A publication of the Edinburg Housing Authority.
EL REFLEJO F e b r u a r y
Volume 3, Issue 2
RODOLFO “RUDY” RAMIREZ E x e c u t iv e D i r e c t o r
BOARD OF MEMBERS 2015
“ED” GONZALEZ CH AI RMAN
ARMANDO BARRERA
2 0 1 5
Running the Distance Staff and residents participate in 33rd Annual All All--America 10K Besides being one of the poorest regions according to studies, South Texas is also affected by high obesity rates due to unhealthy habits and lack of physical fitness.
Participation in the event was greatly encouraged by Executive Director Rodolfo “Rudy” Ramirez since early January with his goal to promote families of staff and residents to exercise. About 68 residents As a result, in an effort to and staff members participated encourage public housing in the event.
“Seeing Mr. Ramirez run with me made me feel proud and made me realize that anything is possible if you put your effort and don't give up,” said the 19-yearold. As the coordinator for the
VI CE CE-- CH A IRMAN
JOE RODRIGUEZ CO MM IS SI ONE ONER R
CRIS TORRES CO MM IS SI ONER
JUAN GUZMAN RE SI DENT C OMM IS SI ONER
Main Office Ciro Trevino Administration Building 910 S. Sugar Rd. Edinburg, Texas, 78539
Mon.—Thurs. 8 a.m.—5:30 p.m.
Friday 8 a.m.—12 p.m.
residents to live healthy and active lifestyles, staff from the Edinburg Housing Authority joined with residents to participate in the 33rd Annual All-America City 10K Run/Walk held Saturday, Feb.7, 2015 at the Edinburg Parks & Recreation.
“I am trying to lead by example,” said Mr. Ramirez of his own participation in the 10K. “I find this method very effective.”
Youth Leadership Association, Oros felt happy to represent the Edinburg Housing Authority during the event.
For Diego Oros, one of the residents who ran the 10K, seeing the executive director take part in the event was encouraging.
“Being able to participate in the 10K along with other residents was a very rewarding experience,” said Oros. “Not only did we spent Continued on Page 2
Page 2
Continued from the first page... quality time but got to show the community that EHA is engaged and moving forward.”
Mr. Ramirez Executive Director
According to Mr. Ramirez, he hopes to continue encouraging physical fitness and health amongst those his serves and to participate in future 10K’s.
Besides running in the 10K or the Fun Run, a smaller race, residents and staff had the option to volunteer with the Youth Leadership Association to give water to runners at different water stations throughout the race.
“Like Mr. Ramirez, Olga Regalado the Members of the Youth Leadership Association Section 8 Supervisor volunteered at water station to give water to runners. also enjoyed the run. I wanted to show support to our running team,” she said.
A
Rudy Ramirez
Executive Director
EL REFLEJO
“It felt good to see many community leaders wear (our) shirt.”
Assessing Your Needs
Diego Oros Resident
“I’ve asked these kids what they want to do when they grow up and 99 percent said they want to get an education and help (their) mom and dad get out of housing.”
“For sure I will do next year,” Mr. Ramirez expressed. “My goal is to increase our staff and residents’ participating and maybe eventually promote our own EHA Running Team.”
mong the many efforts the Edinburg Housing Authority is doing through the new partnership with the University of TexasPan American to bring free opportunities for its residents is working with the Department of Social Work to develop and administer a new survey that will assess the needs of residents. Surveys are like questionnaires that agencies and businesses often use to
collect data in order to analyze features in areas or groups bvxvbxvxAware that that is revoluneedtechnology improvement. Due to tionizing changes, and becomingnew constant an important of ourEHA initiatives and part programs world, a group of Edinburg has implemented in this past Housing Authority year as well as othersstudents it plans to participated in thewould Hour like of to bring, the agency Code on Monday, Dec. 29, conduct a new needs 2014. assessment survey to analyze the most of recent The Hour Code is aneeds glob- of housing residents. al movement dedicated to
f
reach millions of studies in
“It just makes sense to partner countries worldwide. up with the University because of all these services thatstuwe are During the event, EHA getting free of cost and we are helping each other,” said Mr. Ramirez in an interview for UTPA’s campus newspaper, the Pan American.
