February 2013 Grapevine

February 2013

THE GRAPEVINE Hopewell Redevelopment & Housing Authority

2012 Year In Review

Volume 203, Issue 37

Monthly Reminders: 

Greetings from the Hopewell Redevelopment and Housing Authority (HRHA)!

I am happy to report that HRHA had a very successful 2012. The HRHA family was shaped and molded over the past year to be leaner and more focused on long term solutions to many concerns that face us.

We made tremendous strides in creating high performance man-  agement and operations teams. All indicators of performance measured by HUD have been improved over the prior year. These include things such as:    

How fast we prepare a unit for occupancy.

How quickly we respond to work order requests .

How well the agency utilizes housing choice voucher funds.

All of these actions are designed to enhance the quality of life for our residents. We are truly happy for our improvement in these areas, understanding that there is still much to do. We will continue to do just that.

I am thankful to the many community partners that allowed HRHA to leverage their skills, talents and time to provide a wider range of services to our communities. We will continue to build relationships established with these very caring partners.

I look forward to the remainder of 2013 with expectancy. HRHA is embarking on one of its strategic goals which is to redevelop public housing in Hopewell. We begin this effort with the transformation of Langston Park from public housing to a new mixedincome affordable housing community. We will also invest in making our senior apartment building, Kippax Place, modern, more accessible, energy efficient, and generally more attractive.

I encourage citizens of Hopewell to follow our progress this year.

When you see me feel free to approach me and ask, “What is the Hopewell Redevelopment and Housing Authority up to?” I’ll be happy to tell you.

Steven A. Benham

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Neighborhood Watch/Resident Council Meetings: Kippax Place— February 5, 2013 5:30 pm Davisville/Bland Court—February 6, 2013 5:00 pm Piper Square—February 13, 2013 5:30 pm Thomas Rolfe—February 20, 2013 5:00 pm Langston Park—February 27, 2013 5:00 pm Piper Square Boy Scout Meeting every Thursday from 4:30—5:30 p.m. in the Community Center.

Langston Park After School Tutoring, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4:30-6:30 pm in the Community Center.

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

Inside this issue: HRHA Grievance Procedure

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HRHA Employee Spotlight

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Management Policy

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Welcome to the New HRHA Commissioner

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Tax Return Assistance Available

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PHAS Scores

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2012 Financial Statement

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Resident Services

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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.

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 Commissioner at 804-720-2581.

HRHA Employee Spotlight

We would like to welcome aboard Mrs. Latasha Allen-Hyde, Public Housing Director. Latasha came to HRHA from Jefferson County Assisted Housing Corporation (JEFFCO) where she was responsible for conducting annual management and occupancy reviews, documenting owner civil rights compliance (FHEO), confirming physical inspection follow-ups, and serving as the point of contact for managers and owners for HUD assisted communities across the state of Virginia. Her portfolio consisted of 3,832 units.

A consummate professional, Latasha is vigilant in continuously seeking ways to improve our communities.

She is committed to providing quality service, improving the housing stock, and increasing partnerships to provide supportive services.

She is honored to be part of the HRHA team, serve the residents of our communities, while continuing service in a field in which she finds great joy.

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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. Latasha Allen -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

Welcome to the New HRHA Commissioner

Commissioner Yolanda Wyche Stokes is a lifelong resident of the City of Hopewell. She is the third of seven children born to the late Jesse Benjamin Wyche (“Snooky”) and Gloria Jean Glovier.

Commissioner Stokes was married to the late Paul L. Stokes, and raised two boys from that union, Paul L. Goode and Xavier Neil Stokes.

She is no stranger to the Hopewell Redevelopment and Housing Authority. She formerly held the positions of Housing Manager of the Piper Square Apartments, Secretary-Receptionist and Project Manager II for the Hopewell Redevelopment and Housing Authority. Commissioner Stokes managed the former Bluffs Apartments in Hopewell, Virginia and was promoted to the position of Director of Housing Operations for the Charlottesville Redevelopment and Housing Authority in Charlottesville, Virginia. Commissioner Stokes has also worked as the Administrative Assistant and Fair Housing Officer for the City of Petersburg, Virginia and retired on disability.

Commissioner Stokes has served on the Police and Athletic League for the City of Hopewell, VA (PAL); was the Community Liaison for the Hopewell Police Department under the leadership of former Police Chief Steve Martin and was involved in the Making Choices Facing Consequences initiatives for the youth of our City.

Commissioner Stokes is an advocate for the People of Hopewell, Virginia and more specifically for the residents of our public housing communities.

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Tax Return Assistance Available The Resident Services department would like to provide tax preparation assistance to 100 public housing families as part of its newly formed Family Self-Sufficiency Program. The Resident Services Manager will begin making appointments on January 7, 2013. Please call 804-541-0392 ext. 4 if you would like to take advantage of this service. Many places such as Jackson Hewitt and Liberty Tax Services charge hundreds of dollars for this service and additional fees for electronic refunds. HRHA is offering the services free of charge!

HRHA Public Housing Assessment Score (PHAS) Steadily Improving!

Public Housing 2008 73

2009

2010

2011

2012

76

No Score

83

86

Provided

2013 90 (GOAL— High Performer)

Housing Choice Voucher Program 2008 High Performer

2009

2010

2011

2012

High Performer

Troubled

Standard

High Performer

2013 High Performer

HUD’s Real Estate Assessment Center effectively and fairly measures the performance of a public housing agency (PHA) using the Public Housing Assessment System (PHAS). As the centralized system of the Real Estate Assessment Center (REAC), iNtegrated Assessment Subsystem (NASS) electronically collects individual subsystem scores , produces a combined PHAS score, designates a PHAs’ performance status and communicates the results that represent a PHA’s management performance.

2012 Annual Financial Statement The Authority’s finances continued to improve from previous years. Even in an uncertain funding time with the Federal budget in such unrest and HUD responding by reducing its funding to Public Housing Authority’s, the Authority was able to meet its obligations while improving and increasing its service to tenants and program participants.

The Authority ended its fiscal year on March 31, 2012. All audits – financial and compliance – showed no exceptions, corrections or other types of findings.

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A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words Nurse Aide

Father’s Day

Graduation Graduation

Resident Services VAHCDO Scholarship Recipient Langston Park After School Program

Kippax National Night Out & Christmas

Easter Egg Hunt

Rotary Christmas Families

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Public Housing Staff Hopewell Redevelopment & Latasha Allen-Hyde, Public Housing Director – (804) 458-5160 Housing Authority P.O. Box 1361 350 E. Poythress Street Hopewell, VA 23860

Lillian Millán, 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 Joyce J. Gholson, Resident Services Specialist – (804) 452-1880 ext. 4 Emergency After Hours – (804) 640-9337

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