A publication of the Edinburg Housing Authority.
EL REFLEJO J a n u a r y
Volume 3, Issue 1
RODOLFO “RUDY” RAMIREZ
2 0 1 5
Janice Montemayor: La Posada Resident Named 2015 Youth of The Year
E x e c u t iv e D i r e c t o r
BOARD OF MEMBERS 2015
JOE RODRIGUEZ CH AI RMAN
ARMANDO BARRERA VI CE CE-- CH A IRMAN
“ED” GONZALEZ 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. 8:00 a.m.—5:30 p.m.
Friday 8 a.m.—12:00 p.m.
Janice Montemayor, an 18year-old resident of La Posada development at the Edinburg Housing Authority who has overcome many obstacles throughout her life was named the 2015 Youth of the Year by the Boys & Girls Clubs of Edinburg RGV and awarded $3,000 in scholarships during its Annual “Steak” In Your Community event held January 10, 2015. The Youth of the Year title—the highest honor a member of the Boys & Girls Club can receive— recognizes a member‟s outstanding contributions to families, school, and community and the overcoming of personal challenges. Ms. Montemayor‟s incredible involvement and dedication to her peers made her a well-deserving candidate for the award.
failure. Besides coming from a “Here are a few numbers for very low-income family and you, 1, 2, 16, 18 and 0. 18 lacking a father-figure, Mon- the number of years my mother was not only a mother but a father as well. “Here are a few numbers for 16, how old I was when my life changed. 2, the number you, 1, 2, 16, 18 and 0. 18 the number of years my mother was of times I tried to commit suicide at the age of 13. 1, not only a mother but a father as the one memory I have of well. 16, how old I was when my my father being at home. And 0, the number of times life changed. 2, the number of times I tried to commit suicide at the Boy‟s & Girls Club allowed me to give up,” she the age of 13…” said. Janice Montemayor, 18
After being repeatedly nominated by supervisors at the club ever since she temayor shared how her inwas a freshman at Robert volvement prevented her from Vela High School, Mondropping out and helped her temayor said that she finally won as a senior. She thanks her supervisor Krystal Escobar for nominating her this year and feels very happy to have finally been given the chance to tell her story.
In her speech during the Left to Right: Ricky Reyna (2nd runner up), Janice “I feel very blessed,” event, the 18 year-old said Montemayor. “I still Montemayor, Luis Chicas (3rd runner up) shared the many ways can‟t believe that all my the Boys & Club helped her find herself after attempting to hard work finally paid off overcome many struggles commit suicide more than once and that I am able to share she‟s faced in her short life when she was just 13 years my story with other kids like as well as her deep fear of old. me.” Continued on Page 2
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Montemayor is currently a ing she plans to obtain a vate others who like her have senior at Robert Vela High bachelor‟s degree in Early faced many struggles in their School and besides being a Childhood Education. lives. member of the Boys “I will come back “I want to share my story & Girls Club for the after I have finwith as many kids as I past six years, she ished accomplishcan for them to has also dedicated understand that it ing my goals and time to volunteer to doesn’t matter who you be a motivational help EHA with its are or where you come speaker for our past two Halloween from, you can do all kids,” MonFestivals and other things.” temayor expressed events. This May in the closing Janice Montemayor she will be the first words of her one in her family to speech. “I want to graduate high share my story school but Mon- Left to Right: Commissioner Cris Torres, Janice Montemayor with as many kids temayor will not stop As a result, the Edinburg as I can for them to underthere. Housing Authority is very stand that it doesn‟t matter Thanks to the inspiration proud of Montemayor‟s ac- who you are or where you from the club, after graduat- complishments and is happy come from, you can do all to hear of her desire to moti- things.”
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n an effort to bring new opportunities and encourage the youth to live active lives, EHA plans to offer Hip Hop dance classes this year with the help from William Roy Rodriguez, leader of the Element Dance Crew. The first meeting to plan the classes was held on January 22, 2015. The idea for the classes first stemmed from Rodriguez‟ passion for dance and desire to
EL REFLEJO
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bvxvbxvxAware that technology is revolutionizing and becoming an important part of our world, a group of Edinburg Housing Authority students participated in the Hour of Code on Monday, Dec. 29, 2014. The Hour of Code is a global movement dedicated to reach millions of studies in countries worldwide.
share his art with others as well During the event, EHA Rodolfo stuas Executive Director „Rudy” Ramirez‟ goal of bringing new opportunities for residents. Rodriguez is a 17 yearold senior at Robert Vela High
School and works part time at EHA through the school‟s Co-Op program. The meeting times for the classes and days will be decided based on the number of kids interested in participating. The dance classes will be available for boys and girls 11 to 17 years old from any of the EHA developments. Any kid who meets the age requirements who would like to learn how to dance Hip Hop is welcomed to contact Ms. Zulema Garcia at 956-383-3839 for more information.
