April 2014
THE GRAPEVINE Hopewell Redevelopment & Housing Authority
Smart Beginnings
Volume 210, Issue 4
Monthly Reminders:
Smart Beginnings is located in your community to support all early childhood care and education so that children are “Ready for School! Ready for Life!” Parents, grandparents and guardians of children aging from birth to five years of age have the most important job of their lives. 85% of a child’s brain develops before the age of five. Teaching, caring for, encouraging and loving young children is a wonderful job, but it can not to be taken lightly. Katie Sloan, Smart Beginnings Coordinator , is pictured with Marcus Campbell, Leadership Advisory Council member.
Smart Beginnings Hopewell-Prince George is located in the Appomattox Regional Library and we train child care workers/directors; work side by side with Head Start teachers; and administrate our local Child Development Associate Certificate, a certification in child care. We also assist our community partners with developmental screenings for children so that we can detect early learning complications before children begin school. Getting help for children in advance brings about better results later in school and in life. Smart Beginnings is also a part of the Parent Education Consortium which offers parenting classes three times a year, each session lasting for eight weeks. Sessions are offered free of charge to all who register. Information on ways to find ways to look for quality childcare can be found by visiting our website at www.smartbeginningshpg.org and clicking on the parent tab. Watch videos about helping your young child learn and look for childcare centers in our Virginia Star Quality Rating system, which is listed on our website. If you do not have access to the internet, you can call us at (804) 458-6329 ext. 2022 for help in finding quality childcare or to get information about your child’s development. The Smart Beginnings coalition is governed by a Leadership Advisory Council. Council members are community representatives from various agencies and organizations that help us define the needs of the community. Please contact us with what you consider as needs for young children and their families in our community. Your ideas better help us understand how to serve children as they prepare for school and their future.
Neighborhood Watch/Resident Council Meetings: Kippax Place— April 8, 2014 5:30 pm Davisville/Bland Court— April 9, 2014 1:00 pm Piper Square—April 16, 2014 1:00 pm Thomas Rolfe-April 17, 2014 1:00 pm Rental payments are due on the 1st of each month and must be paid at SunTrust Bank by 5:00 p.m. Any payment received after 5:00 p.m. is considered next day and a late fee will be assessed. Laos Outreach Karate Program every Tuesday at Laos Outreach Center. Piper Square Good News Club in the Piper Square community cen-
Inside this issue: HRHA Grievance Procedure
2
HRHA Employee Spotlight
2
Management Policy
3
Easter Eggstravaganza
3
HPD Auto Theft
3
Management Corner
4
HAI Group Scholarship
4
Peace Essay Contest
4
Walk for Babies
5
Playground Safety
5
Poetry, Prose and Pizza
5
HRHA Grievance Procedure HRHA has a Grievance Procedure that seeks to assure just and unbiased treatment of all residents and to provide procedures which are not unduly time consuming or complicated. The Authority will take required actions to ensure all grievants with special needs are accommodated to provide access to this Grievance Procedure. Should it become necessary for you to file a grievance, present your grievance personally, either orally or in writing, to the Authority’s Central Management Office or the Management Office where you reside within seven days, after the occurrence giving rise to the grievance. The oral or written presentation should state:
1. That the complaint is being pursued in accordance with the Grievance Procedure. 2. The actual basis of the grievance. 3. The action of relief. A copy of the Grievance Procedure can be found at the Community’s Management Office and at the Authority’s Central Management Office. If you are not satisfied with the resolution of your complaint, you may contact your HRHA Chairmen of the Board of Commissioners at 804-720-2581.
HRHA Employee Spotlight
Terri Ingram has been married for 27 years, has two children and is expecting a grandchild in June of this year. She has been employed with HRHA for 22 years starting out as the Leasing & Occupancy Clerk and is currently the Housing Choice Voucher Program (HCVP) Senior Specialist. The HCVP department is responsible for issuing tenant vouchers for families to receive subsidies through the private rental sector. Terri believes there is nothing more important than family and enjoys taking vacations to the beach and spending time with loved ones.
2
Management Policy HRHA does not discriminate on the basis of disability status in the admission or access to housing or employment in its federally assisted programs and activities. Mrs. Madelyn Madison-Hyde has been designated to coordinate compliance with nondiscrimination requirements contained in the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) regulations implementing (Section 504 CFR Part 8, dated June 2, 1988) of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. You may contact her at: P.O. Box 1361 Hopewell, VA 23860 (804) 458-5160
Easter Eggstravaganza
HRHA is hosting its third annual Easter Egg Hunt at Mathis Park in Hopewell on April 12, 2014 from 12:00 to 2:00 p.m. There will be food, games and prizes for the youth who attend the event. Last year’s event was a huge success and we hope this year will be even better. Vendors with youth and family services will be in attendance and will have information for families. This is a great opportunity to register members of your family for one of the programs currently offered through Resident Services. Transportation will be available and schedules will be posted on the community boards by April 4th. You may register for transportation by contacting Resident Services. Residents needing community service may volunteer. Contact Resident Services to A special thanks to the Wicked Few, OC3, Clearr Vission and Mount Pleasant Baptist Church for sponsoring the event. This will be an event you do not want to miss!
