January 2014 Grapevine

January 2014

THE GRAPEVINE Hopewell Redevelopment & Housing Authority

2014 REAC Inspection Preparation

Volume 210, Issue 1

Monthly Reminders: 

The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) subsidizes your community. The Real Estate Assessment Center (REAC) of HUD conducts physical inspections each year. This year we received notification from HUD that your apartment will undergo a 2014 REAC inspection.

The agency scored below 80% in the 2013 inspection, primarily due to findings inside apartments. This score places the community in a standard performer category. The new scoring model places more focus in the inside of the apartments. In order to improve the score, it is important that you report issues timely so the agency can make repairs timely. Reporting and making repairs timely will improve our ability to keep your apartment in decent, safe, and sanitary condition.

Kippax Place— January 7, 2013 5:30 pm Davisville/Bland Court— January 8, 2013 1:00 pm Piper Square—January 15, 2013 1:00 pm Thomas Rolfe—January 16, 2013 1:00 pm Langston Park—January 22, 2013 1:00 pm 

The following issues were noted inside apartments in the 2013 REAC inspection: 

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Defective smoke alarms Unclean stovetops that would not light Blocked egress ( blocked windows) Broken electrical sockets Mold around bathtub Holes in walls

The above list is just a few of the issues that result in higher point deduction. In addition, general housekeeping is a portion of the overall inspection.

Neighborhood Watch/Resident Council Meetings:

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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.

Tutoring Program every Tuesday and Thursday in the Davisville community center from 4:30-6:00 p.m.

Clear Point Credit Counseling Workshop in the Piper Square community center, January 27th from 4:00-5:00 p.m.

Inside this issue:

As a result of these issues, HRHA will be completing Pre-REAC inspections by January 31, 2014. The inspections will help you prepare your apartment for the next REAC inspection. Keep in mind, it is important to report maintenance issues in your apartment when they occur.

HRHA Grievance Procedure

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HRHA Employee Spotlight

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Management Policy

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Section 17, Part J and X of your lease fully explains resident responsibilities for maintaining apartments. Please read this section of your lease.

Should you have any questions or any repairs that need to be corrected, please call our maintenance department at (804) 452-1880 for Thomas Rolfe, Davisville/Bland Court or 804-541-0392 for Piper Square, Langston Park and Kippax.

Therapeutic Day Treatment

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GED Retakes

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Management Corner

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Youth Leadership Summit

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Flyer Distribution

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Thanksgiving Giveaway

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Jumpstart Program

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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.

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

Julie Derr currently serves as the Assistant Housing Manager for Thomas Rolfe Court and Davisville and has been employed with HRHA for over 14 years. She began as the receptionist and spent time as a leasing specialist for the Housing Choice Voucher program.

Julie has enjoyed her experience in the different positions in addition to working with her coworkers, management and the maintenance staff. She looks forward to continuing her service to HRHA residents. Julie, a native of Hopewell and a graduate of Hopewell High, loves listening to music, reading, and spending time with her family and friends.

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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 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

Therapeutic Day Treatment Is your child struggling in school academically or behaviorally? Are you getting phone calls from the teacher or the principal? Does your child come home upset or refusing to do their homework? Elk Hill is considering offering an after school program for those students to assist them in improving their behavior and would like to see if there is a need for this.

Please contact Community Services Coordinator, Pamela Pitchford, LCSW at 804-795-7392 ext. 210 or PPitchford@elkhill.org if interested.

Based on interest and participation in the after school therapeutic day treatment program, Elk Hill is also considering a summer camp (9am-3pm Monday-Friday), compromising six weeks of programming to include lunch/ snacks, school, fitness and daily activities. This camp will also be based at one of the Hopewell Redevelopment community centers. There will be no cost to attend this camp.

GED Retakes

Effective January 1, 2014, GED Testing Service will waive 100% of our fees (excluding testing center fees and state fees) for up to two retakes per failed content area, providing those retakes occur within 12 calendar months.

As you would expect, while there has been a lot of excitement and positive reaction to the discounted retakes program, there have also been a lot of questions. In an effort to address your questions about the program, If you have questions we would be happy to address them. Please refer any questions to: 3 Communications@GEDtestingservice.com .

