January 2013 Grapevine

The Grapevine

Hopewell Redevelopment & Housing Authority (804) 458-5160

Family Self-Sufficiency Program Now Enrolling

January 2013 Volume 201, Edition 38

Monthly Reminders 

Kippax Place Resident Council Meeting – January 8, 2013 at 5:30 p.m.

Since 1990, the Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) program has encouraged families to become economically independent. The program provides Public Housing residents an avenue to becoming self-sufficient through education and training.

At the same time FSS lets Public Housing agencies (PHAs) provide supportive services that help their residents meet their financial goals such as homeownership and a better job.

Public Housing residents who join the FSS program work closely with a program coordinator.

The program coordinator connects residents with training opportunities or other services within the community and helps residents connect with local employers for jobs.

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Davisville/Bland Court Neighborhood Watch & Resident

Council Meeting – January 9, 2013 at 5:00 p.m. 

Piper Square Neighborhood Watch & Resident Council Meeting – January 16, 2013 at 5:00 p.m.

Families are enrolled for up to a period of five years and work very closely with their coordinators to accomplish personal goals. Participants are required to sign a contract of participation. This contract details their individual responsibilities and goals and also the PHA’s responsibilities. The PHA must establish goals on how to help the families achieve independence from welfare.

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As the participant begins to earn extra income, an escrow account may be set up.

This is money set aside for the resident, funded with the increased income, which would otherwise pay for increased rent. Upon successful completion of the FSS program, the resident may use the escrow funds in various ways.

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FSS participants and the FSS coordinators help residents often create a plan of action to reach goals and stay on track. It may be working out a budget, planning for education or future employment, or setting up a successful child care plan.

FSS participants gain a sense of financial freedom and independence from welfare assistance.

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HRHA received a grant to begin the FSS program and is seeking to enroll its first 25 families. Resident Services has partnered with the Virginia State University School of Social Work to service the families admitted into the program. “I am very excited that our grant application was awarded to enable our agency to begin this program with our residents,” stated Kathryn Thompson, Resident Services Manager.

Grievance HRHA Procedure

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HRHA Employee Spotlight

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Community Involvement

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The program cannot be successful without resident participation. If you are interested in this exciting opportunity please contact Kathryn Thompson.

Management Policy

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Thomas Rolfe Court/Extension Neighborhood Watch & Resident Council Meeting – January 17,

2013 at 5:00 p.m.

Langston Park Resident Council Meeting – January 23, 2013 at 5:00 p.m.

Langston Park Community Meeting – January 8, 2013 at 5:30 p.m.

Contents

Tax Return Assistance Available 3

HRHA Grievance Procedure REMINDER Rental payments are due on the first 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.

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 Commissioner at 804-720-2581.

HRHA Employee Spotlight

This month we would like to welcome aboard Mike Black. Mike is our newest Maintenance Mechanic and will be working in the Thomas Rolfe Court community. Mike is a Hopewell native who graduated from Hopewell High School in 1990. Go Blue Devils! He proudly served his country as a naval officer during the Desert Storm era. He also has experience in the building trade background. He has one daughter and enjoys spending time with his family.

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Tax Return Assistance Available from Resident Services 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 prepare federal and state tax returns HR to those families wanting to utilize this service at no cost.

Tax returns will be filed electronically using a software program such as turbo tax.

Families will need to bring W2 forms and all other pertinent tax information if itemized deductions will be taken in place of standard deductions. Tax refunds will be processed to be returned to be directly deposited into a checking or savings account if the resident wishes to do so. Electronic refunds are generally returned in under two weeks.

*NOTICE* HRHA does not provide transportation for residents. Information on the Petersburg Area Transit routes for Hopewell can be found by visiting http://www.petersburg va.org/transit/hopewell .asp

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!

Community Involvement “We

cannot seek achievement for ourselves and forget about progress and prosperity for our community... Our ambitions must be broad enough to include the aspirations and needs of others, for their sakes and for our own.” ~ Cesar Chavez HRHA would like to encourage all residents in our communities to become more actively involved in your monthly Neighborhood Watch and Resident Council meetings after the last month’s tragic events in Piper Square. Creating a safe environment for the enjoyment of yourself and your neighbors is a high priority for HRHA staff. However, we do not live in your communities and community involvement requires more than HRHA staff being present at community meetings. It requires your presence as well. It requires your voice, ideas and participation.

Unfortunately not very many residents attended the Piper Square Community Meeting or the public RAB meeting held in the ARLS library last month. Our agency values resident input as we continually try and improve our services in our communities. It’s a brand new year and we hope the lack of involvement of 2012 will not continue in 2013. HRHA has new and exciting projects this year and looks forward to maintaining partnerships that were created in 2012 that bring beneficial activities and programs to our residents. The entire HRHA staff wishes you a Happy New Year filled with many accomplishments!

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Public Housing Staff Latasha Allen-Hyde, Public Housing Director – (804) 458-5160

Hopewell Redevelopment & 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 Tina Raatz, Housing Manager – (804) 452-1880 ext. 3 Thomas Rolfe Court/Extension & Davisville/Bland Court Julie Derr, Assistant Housing Manager – (804) 452-1880 ext. 2 Thomas Rolfe Court/Extension & Davisville/Bland Court

Phone (804) 458-5160

Greg Pe’ay, Housing Manager – (804) 541-0392 ext. 3 Piper Square, Kippax Place & Langston Park

Fax (804) 458-3364

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

Website www.hopewellrha.org

Kathryn Thompson, Resident Services Manager – (804) 541-0392 ext. 4

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

Joyce J. Gholson, Resident Services Specialist – (804) 452-1880 ext. 4 Emergency After Hours – (804) 640-9337 Commissioner Hotline Number- (804) 720-2581

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 Page 4