As a result, the Executive Director Rodolfo “Rudy” Ramirez and the executive team members have been working closely with John Garcia, a UTPA graduate student and macro social worker developing the needs assessment survey. “Needs assessments are done so we can determine what type of help all the people require, take that to the University so that departments can tailor programs to help teach them (residents) what they need to get jobs and be successful,” the graduate student said
VThe o l u msurvey e 3 , will I s s u ask e 2 residents
about their expenses, health problems, activities, and their access to the Internet and a computer and will also determine what their future ambitions are. Ramirez and Garcia believe these questions can potentially close the digital divide, which is the social inequality of persons and their limited knowledge of technology, and ultimately help the agency bring opportunities to give them access to the web. Because according to Mr. Ramirez, education is crucial is helping families cycle out of housing and become selfsufficient, he hopes his efforts will
lead to students obtaining an education and ultimately help their families.
“If you stop and think about it they (housing students) don’t have educational goals because they don’t want to burden (their) mom and dad.” Rudy Ramirez Executive Director.
“If you stop and think about, they (housing students) don’t have educational goals because they don’t want to burden (their) mom and dad,” said the executive director. “I know that education is going to open doors.
P a g what e 3 When he’s asked students they want to do when they grow up, Mr. Ramirez said education was their top answer.
“I’ve asked these kids what they want to do when they grow up and 99 percent said they want to get an education and help (their) mom and dad get out of housing,” he shared. As soon as the survey is finalized, EHA plans to have all residents complete it with the help of the Social Work Department in the coming months. With their needs in mind, the agency would like to ask residents to please answer the survey to the best of their ability and honestly as possible when the time comes.
EHA’s Immigration Outreach Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals | Deferred Action for Parental Accountability
A
ware that a great number of our residents could qualify for President Obama’s executive actions on immigration, this month EHA commenced new efforts with the UTPA Minority Affairs Council and the DREAM Home community organization to help provide them with the most accurate information. The Minority Affairs Council (MAC) is a University of TexasPan American student organization that focuses on empowering and encouraging education amongst minorities and undocumented students. MAC is led by students like Sarah Chavez, Abraham Diaz and Patricia Estrada whose efforts led to the creation of the DREAM Home initiative, a non-profit
group that will offer free housing for undocumented students attending UTPA. First announced November 20, 2014, President Obama’s new actions included changes to the current DACA program and allowed parents of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents who have been in the country since January 1, 2010 and pass criminal background checks the opportunity to obtain deferred action and a three year employment authorization. Early in February, the Executive Director Rodolfo “Rudy” Ramirez met with Chavez and Diaz to plan the Immigration Outreach which will help residents find out whether or not they qualify for the
new relief and inform them of the application process. In the coming weeks, the Immigration Outreach will be having free DACA Days in the community centers of each of the developments where immigration information and updates will be shared as well as help answer questions residents may have. The first Immigration Outreach meeting will be during the next coming weeks in the Administration Building. A complete list of the dates, times and locations of future meetings will be provided for those who attend. For more information residents may contact Claudia Lemus at 956-383-3839. Continued on Page 4
Volume 3, Issue 2
Page 4
But what about the temporary specific action to prevent possible injunction? injustice. In this case, the temporary injunction passed by But what about the temporary Judge Hanen caused President injunction? Obama’s administration to postpone the executive actions Although a temporary injunction on the president’s actions was until the case is settled. issued Feb. 17 by federal Judge Andrew S. Hanen and the immigration actions have been put on hold until the lawsuit is resolved, activist organizations like National Council of La Raza announced that they will continue helping immigrants prepare their applications for when the programs are up and running again.
White House officials announced that they will be appealing the judge’s ruling and even though they will not be taking any applications for undocumented workers, they will continue preparing to put the executive actions into effect.
As a result, with the same hope and intentions, our agency as well According to Cornell University as MAC and DREAM Home still Law School, a temporary plans to offer residents injunction is a court order issued information about DACA and early in a lawsuit that requires a DAPA in case they begin defendant to do or stop doing a
accepting applications again the coming months. It is important that individuals know that the temporary injunction does NOT affect those who obtained and qualify for the president’s 2012 DACA. If you have questions or any concerns we ask that you please attend the Immigration Outreach meetings and become informed. Remember EHA is here to help. If you have questions or any concerns we ask that you please attend the Immigration Outreach meetings and become informed. Remember EHA is here to help but we can only provide you with information and not legal counseling.
