Kathy A. Possinger Housing Policy Fellowship

Kathy A. Possinger Housing Policy Fellowship

In 2019 PHFA created the Housing Policy Fellowship 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. During her two-decade career, Possinger served Pennsylvanians through her housing work in both the public and private sectors. She held a variety of positions within the housing field including Special Advisor to the acting secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services, Director of the Center for Community and Housing Development, Executive Director of Tri County Community Action, and the City of Harrisburg's Deputy Director of Housing.

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.

Fellowships must be completed over no more than a twelve-month period. Fellows receive a stipend of $1,000 per month ($12,000 maximum), which can be used to pay for travel, conferences, technology, research tools, and/or administrative expenses.

Applicant Eligibility

The Fellowship is open to anyone who meets the following criteria:

• A legal resident of Pennsylvania
• Over the age of 18 years

Applicants do not need to have an institutional, organizational, or governmental affiliation. Applicants could 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.

How to Apply

All application materials must be organized according to the Fellowship Application (linked below) and submitted by email as PDF attachments NO LATER THAN 5 PM EST, FRIDAY, JULY 31st, 2026.

Please review the Fellowship FAQ for answers to common questions regarding the Fellowship. If you have questions that are not addressed in the FAQ.

For materials to submit, please click on the link below.