Schools Get a Boost, Housing Gets a Cut

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Brandon Teens Just Got a “What’s Next?” Cheat Code 🎓

High school seniors, you just lost your best excuse for answering “I dunno” when someone asks what’s next after graduation.

The Hillsborough Education Foundation is rolling out the SCOPE program (Student Center of Postsecondary Exploration) to all county high schools, including some that have already been quietly changing futures for years.

Think of SCOPE like a GPS for life after high school. Whether you’re college-bound, military-curious, trade school-inclined, or still hoping your TikTok dance career takes off, SCOPE’s there to point you in the right direction. They’ll help with everything from finding scholarships to figuring out which programs fit you best.

One local grad, Valentina Jimenez, almost gave up on her college dream after moving here from Colombia — but with the help of her school’s SCOPE coordinator, she’s now headed to Hillsborough College. Proof that with the right support (and a stubborn streak), big dreams can survive even high school.

Bottom line: if you’re in high school, SCOPE just became your new best friend. And if you’re a parent, this is your shot at getting your teen to talk about the future without bribing them with Starbucks.

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🐝 WHAT’S BUZZING AROUND TOWN 🐝

HOPE Fights to Keep a Roof Over Hillsborough’s Head 🏠

Hillsborough’s affordable housing safety net just got a whole lot thinner, and HOPE isn’t taking it lying down.

The HOPE Affordable Housing Trust Fund was supposed to get $10 million every year to help low- and very low-income families. That money builds and supports affordable housing like the Uptown Sky Apartments, which still has more than 600 people on the waitlist. Countywide, over 1,500 residents are unhoused, and plenty more are hanging on to their homes by their fingertips thanks to rising rents.

But in June, county commissioners repealed the ordinance guaranteeing that $10 million a year. After public pushback, including HOPE showing up in force, some of the money was put back. Right now, the proposed 2026 budget has just $1.4 million earmarked.

HOPE leaders say that’s not enough and plan to pack the final budget hearings on Sept. 4 and Sept. 18 at 6 p.m. to demand the full $10 million be restored.

Supporters say every county dollar in the fund brings in another $5–$6 in outside investment and avoids the red tape of state funding. Opponents say the money should go to public safety instead.

Bottom line? The fight’s not over, and if affordable housing matters to you, HOPE wants you in a seat at those budget hearings, preferably with your “don’t mess with my rent” face on.

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A Final Note

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