Education

EMPOWERING RESIDENTS

At Opportunity Home San Antonio, we commit numerous resources to empower residents to achieve their educational goals.

Supporting Resident Success

We are committed to the development of educational opportunities to help break the cycle of poverty among students who reside at subsidized properties of the Public Housing and Housing Choice Voucher Programs. We are dedicated to helping youth who reside in public housing or HCV properties attain self-sufficiency through educational opportunities.

Resident Scholarship

Opportunity Home rESIDENT SCHOLARSHIP

Applications due July 22, 2024 by 8 a.m.

The rising cost of higher education makes it challenging for many to attend college. That’s why Opportunity Home provides up to $1,500 renewable scholarships to students who have shown strong academic, social and extracurricular success.

Students previously awarded Opportunity Home Resident Scholarships are eligible to apply as a renewal applicant for a maximum of five years. Students who have a break (non-consecutive years) in renewal may be considered for funding. Special situations will be reviewed by the scholarship committee on a case-by-case basis. Renewal applicants are responsible for renewing scholarships every year.

APPLY HERE


ELIGIBILITY
  • Must be a resident of an Opportunity Home San Antonio housing assistance program (Housing Choice Voucher, Public Housing, or Beacon Communities) at the time of application (as stated on the lease).
  • Must be a graduating high school senior, current full-time student, or entering as a college student in Fall 2024.
  • Opportunity Home San Antonio Resident Scholarships are capped at five awards for a maximum of five years.
  • Must be enrolled as a full-time student (12 hours of undergraduate coursework or nine hours of graduate coursework).
  • Must have a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale.
  • The scholarship award is $1,500 for the school year and will be disbursed in two equal payments.
GUIDELINES FOR ALL APPLICANTS
  • Complete the online application with all sections filled out. (Please mark “N/A” if something does
    not apply; do not leave blank form fields.)
  • Proof of full-time enrollment for the upcoming semester and/or school year. (Submit this document with your online application; legible PDF files and scanned images are acceptable. Screenshots are not acceptable.)
  • Proof of GPA for the most recent semester and/or most recently completed school transcript (Submit this document with your online application; unofficial transcripts are acceptable if submitted as legible PDF files and/or scanned images. Screenshots are not acceptable.)
  • Applicants can receive the Opportunity Home San Antonio Resident Scholarship for up to five (5) years.
  • 500-word essay: “How a Loved One or Pet Has Grounded You in a Big City Environment”
    • In this 500-word essay, reflect on the meaningful role a loved one (such as a family member, friend, neighbor, or mentor) or a pet has played in your life as an Opportunity Home resident of a large metropolitan city. Consider addressing the following: The unique challenges or distractions of living in a bustling urban environment and how this loved one or pet has provided a sense of stability, comfort, or perspective amidst the constant motion and stimuli. How has this relationship served as a constant or “anchor” in your life, helping you maintain focus on your values, goals, or personal growth despite the fast-paced nature of city living? How has this relationship’s support, companionship, or unconditional love motivated you to overcome obstacles, pursue your ambitions, or impact your community? This essay provides an opportunity to illustrate how meaningful relationships can profoundly impact one’s life journey, especially in a dynamic city environment with unique experiences and pressures. A thoughtful response can highlight your ability to find grounding and inspiration amidst the complexities of urban living.
  • The scholarship is a “no use restriction” award. This means that scholarship recipients may use the funds however they choose, including, but not limited to, expenses for books, tuition, school supplies, etc.
APPLICATION CHECKLIST

Application Deadline: July 22, 2024

All supporting documents must be submitted electronically through the online application form or emailed to [email protected] by 8:00 a.m. on July 22, 2024.

  • Only complete applications with all required documents submitted on time will be considered for this competitive award. Incomplete or late applications will not be considered.
  • Scholarship recipients are strongly encouraged to attend the photoshoot and Scholarship Award Ceremony in August 2024, a date to be determined.

TIMELINE
  • July 22: Deadline to submit an application and all documents
  • June 10 – July 19: Application review and selection process
  • July 26: Award recipients will be notified via email
  • August 16: First disbursement for Fall 2024
  • August 16: Processing appointment and photoshoot at Opportunity Home (Award ceremony tentative)
  • December 16, 2024: Begin submitting proof of eligibility, transcript, and proof of registration for Spring 2025. All documents must be received by January 5, 2025, to be paid by January 10, 2025. (Please note that Opportunity Home will be closed from December 23, 2024 to January 1, 2025)
  • January 10, 2025: Spring 2025 disbursement (second half) paid by direct deposit or mailed.

PASSION FOR LIFE MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP

JOSHUA LONGORIA “PASSION FOR LIFE” MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP

You do not have to complete a separate application for this award. Eligible applicants may receive an additional one-time award of $500. Applicants must not have previously received this scholarship to be considered for this additional award. The essay you write is very important as there are a limited number of PFL scholarships available.

Applications due July 22, 2024 by 8 a.m.