Volume 3, Issue 1
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CHANGING LIVES A Section 8 Program Success Story
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Christina Lopez
f there is one thing that makes tion she made it her goal to find for all the independent car lots in South Texas. the Edinburg Housing Authori- employment and get survive. ty staff proud and happy is witnessing the lives of its residents “I was persistent in finding a job With the blessing of the new change for the better. A helping and getting back on my feet,” she income she knew it was time to hand to those who need it most dur- shared. “I had my downfalls but I stop renting and look into buying a home for their family. It ing hardships, EHA is happy to never gave up.” share the incredible success story of Being a single mother of three was then that she applied to Affordable Homes of South Texas another inspiring resiwith the help from dent, Cristina Lopez, Section 8 Superviwho overcame many “All I can say is that life is a stepping sor Olga Regalado. obstacles but finally stone, not a marathon.” With Mrs. Regalabecame a home buyer do‟s assistance, she Cristina Lopez for the very first time. went through the process of becomCristina‟s journey with ing a first-time housing started in Dehome buyer. cember of 2003 when she gave birth to her Finally, on February third child. Despite her 29, 2012 Cristina joy of bringing a new and her kids got the child into the world, she keys of their new struggled and suffered home. from her husband‟s continued abuse. For “My kids and I are many years she had envery thankful for everything,” dured it but it was then that she de- kids, she did everything in her Cristina said. cided to end her troubles and apply power to survive and provide for for assistance at the Edinburg Hous- them. Soon, she found a secretary Although she had to overcome ing Authority. In less than a year job at a car lot and not much after many obstacles and work hard she was able to put the abuse behind was offered the opportunity to earn to get to where she is today, extra money repossessing vehicles. she‟s learned many life lessons her and start new. and realized that change takes While she recalls starting with noth- Through hard work and persever- time. ing, she and her kids were grateful ance, Cristina earned her way in for the help they received and the the company and eventually be- She shared, “All I can say is that chance at a fresh start. With dedica- came the Dealer Account Manager life is a stepping stone, not a marathon.”
SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
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CLASSES
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
Application available Feb. 2015 at EHA
Texas NAHRO Scholarship
Estella Lane Trevino Endowed Scholarship
www.txnahro.org 800-617-2900 txnahrobrazosnet.com
TUTORING
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.
AVOID MISINFORMATION. EHA IS HERE TO HELP!
Executive Actions on Immig r ation Deferred Action for Parental Accountability
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n November 20, 2014, President Obama announced a series of new executive actions prioritizing the deportation of felons not families.
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The new actions include changes to the current DACA program and allowing parents of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents who have been in the country since January 1, 2010 and pass a criminal background check as well as pay taxes to obtain deferred action and a 3
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year employment authorization. As a result of the President‟s actions, the Edinburg Housing Authority would like to offer assistance and more information to any resident who qualifies for the new actions. If you are eligible for DAPA or DACA and have questions about the application process, please feel to contact Claudia Lemus at 956383-3839.
USCIS Approximate Application Dates
February 20,2015 DACA Expansion (90 days from announcement)
May 20, 2015 DAPA Application (180 days from announcement)
DON’T GET SCAMMED! The official website for USCIS is www.uscis.gov. AVOID Dot.com sites. Remember USCIS application forms are FREE to download. Notary Publics are NOT authorized to provide immigration legal services. Before you pay for legal assistance get informed and know your options. The information above was obtained obtained from www.uscis.gov. Please visit the site or contact us at EHA for more.
Volume 3, Issue 1
Page 5
Reminders 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 HUDâ€&#x;s community service requirement.
New Policy Changes As of October 1, 2014
30 DAY NOTICE BEFORE TERMINATION OF LEASE Residents may terminate their leases at any time but must first provide the PHA a written notice with a forwarding address for the return of the Security Deposit no less than 30 days before vacating the premises. The prior 14 day notice requirement is no longer accepted.
NEW $20 KEY DEPOSIT AT MOVE IN Due to residents failing to return their keys at Move Out, a $20 key deposit for 2 apartment keys is now required at Move In. The purpose of this change is to reimburse PHA of the costs to remake lost keys. The Key Deposit will be refunded and included with the Security Deposit if both keys are returned at Move Out.
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: February 12, 2015 @10 a.m. in El Jardin (Snacks will be provided)
Contact your property managers for the complete schedule of days and locations of our next meetings.
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.