HPD Auto Theft
The Hopewell Police Department in conjunction with the Virginia State Police are partnering together with HRHA to bring awareness to automobile theft. Citizens can call the toll-free number to report information concerning the theft of vehicles or vehicle parts, and chop shop operations. Chop shops disassemble stolen motor vehicles and sell unnumbered, untraceable parts to repair shops. All callers remain anonymous throughout the process and information received from callers is passed on to the local agency of police or sheriff's in the jurisdiction where the illegal activity is taking place. Callers who supply tips leading to arrests are eligible for rewards of up to $25,000. To report any situations regarding automobile theft, please call 1-800-947-HEAT. 3
Management Corner Everyday HRHA employees pick up trash in our neighborhoods and the dumpsters overflow with couches, mattresses and other materials. Cigarette butts are the most littered item, followed by paper and plastic products. Littering affects everyone and it is the responsibility of every resident to address this problem within HRHA neighborhoods. Each person is responsible for their trash, but too many rely on HRHA or another individual to take care of it. According to a Keep America Beautiful study, litter cleanup cost the United States approximately $11.5 billion each year, with businesses paying $9.1 billion. Governments, schools and other organizations pick up the remainder. HRHA is encouraging everyone to do their part in fighting the litter problem in your neighborhood. Please dispose of your household trash and other items in trash receptacles located throughout HRHA properties. Take pride in your neighborhood and help HRHA keep the grounds beautiful.
HAI Group Scholarship The Resident Scholarship Program, sponsored by Housing Authority Insurance, Inc., celebrated 10 years of providing scholarships to public housing and Section 8 residents in 2013. In that time, more than half a million dollars has been awarded to over 200 students. As the number of applications received each year continues to grow, HAI has decided to automate the application process this year. Using STARS Online, HAI will again be offering 50 scholarships worth $2,500 each in 2014. Visit https:// HAIGroup.STARSScholarshipsOnline.com/STARS/default.aspx. Select the option to sign up to create an account, then answer the questions and attach the required documentation. All applications and supporting materials must be submitted by April 30, 2014. Completed applications will be entered into a lottery and scholarship recipients will be notified in June 2014. Should you have any questions, please call at 800-873-0242, ext. 639 or e-mail at scholarship@housingcenter.com. Resident Services staff is available to anyone who needs assistance.
Peace Essay Contest The Richmond Peace Education Center (RPEC) is now accepting entries for its 2014 Peace Essay Contest. This years theme is “Heroes of Peacemaking,� and it will be judged in four different age divisions. First place will win $100, second place will win $50, third place will earn $25 and five people will win honorable mentions of $20. Mahatma Gandhi, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and Nelson Mandela are international heroes. Learn more about one of these people, or another peacemaker you admire and write about what they accomplished. In addition please tell us what qualities helped them succeed and how we can follow their example in our own lives and in our community? This contest is open to any elementary, middle, and high school student in the state of Virginia. Entries will be judged on content, composition, style and grammar, with emphasis on the content and creativity of the ideas expressed. Deadline for entries is April 28th and the winners will be notified on or before June 1, 2014. For more information please contact Resident Services. 4
Walk for Babies
Registration is now open for the second annual two mile “Walk/Run for Babies” fundraiser, hosted by HopewellPrince George Healthy Families. This event will take place on April 26th and will begin at Atwater Park, 100 Atwater Street, Hopewell. This year HPG Healthy Families is challenging childcare centers, children and adults, schools, Greek organizations, agencies and churches to participate. Trophies will be distributed as part of the event. Your contribution and active participation will help continue the efforts of promoting positive parenting practices and preventing child abuse.
Playground Safety National Playground Safety Week is April 21st-25th, and HAI Group is holding its annual Playground Safety Poster and Essay Contest. The theme of this year’s contest is Have No Fear-Playground Safety is Here! The best posters and essays will be chosen and winners will receive cool prizes courtesy of HAI Group, the insurer of public and affordable housing communities. HRHA will open community centers April 23rd-25th for participants to complete this contest. More details will be given closer to the event date.
Poetry, Prose and Pizza
Hopewell-Prince George Friends of the Library and Luca Italian Restaurant will be hosting Poetry, Prose and Pizza in honor of National Poetry Month 2014. This event is scheduled to start at 6:00 pm on April 3rd, at the Prince George Library, 6605 Courts Drive. Hosted by the renown poet and writer, Nathan Richardson, everyone is invited to bring your own poetry or prose to recite, or attend for enjoyment. For additional information, please visit www.arls.org or call 804-458-6329 ext. 3700. 5
Public Housing Staff Hopewell Redevelopment & Housing Authority
Madelyn Madison-Hyde, Public Housing Director – (804) 458-5160
P.O. Box 1361 350 E. Poythress Street Hopewell, VA 23860
Lillian Quintana, Administrative Assistant to the Public Housing Director – (804) 458-5160
Phone (804) 458-5160 Fax (804) 458-3364
Tina Raatz, Housing Manager – (804) 452-1880 ext. 3 Thomas Rolfe Court/Extension & Davisville/Bland Court
Website www.hopewellrha.org
Julie Derr, Assistant Housing Manager – (804) 452-1880 ext. 2 Thomas Rolfe Court/Extension & Davisville/Bland Court
Like our Facebook page! http://www.facebook.com/ Hopewell Redevelopment & Housing Authority
Greg Pe’ay, Housing Manager – (804) 541-0392 ext. 3 Piper Square, Kippax Place & Langston Park Lafonia Thornton, Assistant Housing Manager – (804) 541-0392 ext. 2 Piper Square, Kippax Place & Langston Park Kathryn Thompson, Resident Services Manager – (804) 541-0392 ext. 4 Terence Barber, Resident Services Specialist – (804) 452-1880 ext. 4 Jennifer Campbell, FSS Program Intern — (804) 855-7065 Emergency After Hours – (804) 640-9337
6