ABOUT JOSHUA LONGORIA | 1994–2018

The Joshua Longoria “Passion for Life” Memorial Scholarship is open to students striving to seek the truest desire to serve others with conviction and compassion. In establishing this scholarship, Joshua’s mother and Opportunity Home employee, Laura Longoria, and her family wish to recognize students that are dedicated to continuing their education and achieve a career goal that Joshua was unable to complete due to his shortened life. When Joshua was diagnosed with melanoma cancer, it quickly spread to his bones. Daily tasks such as getting out of bed became too difficult, and he was unable to work. Despite his condition, his cancer never hardened his heart. Joshua was touched by incredible people in all career fields he met in his life. It gave him a passion for life with a focus on being the best son, brother, nephew, grandson, friend, boyfriend, cousin, patient and positive acquaintance to all who met him. Joshua lived in a way that made his entire family see the incredible young adult he was and the remarkable man he would have been.

APPLY HERE


 

ADDITIONAL ELIGIBILITY – NO SEPARATE APPLICATION
  • Must be a resident of an Opportunity Home San Antonio housing assistance program (Housing Choice Voucher, Public Housing, or Beacon Communities) at the time of application (as stated on the lease).
  • Must be a graduating high school senior, college student, or non-traditional student.
  • Must be enrolled as a full-time student (12 hours of undergraduate coursework or nine hours of graduate coursework).
  • Complete a one-page essay addressing the following: “Life encompasses many forms of difficulty, from personal challenges to societal issues. These obstacles can often feel insurmountable. In your chosen field, how do you plan to instill a passion for life in those you will serve, especially during their toughest times? Provide specific examples of how your work will inspire and uplift others. Additionally, discuss how your experiences in overcoming difficulty have shaped your approach and how this will positively impact those who witness your dedication and resilience. You can illustrate with real-life scenarios where your efforts make a tangible difference in people’s lives, fostering hope and motivation.”
MORE INFORMATION
  • Apply Online
    Applications and all supporting documents must be submitted online. No paper applications will be accepted. Applying does not guarantee receipt of a scholarship award.
  • Application Deadline: July 22, 2024
    All supporting documents must be submitted electronically through the online application form or emailed to [email protected] by 8:00 a.m. on July 22, 2024.
  • Only complete applications with all required documents submitted on time will be considered for this competitive award. Incomplete or late applications will not be considered.
  • Scholarship recipients are strongly encouraged to attend the photoshoot and Scholarship Award Ceremony in August 2024, a date to be determined.
TIMELINE
  • July 22: Deadline to submit an application and all documents
  • June 10 – July 19: Application review and selection process
  • July 26: Award recipients will be notified via email
  • August 16: First disbursement for Fall 2024
  • August 16: The Joshua Longoria “Passion For Life” Scholarship Award disbursement (only those who applied for, and were selected, receive this one-time $500 award)
  • August 16: Processing appointment and photoshoot at Opportunity Home San Antonio (Award ceremony tentative)

REACH AWARD

REACH Award

Applications due July 26, 2024 by 5 p.m.

The REACH Award program recognizes the outstanding academic achievements of students living in Opportunity Home San Antonio’s Public Housing or Housing Choice Voucher (HCV or “Section 8”) program. Awards are based on final report card grades and attendance for the school year.

APPLY HERE


Eligibility + Guidelines
  • Applicant must be an Opportunity Home San Antonio’s Public Housing or Housing Choice Voucher program resident.
  • Students must be enrolled in grades K-12
  • Student must have earned one of the following final grades: A, B, or all A/Bs
  • Eligibility for “perfect attendance” is determined by the final report card attendance record.
  • Submit only the student’s final report card (progress reports not accepted).
  • Scan or save the final report card as a PDF and attach it to the application.
  • The final report card must be fully legible and include the entire document.
  • Applications without a complete final report card will be considered incomplete.
  • Only the student’s final report card will be accepted. Progress reports can not be accepted.
Payment Method
  • If your student is selected to receive the REACH award, you will be sent the appropriate documents to set up the payment process.
  • Awards are paid directly to the student via direct deposit or paper check.
  • Parents must open a checking/savings account in the student’s name for direct deposit.
  • Opportunity Home San Antonio can provide local bank/credit union recommendations.
  • Click here for a list of local Credit Unions in San Antonio. (this is a partial list)
Award Scale

Grade

First Semester Second Semester Maximum Award
Amount

Perfect Attendance

$25
$25

$50

All A’s

$25
$25

$50

All A/B’s

$15
$15

$30

All B’s

$10 $10

$20

Timeline
  • Application Deadline: July 26, 2024
  • Committee Review & Selection:  August 16, 2024
  • Award Notifications Emailed: August 22, 2024
  • Payments Issued: September 13, 2024

ConnectHomeSA

Complete a two week, in-person training or 14 at home, self-paced computer training courses and earn a free digital device through ConnectHomeSA. The training is open to all residents participating in Opportunity Home programs.

TRAINING TOPICS

  • Computer Basics
  • Internet Basics/Navigation
  • Email Basics
  • Intro to Microsoft Word/ Google Docs
  • Online Safety & Cyber Security
  • Social Media Basics
  • Financial 101
  • Online Job Searching
  • Mac OS
  • Excel
  • Power Point
  • Telehealth
  • Digital Footprint
  • Information Literacy

CONTACT

Digital Inclusion Manager
210.477.6019 | [email protected]

Discounted Internet Service

More than a dozen internet service providers have agreed to continue offering discounted internet plans to low-income households through the end of 2024, as the federal program subsidizing the discounts comes to an end.

The Affordable Connectivity Program has ended and will no longer be available to families who qualify; however, you can still purchase discounted internet service from providers, such as: AT&T, Spectrum, Verizon and others.

Learn about additional digital resources that are available to you by visiting the link below.

Learn More