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To apply for this role, please use this link and do not apply directly on this site: https://www.phfa.org/about/fellowship/
Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA)
2025 Kathy A. Possinger Housing Policy Fellowship Application
May 1, 2025
The Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency ("PHFA" or the "Agency") was established in 1972. PHFA is an agency of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania existing and operating under state law for the purpose of providing affordable housing and fostering community and economic development to make the Commonwealth a better place to live. Among its programs, PHFA provides capital for decent, safe, and affordable homes and apartments for older adults, persons of modest means and persons with special housing needs. Additional information about PHFA's programs is available at www.phfa.org.
Created in 2019, the Housing Policy Fellowship (the "Fellowship") aims to further the Agency’s mission and foster the development of new leaders in the housing and community development field. In 2021, the fellowship was renamed the Kathy A. Possinger Housing Policy Fellowship in honor of PHFA board designee and affordable housing champion Kathy A. Possinger. Possinger served Pennsylvanians for two decades through her housing work in both the public and private sectors.
The goal of this program is to support the development of new perspectives and approaches to significant unmet housing or community development needs across Pennsylvania through a self-directed research project. The program will also cultivate new housing and community development leaders.
The Fellowship and any associated research or work must begin within six months of the date of the award letter and must be completed within twelve months of the date of the award letter.
Each fellow receives a stipend of $1,000 per month ($12,000 annual maximum).
The stipend can be used to pay for travel, conferences, technology, research tools, and/or administrative expenses.
Applicants must meet the following criteria:
Applicants do not need to have an institutional, organizational, or governmental affiliation. Applicants can be currently enrolled students (graduate, undergraduate, full-time, or part-time), employees of a non-profit, for-profit, or unit of government, or even self-employed.
Fellowship eligibility has been left intentionally broad to ensure it is accessible to all Pennsylvanians with a relevant research project in need of financial support.
Current PHFA staff and Board Members are not eligible to apply.
Eligible research projects must have a connection to housing and community development in Pennsylvania. The findings from and application of Fellowship research should be relevant and useful in expanding PHFA’s and other housing policy groups’ knowledge of the topic of study.
PHFA encourages projects that will seek to gain a new perspective or implement an innovative approach to an unmet housing or community development need. Projects that utilize a unique perspective or innovative solution/methodology are encouraged.
Examples of possible areas of research include (but are not limited to):
Fellowships may not be used for: promotion of a particular political, religious, or ideological point of view; advocacy of a particular program of social or political action; support of specific public policies or legislation; and/or preparation or revision of textbooks.
Reviewers will apply the following five criteria when judging the quality of Fellowship applications (the “Application”):
PHFA will not review late, incomplete, or ineligible Applications. Applications exceeding the page limits for any of the application elements will not be reviewed.
Applications should be single-spaced pages with one-inch margins. Font size should be no smaller than 11 points. Applications exceeding page limits for the various components or which do not follow format instructions will be declared ineligible and will not be reviewed.
Narrative (Four single-spaced pages maximum)
The narrative should provide a clear explanation of and justification for the project. It should not assume specialized knowledge of the subject matter and should avoid technical terms and jargon.
The Application narrative must address the five areas listed below:
Issue and Significance
Describe the housing or community development issue that is significant/relevant and how the project will seek further insight, research, documentation, or solution(s) to the issue. State the project’s thesis and provide an overview, explaining the idea, problem, or question to be examined by the project. Explain how the project will complement, challenge, or expand issues in the field.
Methods and Work Plan
Describe your method(s). Indicate the current state of the project and what you will be undertaking during the year of the stipend. Provide a work plan describing what will be accomplished during the Fellowship, where you will be located and how you will spend time on the project. Describe where the project will be conducted and what additional materials, technology will be used. Your work plan should be based on the amount of time you feel it will take to complete the project.
Competencies, Skills, and Background
Explain your competence, qualifications, and background in the area of the project. If the area is new to you, explain your reasons for working in it and your qualifications for doing so.
Final Product and Dissemination
Describe the intended audience and anticipated results of the project. Explain how the project findings will be shared and why the means of dissemination are appropriate.
PHFA expects award recipients to provide broad access to all Fellowship products. PHFA will require each fellow to complete and submit a final report to the Agency on the findings of the research project. The Agency may also require fellows to and, if requested by the Agency, present the final project and report to the PHFA Board, senior staff, and other stakeholders. A copy of final project materials produced as part of the Fellowship will be shared and maintained by the Agency to ensure their long-term availability.
Project Funding
Applicants should provide a brief paragraph discussing how the PHFA Fellowship funds will impact the completion of their project. Applicants should also address if and how their project will get completed if they are not awarded PHFA funding and if any other funding sources will be used to complete their stated research project.
Resume (Two single-spaced pages maximum)
Your resume should address the following:
Letters of Recommendation
Two letters of recommendation are required. Letters of recommendation may be professional, academic, or personal. Letters should address the applicant’s interest in housing and community development and their ability to successfully complete the project.
Letters should be provided to the applicant and submitted as part of the Fellowship application.
All application materials must be organized according to this Application and submitted by email with PDF attachments. The subject line of the application submission email must read as follows: “2026 PHFA Fellowship Application” and must be submitted NO LATER THAN 5 PM EST, FRIDAY, August 1st, 2025, to PolicyFellowship@phfa.org. Application materials must be submitted to the attention of Amy Sechrist utilizing the following information:
Amy Sechrist
Senior Policy Officer
Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency
Email: PolicyFellowship@phfa.org
Phone: 717.780.3945
Questions concerning the Fellowship or Application can be emailed to Amy Sechrist at PolicyFellowship@phfa.org.
Additional details regarding the Fellowship are available at: https://www.phfa.org/about/fellowship/
As an employer, PHFA is committed to having a workforce that is diverse and reflects the residents that it serves. We strive to maintain a workplace where all employees and applicants for employment receive equal opportunities in all aspects of employment. There are numerous policies in place at PHFA to help us honor this commitment.
The Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, disability, family status, gender, national origin, political affiliation, race or religion.
PHFA values, honors and commits to the equitable treatment and elimination of discrimination in all forms. We are committed to the diversity of all staff, and in all programs and services offered.