April 2015 Grapevine

April 2015

THE GRAPEVINE Hopewell Redevelopment & Housing Authority

Change Our Story

Maurice Green, is one of the Piper Square youth who participates in the youth programs in his community

Volume 211, Issue 4

Monthly Reminders: 

On the heels of Na’Seem Hopson’s winning the Virginia Municipal League’s essay contest, HRHA launched an Indiegogo campaign to raise funds for expanded youth programs and much  needed community center supplies.

Resident Services Manager, Kathryn Thompson, met with Na’Seem to explain the campaign and its purpose before the launch. “It was very important  to me for Na’Seem to know that our agency was running off the momentum he started,” said Kathryn Thompson.

Lack of youth activities and programs is  a citywide problem. HRHA believes it is in a position to be in the forefront as part of the solution by expanding youth activities and programs in the  community centers of its three public housing communities. The agency currently has partnerships with the Appomattox Regional Library, Hopewell Explorers, Sports Backers and the Girls and Boys Scouts to administer its current youth programs. A math enrichment  program began in March in the Davisville and Piper Square communities.

Community/Resident Council Meetings: Kippax Place — April 7, 2015 5:30 pm Davisville/Bland Court — April 8, 2015 1:00 pm Piper Square — April 15, 2015 1:00 pm Thomas Rolfe — April 16, 2015 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.

Employment assistance every Tuesday from 9:00—11:00 a.m. in the Piper Square community center.

Computer classes every Friday from noon to 2:00 p.m. in the Piper Square community center.

Math Enrichment Program every Tuesday from 3:00-5:00 pm in the Davisville community center and Thursday in the Piper Square community center.

Story Time every Friday at 3:30 pm in the Piper Square community center.

The campaign’s goal was to raise thirty thousand in 30 days. Funds raised from the campaign were for the following:

Inside this issue:



Ten Laptops, two printers, two book shelves and board games for the Davisville and Thomas Rolfe community centers.

HRHA Grievance Procedure



Staff and supplies for 12-week environment and creative art program.

Cooking Class

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Staff and supplies for nine month math enrichment program.

Management Policy

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Wi-Fi installation at the Davisville and Thomas Rolfe community centers.

Easter Egg Hunt

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

Staff and supplies for two month summer dance program.

Resident Scholarship

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Registration fees and supplies for Boys and Girls Scout Troops .

There is still time to make a contribution to the campaign that is scheduled to end on April 10, 2015. HRHA has been posting regular updates to its Facebook page. To contribute visit http://igg.me/at/ HopewellStory/x.

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Child Abuse Awareness/Prev. 2

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.

Child Abuse Awareness/Prevention Month Tasha is an amazing, wide-eyed, curious child who at the age of nine, is already taking an interest in the huge world around her. She dreams of being big and strong one day and has already proclaimed herself to be her little brother’s protector. Tasha lives with her aunt, uncle and little brother, Marcus. She and Marcus were taken out of their home after she bravely told a teacher that her dad was hurting her every night. She loves her dad very much and wanted the pain to stop. She didn’t want to tell, but when her dad started hurting Marcus too, she didn’t know what else to do as she was too afraid to tell her mom.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in four girls and one in six boys will experience sexual abuse before the age of 18 and most will be abused by someone they know. Would you recognize the signs of child sexual abuse? Would you know what to do if you suspected child sexual abuse? For information or to schedule a “Stewards of Children” presentation, contact the James House at 458-2704 ext. 225.

The James House provides support, advocacy and education for people affected by sexual violence, domestic violence and stalking, to empower them to become healthy, safe, and self-sufficient. The only nonprofit agency in the Tri-Cities area accredited by the Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance, all James House services are cost-free and confidential. To learn more visit www.thejameshouse.org; or email helpline@thejameshouse.org.

Cooking Class Hopewell Recreation and Parks will be holding a cooking class for ages 50 and over on Tuesday, April 28th. All ingredients and supplies for this class will be provided and no previous experience is required. This class will be held at the Hopewell Community Center in the meeting room from 10:30 am—1:00 pm. There is a registration fee of $10 and all interested persons must register by Tuesday, April 21st.

The instructor for this class will be introducing healthy alternative ingredients. For more information, please contact Aaron Clay, Senior Program Specialist, at 804-541-2353.

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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 Peay 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 Egg Hunt Helping Hands is having their first annual Easter egg hunt Saturday, April 11th. This event will be held at Crystal Lake, 3500 River Road in Hopewell from 2:00—5:00 pm. There will be music, food, and plenty activities for the youth to participate in. There will be three prizes for the children who find golden eggs and an opportunity for them to take a picture with the autism awareness Easter bunny.

Helping Hands, the host of Trunk or Treat, is an organization of people whose goal is to make a difference in the community. The main purpose is to continue to bring positivity and show unity to the city of Hopewell. Parents should bring baskets for their child to use during the hunt.

Helping Hands encourages anyone that is interested in volunteering to contact Shannon Foskey at 757-479-9134 or shannon.foskey@gmail.com. Any monetary donations will go towards the Autism Society of Central Virginia.

Resident Scholarship

The Resident Scholarship Program sponsored by Housing Authority Insurance, Inc., (HAI Group) provides residents of member public housing agencies with scholarships to help them attend college or complete their education.

All HRHA public housing and HCVP residents can apply for a chance to receive one of the 50 scholarships awarded each year. Each scholarship amount is $2,500 and this year, a total of $125,000 in scholarships will be awarded.

Since the program began, HAI Group has invested over $680,000 to provide educational opportunities to more than 270 public housing residents. Residents have until 11:59 pm on April 30th to submit their entry for the scholarship.

To learn more about this program or receive assistance with your application, please contact the Resident Services Department. If you have questions specifically for HAI Group, you may contact them at 800-873-0242 ext.

639, scholarship@housingcenter.com or by visiting the website https://www.housingcenter.com/scholarship.

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Public Housing Staff Hopewell Redevelopment & Housing Authority

Madelyn Peay, 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

Lafonia Thornton, Assistant Housing Manager – (804) 541-0392 ext. 2 Piper Square & Kippax Place

Like our Facebook page! http://www.facebook.com/ Hopewell Redevelopment & Housing Authority

Kathryn Thompson, Resident Services Manager – (804) 541-0392 ext. 4 Terence Barber, Resident Services Specialist – (804) 452-1880 ext. 4 Jennifer Campbell, FSS Coordinator — (804) 855-7065 Emergency After Hours – (804) 640-9337 Commissioner Hotline Number- (804) 720-2581

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