Coalition Member Spotlight

Greensboro Housing Authority (GHA)

Greensboro Housing Authority (GHA) is dedicated to providing quality programs and activities for residents. In an effort to keep youth out of court and off the streets, GHA offers programs designed with our young people in mind, including team sports, Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts, academic support, and after-school activities.

In addition to weekly youth-violence prevention workshops and homework assistance, members of the GHA-sponsored basketball team enjoy healthy competition by competing each year in games held throughout the state and tournaments throughout the Southeast.

A GHA-sponsored cheerleading squad also competes annually for academic and skills awards while meeting their counterparts around the country. As with the basketball team, GHA cheerleaders are given the opportunity to attend workshops and receive homework assistance. Various scouting programs serve nearly 100 youth and are based in both GHA communities and nearby schools. Scouting activities include camping, field trips, achievement badges, and community service projects. GHA also contracts with the Salvation Army Boys and Girls Clubs to provide after-school tutoring and activities within GHA communities. Other community agencies provide structured youth activities such as entrepreneurial skill development, music appreciation, college campus visits, and leadership development training.

The Public Housing Authority State Athletic Conference (PHASAC), formerly known as “Proud to be Drug-Free Program,” recently concluded its 15th season with a state tournament held in Durham, at North Carolina Central University. The three-day event proved to be fun and competitive for the eight teams participating. The teams are comprised of youth living in housing authorities across the state, ranging from Statesville to Durham.

PHASAC is a season-long project with youth-violence prevention workshops and homework assistance offered every weekend from January through June. The youth violence workshops include topics such as “Dangers of Over-the-Counter Drugs,” “Life After High School,” and “How to Have Meaningful Relationships.” Each team is required to provide a homework assistance program to ensure that the youth are maintaining their grades. The program’s aim is to help at-risk teens stay clean and clear from drugs, improve their grades, keep them busy with structured activities, and give them an opportunity to meet youth from other cities within the state.

The Greensboro Housing Authority’s “Vikings” have participated in PHASAC since its inception. Many youth have said they feel PHASAC helps keep them focused on life’s positive aspects and away from the negative influences of crime, drugs, and peer pressure. One youth recently stated that participating with PHASAC helps make decision-making easier by taking extra time off her hands. Another youth stated to David Meacham, the founder of PHASAC, that if it had not been for PHASAC, he might be dead or in prison by now. There are many former PHASAC players and cheerleaders who have completed college and become very successful. One such player now gives back to the program by volunteering to assist Viking Basketball Coach Michael Curtis.

PHASAC collaborates with Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) and the United States Attorney’s Office and was recently adopted as a best practice model for youth programs. Additional cities are now expressing interest in being involved with PHASAC because of the positive benefits of the program.

The importance of PHASAC is evident by the youth’s participation in the twice-weekly practice and homework assistance program and attendance at games each Saturday during the active six-month basketball season. Programs and activities to assist youth in making wise decisions, keep them on the right side of the law, and direct them in becoming positive and productive citizens are the types of programs and activities Greensboro Housing Authority encourages and promotes for its youth.