Management Corner Burglary increases every year during the holiday season. Below are a few prevention tips.

The Burglary Basics 

Make your home look occupied and make it difficult to break in.

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Lock all outside doors and windows before you leave the house or go to bed. Even if it is for a short time.

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Don’t allow daily deliveries of mail, newspapers or flyers to build up while you are away. Arrange with the post office to hold your mail, or arrange for a friend or neighbor to take them regularly.

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Check your locks on doors and windows and replace them with secure devices as necessary.

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Leave lights on when you go out. If you are going to be away for a length of time, connect some lamps to automatic timers to turn them on in the evening and off during the day.

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Always lock your sheds.

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Change locks immediately if your keys are lost or stolen.

The most important thing you can do is call the police to report a crime or any suspicious activity. You have to be the eyes of your neighborhood. Remember you are able to remain anonymous when reporting activity to the police department. If your home is broken into do not enter the home. Use a neighbor’s phone to call the police and do not touch anything until the police have had the chance to inspect for evidence.

As a reminder HRHA communities have monthly neighborhood watch meetings. All residents are encouraged to attend the meetings and help make our neighborhoods as safe as possible. If you have any questions or concerns before or after meetings please contact your housing or assistant housing managers.

Youth Leadership Summit The 11th Central VA Youth Leadership Summit is Saturday, February 8, 2014 at the Greater Richmond Convention Center, Richmond, VA from 9 -2.

The theme is “Making Change Happen”. The summit is free and open to young people ages 14 -21.The day will be filled with exciting workshops, a dynamic keynote speaker, youth-centered activities, music, food, and door prizes. Special workshops were also facilitated for the youths’ parents/guardians. The summit is sponsored by the Crater Regional Workforce Investment Board Youth and the Resource Workforce Investment Board. It is supported by a host of volunteers, supporters, and sponsors.

Its mission is to provide an opportunity to help youth understand themselves, others, their community, and the career and education opportunities available to them. It is designed to motivate and encourage young people to establish a knowledgeable voice in making decisions about their future by getting them engaged in furthering their education and career path by identifying and removing challenges that they, their peers, and family face.

To get more information visit the summit’s site at www.vayouthsummit.org or email ejones@learntoearn.org.

Registration will be open on December 20.

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Flyer Distribution In the past, HRHA has covered your doors with flyer after flyer, using tons of paper for advertisements that some never see. In 2013 we began distributing monthly calendars with the current edition of the Grapevine as a test trial. Due to the concerns of our residents, HRHA will no longer distribute flyers door to door as the main source of advertisement for events and programs.

Information will be posted on the community boards, monthly calendars located in the Grapevine, the HRHA Facebook page and website. Understanding that things come up, it is possible that you may receive a flyer at your door from time to time. We appreciate your patience during this transition and look forward to your participation this the upcoming year.

Information regarding HRHA’s social media networks can be found at the conclusion of the Grapevine.

Abundant Life Thanksgiving Giveaway

On Tuesday, November 26, 2013, Abundant Life Christian Center International of Hopewell delivered early Thanksgiving dinners to eleven senior residents of Piper Square. The dinner consisted of one 10-12 pound turkey, three sides, sweet potato pie, and more.

The residents were very appreciative of Abundant Life and their thoughtfulness during the holiday season. The Abundant Life Christian Center is located at Carter G. Woodson Middle School and holds services on Sundays at 8:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.

Jumpstart HRHA would like to congratulate Darika Holmes, a senior at Hopewell High, and Dashawn Washington, a sixth grader at Carter G. Woodson Middle for making the A and A/B Honor Roll. Your hard work and dedication to achieving your academic goals does not go unnoticed.

HRHA will be honoring these students for their accomplishments and would like to encourage other honor roll students to send a copy of your report cards quarterly to the Resident Services Department for a celebration. We would also like to thank Darika and Dashawn for inspiring their peers to be academic achievers.

If you are in need of academic assistance please join the After School Tutoring program in the Davisville community center on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4:30—6:00 p.m.

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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

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