Want a $40,000 scholarship for your son/daughter? YOUNG SCHOLARS PROGRAM: APPLICATION CLOSES APRIL 14, 2015 The Young Scholars Program is a selective pre-college scholarship for high-performing middle school students with financial need. The program includes academic advising, financial support and a pathway to the foundation’s $40,000 per year College Scholarship. The application is open to ALL students regardless of immigration status if they meet the criteria: Eligibility Be a current 7th grader Mostly A’s and B’s in core subjects Have a family income under $95,000 Plan to attend high school in the U.S.
Selection Criteria High Academic ability Demonstrate financial need Leadership
To apply 3 letters of recommendation Financial information of last 3 years
There is no application fee and no social security number required If you would like your child to apply for the program and need help or information you may contact Claudia Lemus at 956-383-3839 or visit the website www.jkcf.org/scholarship-programs/young-scholars.
L I M I T E D S PA C E Although EHA would love to make programs available in all of the developments, due to limited space and resources, opportunities like the folkloric classes in the dance studio can only be held in certain developments. We kindly ask that residents are patient towards one another and understand that our agency is doing everything it can to provide these programs even if they are made availa-
Page 5
CLASSES
S C H O L A R S H I P O P P O RT U N I T I E S The Edinburg Housing Authority is pleased to announce the following scholarships for Public Housing and Section 8 High School seniors graduating June 2015.
Southwest NAHRO Scholarship
TUTORING
Application available Feb. 2015 at EHA
Texas NAHRO Scholarship
Estella Lane Trevino Endowed Scholarship
www.txnahro.org 800-617-2900 txnahrobrazosnet.com
HAVE Scholarship Visit EHA for application.
COMPUTER
Kara Shearer Scholarship
www.swnahro.org 800-617-2900 shelli@brazosnet.com
956-665-5301
PHADA Scholarship www.phada.org
If interested in applying for any of these scholarships, please call your manager at 956-383-3839. Also contact the financial aid counselors at your school.
B E A N I M M I G R A N T TA X PAY E R IRS tax filing deadline is April 15, 2015. ESL
All wage earners—regardless of their immigration status—are required to pay federal taxes.
Immigrants Can File Taxes With ITIN The IRS provides ITINs to people like undocumented immigrants who are ineligible for an SSN so they can comply with tax laws. An Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) is a 9-digit tax processing number issued by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS). ART
STEM
ITINs are issued by the IRS specifically as a means to pay federal taxes and can sometimes be accepted for other purposes, such as for opening an interest-bearing bank account, in employment dispute settlements, or for obtaining a mortgage. For more information on how to obtain an ITIN call or visit: IRIS Tax Office 1810 Hale Ave. Harlingen, TX 78550 (956) 365-5185
REMINDERS MUSIC
RENT DEADLINE Due monthly by the 1st, but EHA gives you until the 5th to pay in full. There is a $15 late fee for late payments.
COMMUNITY SERVICE Residents 18+ years old who are not employed 30 hours or more a week, must comply with the 8 hour HUD’s community service requirement.
RESIDENT COUNCIL MEETINGS Interested in finding out what’s happening at EHA or your development? Come find out at our next Resident Council Meeting. Meetings are led by the Executive Director Rodolfo “Rudy” Ramirez and residents. Our next meeting will be:
March 12, 2015 @10 a.m. in Lantana (Snacks will be provided)
Contact your property managers for the complete schedule of days and locations
SERVING FAMILIES SINCE 1949 With more than 65 years of service, the Edinburg Housing Authority takes pride in providing assistance to those who need it most in the Rio Grande Valley. As a result, throughout the years we have focused our agency’s efforts and resources to ensure struggling low-income families with an equal opportunity to obtain safe, decent and affordable public housing, and thus improve their quality of life. But even though we help hundreds of families in need, we realize that to truly help impoverished residents rise out of poverty and better themselves our agency has to do much more than providing them with a place to live. As a result, in addition to providing housing for our residents we have now made it our mission to promote self-sufficiency throughout the agency and do everything in our power to help those we serve develop the necessary work skills and education to succeed and ultimately provide for their loved ones on their own. With dedication, integrity and compassion we take pride in helping our residents each and every day. We believe and ardently hope that through every family we help we make a difference in the present and someday future of the city of Edinburg and the Rio Grande Valley.