insures your property, contact us at scholarship@haigroup.com.
Lastly to be eligible, you also must be attending one of the following institutions in the fall of 2025:
- Accredited or licensed technical school
- Two-year college or university
- Four-year college or university
- Master’s degree or PhD program
Is there an age restriction to apply?
As long as you are attending one of the institutions listed above in the fall of 2025, you are eligible to apply. If you are under 18 at the time of applying, you will need a guardian to sign the affidavit form as part of the application.
I am still waiting to hear back from a school/college/university to know if I have been accepted for the fall 2025 semester. Can I still apply for this scholarship?
Yes, you may still apply even if you still have not received acceptance to a school/college/university at the time of submitting your application. We understand that some schools do not send out acceptance letters until late spring.
If I am selected as a recipient of a scholarship this year, but then move to a new residence next year, will I still be eligible to receive the scholarship for up to four consecutive years? Or, do I need to be living in the same residence for all four years?
We only require proof of residency the first year you apply. Therefore, after you receive the scholarship for the first year, if at any time you move to a different property or move out of public housing, you are still eligible to receive the scholarship for up to four consecutive years.
Step 1 – Fill out and submit an application
Go to our website to access our online application. You will be required to enter your name, address, contact information, and the name of the housing agency that your residence is tied to. Once you fill in all required fields and attach all required documents, you will receive a confirmation email to confirm we have received your application.
- Important forms to note: You must fill out the “affidavit form” as the applicant; however if you are under 18, you will need to have your guardian sign off on this form. Be sure to scan and include all pages when submitting this document. The “proof of residency form” must be filled out by an FSSC or resident services coordinator at the housing agency of the applicant.
Step 2 – Selection of recipients
We will only accept complete applications of eligible participants to enter our drawing to receive a scholarship. The number of new scholarships recipients out of the 20 available scholarships will be based upon how many scholarships are awarded to previous recipients (those individuals have the opportunity to receive this scholarship for up to four consecutive years.) For new applicants, they will be selected via a random drawing by an authorized employee at HAI Group.
Step 3 – Notification
Potential recipients will be contacted via email if they have been selected. At that time, we may require additional information, such as a proof of enrollment form from the school that you will be attending in the fall. If we are unable to contact you for any reason, it will be deemed that you rejected the scholarship, and a new potential recipient will be picked.
Step 4 – Award and Payment
If you are selected as a potential recipient, and all of the required document(s) are received within the specific timeframe; you will become an official recipient of a $6,000 scholarship that can be used for the fall 2025 academic term (and if funds remain after the fall 2025 term, they may be used during the remaining 2025-2026 academic year (winter 2026, spring 2026, and summer 2026 semesters; if applicable) and it is the responsibility of the school to hold these funds in the F.B.O. (For the Benefit Of) account for the student. Payment will be sent directly to your college or institute from HAI Group. Once all recipients are confirmed, applicants who did not receive a scholarship will be notified via email.
How will I be notified if I have been selected as a potential scholarship recipient?
If you have been selected as a potential recipient, you will receive an email from scholarship@haigroup.com notifying you of this news. You will be told of any remaining documents that are required and given a deadline to submit them by. If you do not submit these required documents by the deadline, you will be disqualified. Extensions can be given on a case-by-case basis if there are circumstances out of your control that will not allow you to submit particular documents by the given deadline.
How are applicants selected as potential recipients?
Eligible applicants who submit a complete application before the entry period closes, will be entered into a random drawing, with recipients being drawn by an authorized employee at HAI Group.
Once the entry period closes, when will potential recipients be notified?
On or about Monday, June 2, 2025, HAI Group will hold a random drawing to select potential recipients to fill the remaining available scholarship slots that have not been filled by past recipients. (These individuals are eligible to receive the scholarship for up to four consecutive years). From there, we will confirm the residency of each of these potential new recipients by reaching out to the individual at the housing authority or property management company who signed the applicant’s “proof of enrollment form.” Once we receive residency confirmation, we will then send an email notification to the applicant with the next steps.
