The BCOH Family Scholarship provides financial support to South End families who are living paycheck to paycheck. Selected participants will receive a steady amount of $700 each month for up to 24 months to use for their needs and dreams. In addition, participants will have $300 earned in savings monthly, which they can access after successfully completing the program. A total of 100 families will be selected to participate.

The scholarship is funded by a grant called Engaging Neighborhoods, Organizations, Unions, Governments and Households (ENOUGH) through the Maryland Governor’s Office for Children.

The program aims to help families on the benefits cliff – ineligible for other key assistance due to income- in the South End of Hagerstown become more independent and financially stable. Having this monthly scholarship can empower families and reduce barriers to challenges such as childcare, education, and housing. It will also improve overall health and well-being and position families for long-term succuss.

This program is grounded on the values of trust and respect for participants with a commitment to upholding the freedom of choice and dignity of individuals and families. When every resident can reach their full potential, our entire community benefits.

We anticipate having similar results like other similar initiatives across the country:

• Improved physical health and mental well-being.
• Improved educational outcomes.
• Increased economic stability.
• Higher rates of gainful, full-time employment.
• Increased housing and food security.
• A clear plan for a thriving future.

This is a time limited, sustainability focused initiative aimed at families meeting their basic needs and providing key education and support to help families move towards self-sufficiency. The end result should include increased financial knowledge, a clear action plan for the present and future; and it should move the family towards a sustaining wage and better long-term access to opportunities.

Important: Only one application is allowed per household.

To be eligible to participate in the BCOH Family Scholarship program, applicants must:

• You must be 18 or older at the time of application.
• You must be a resident of the South End of Hagerstown for at least 1 year. Please refer to the Bester Community of Hope Boundary Review Map to confirm your address falls within the catchment area.
• You must be the primary caregiver and have at least one child under the age of 18 living in your household.
• You must not currently receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
• Your household income must fall between 130% and 300% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) for your household size. See the table below to determine your eligibility.

Applications are accepted during the open enrollment period. To apply, candidates must complete the online eligibility screener and application. This can be submitted online, and in-person assistance is available if needed.

Residency

• Letter from a government agency on letterhead or benefit document to confirm a address; must be dated within the last 3 months.
• Utility bill with your name and address; must be dated within the last 3 months.
• Child school enrollment
• Confirmation from WCPS or BCOH
• Field verification*

* To be completed in collaboration with the Family Scholarship Manager. 

Identity Verification

• Government issued ID like a driver’s license, passport, green card, or ID card from any state, country, or territory (may be expired)
• Employer issued photo ID

Household Income

• One month of paystubs; must be dated within the last 3 months.
• One month of transaction history from gig economy platform(s) such as Uber, Lyft, Door Dash or Grubhub or self- employment ledger; must be dated within the last 3 months.
• One month of transaction history from self- employment ledger; must be dated within the last 3 months.
• W2 and/or 1099 from tax year 2024

No. Not every applicant will receive payments. After the enrollment period closes, eligible applicants will be entered into a randomized lottery managed by a third-party vendor. The lottery will select 100 participants who will receive payments based on start date assignment. Those placed on the standby list are not guaranteed acceptance and would only be considered if openings become available due to ineligibility of selected applicants.

BCOH will start contacting selected participants immediately following the lottery. Please do not call to confirm acceptance. Eligible participants will be notified of their approval by text, email, or phone call to schedule an intake meeting. The intake meeting will take approximately 90 minutes to complete. The meeting can be in person or online. If online, the participant will need internet access. Failure to respond to communication would result in a denial of the application being considered for approval.

At this point, applicants that were not selected will receive a letter in the mail. Payments for participants will begin in Fall 2025. If fraudulent information is provided, you will be discharged from the program and additional action will be taken to recoup any misused resources.

All the information you share on the application will be confidential. Your data will be secure, and it will not be shared without your consent.

Eligible participants will receive their monthly payments by direct deposit through pre-paid cards via a third-party vendor that will be provided by BCOH.

The $700 monthly payment is considered a gift, not income, and should not impact your taxes. Under IRS rules, gifts under $18,000 per year (2024 IRS) are generally not taxable. However, tax situations can vary. We recommend speaking with a tax specialist to understand how this may apply to your individual circumstances.

Social Security Administration considers the $700/month payment as income. Therefore, it can impact Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Because this impact poses too high a risk, BCOH has chosen to exclude individuals currently receiving SSI from the program in order to reduce potential harm to those we serve.

It will not affect Social Security Disability (SSD), please speak with a Benefits Counselor for more details. 

The money you receive from this scholarship is unconditional and it is intended to support your families journey to thriving. Guidance on how to spend towards your needs and dreams will be provided through a variety of ways. Expenses will be monitored and discussed with participants for educational purposes.

Throughout the duration of the program, participants are expected to stay actively engaged and maintain open communication. This includes program related activities as well as attending monthly check-ins and completing all mandatory onboarding sessions, surveys, etc. Participants must also provide accurate and up-to-date contact information and notify the Family Scholarship Manager of any changes to their contact details or living situation.

Participation in monthly sessions, surveys, and check-ins is mandatory. If a session is missed, payments will be placed on hold. A meeting will be scheduled to discuss payment continuation.

Bester Community of Hope (BCOH) is available via email and phone during business hours. You may contact the office at (240) 513-6370 or email [email protected].

We understand that this is a unique opportunity, and we would like to offer it to as many families as possible, but funding simply does not allow. Bester Community of Hope provides other opportunities to connect with a variety of community-based supports through our partner organizations, which may be able to assist you with your individual needs. Our hope is to deliver meaningful outcomes for the families who are enrolled, helping to justify additional investments in the future.