#USA #Harrisburg #Fellowship Program #housing research #Pennsylvania Housing

Applications Now Open for 2026 PHFA Housing Policy Fellowship

The Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA) is excited to announce the commencement of the application process for its prestigious 2026 Kathy A. Possinger Housing Policy Fellowship. This initiative aims to support crucial research and foster leadership development within the field of housing and community development.

Fellowship Details

The fellowship provides a stipend of $1,000 per month, culminating in a total of $12,000 for research conducted over a span of up to twelve months. This funding is intended to cover various expenses linked to approved research activities, including expert interviews, acquisition of resources, travel to relevant conferences, and more.

Two fellows will be selected from distinct backgrounds, with one candidate representing an academic institution and the other hailing from a non-academic field. This diversity is designed to yield varied research topics and perspectives, enriching the overall findings and utility of the fellowship.

Objectives of the Fellowship

The primary goal of this program is to contribute to the housing sector by funding research that addresses pressing issues in housing and community development. Additionally, it aims to nurture individual growth as future leaders in the housing sector. The research outcomes will be documented and made publicly accessible to benefit the broader community.

Robin Wiessmann, PHFA's Executive Director and CEO, stated, "We are committed to financing the research of two fellows in 2026. Given the keen interest from both academic and non-academic backgrounds, the insights garnered from this diverse pool will significantly benefit Pennsylvania's housing industry."

Legacy of Kathy Possinger

The fellowship is named in honor of Kathy Possinger, a renowned advocate for affordable housing who devoted two decades of her life to serving the people of Pennsylvania across both public and private sectors. Her notable contributions included her role with PHFA as a board designee, helping to shape policies aimed at enhancing affordable housing and community development.

Application Process

Eligible candidates must be legal residents of Pennsylvania, aged 18 or over, while PHFA staff and board members are ineligible to apply. All applications will be carefully evaluated based on specific criteria outlined on the PHFA website.

The fellowship has previously attracted a diverse pool of applicants, resulting in a wide array of research projects addressing issues such as the impact of property taxes on aging populations, innovative cooperative housing models, and the potential of land trusts as affordable housing solutions.

Important Dates

Potential applicants are urged to submit their applications before the deadline on August 1, 2025, at 5 p.m. For queries related to the fellowship, Amy Sechrist from PHFA can be reached at (717) 780-3945 or by email at [email protected].

About PHFA

The Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency works tirelessly to enhance access to affordable homeownership and rental housing options for older adults, low- to moderate-income families, and individuals with unique housing needs. By implementing well-managed mortgage programs and investing in multifamily housing developments, PHFA promotes economic development throughout the state. Since its establishment in 1972, PHFA has provided over $19.7 billion in funding for approximately 205,147 single-family home mortgage loans and helped create more than 110,284 rental units. Their impressive support has also included distributing around $362 million to local housing initiatives and saving over 51,400 families from foreclosure. PHFA’s operations are funded primarily through the sale of securities and fees, ensuring that taxpayer dollars are not utilized.

This initiative affirms PHFA’s commitment to addressing pressing housing needs and developing future leaders in the housing policy arena.