May 2013 Newsletter

May 2013

THE GRAPEVINE Hopewell Redevelopment & Housing Authority

The Sequestration of 2013

Volume 208, Issue 39

Monthly Reminders: 

Have you heard of it? It’s what all the politicians are talking about. So you might say, “What does that have to do with me?” Well actually quite a lot.

Sequestration means to take possession of property until a dispute over its rightful ownership is resolved. In a nutshell, the difference between excess spending and the spending limit is held by the U.S. Treasury. $85 billion in spending cuts throughout government agencies and programs is required between March 1 and September 30, 2013. The exact nature of these cuts may evolve over time and no one knows exactly how Americans or the economy will be impacted.

Public Housing and the Housing Choice Voucher programs are subsidized largely by taxpayers through Congress. Congress provides funds to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development or HUD. HUD provides housing assistance to citizens of communities through the various Public Housing Authorities like HRHA. Congress and the President have not reached an agreement on an operating budget. When failure to agree occurred in the past, government funding was done by a continuing resolution. In an effort to finally force compromise the Congress and the President agreed to the sequester.

So, what does that mean where you live? Funding for housing programs is being reduced. HRHA has developed a bold budget approach that we hope will minimize the effect on daily operations. However, if some funding is not restored then some capital improvement projects will need to be delayed. We must evaluate all services that we fund from cutting grass to certain resident services activities. Additionally, some of our community partners that you have become accustomed to seeing in your neighborhoods and working with your children may find that their funding sources are reduced. HRHA will continue to be vigilant in watching for information from Washington that impacts us.

We will monitor closely our spending levels to ensure we focus on the critical services first. Finally, we are committed to keeping you informed on what is happening and how it affects you.

Neighborhood Watch/Resident Council Meetings: Kippax Place— May 7, 2013 5:30 pm Davisville/Bland Court— May 8, 2013 1:00 pm Piper Square—May 22, 2013 1:00 pm Thomas Rolfe—May 16, 2013 1:00 pm Langston Park—May 30, 2013 1:00 pm

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Langston Park After School Tutoring, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4:00-6:00 pm in the Community Center.

Thomas Rolfe Good News Club, 1st & 3rd Saturday 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 fee will be assessed.

Inside this issue: HRHA Grievance Procedure

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HRHA Employee Spotlight

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Management Policy

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Mother’s Day Events

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Red Cross Blood Drive

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Management Corner

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Hopewell Good News Clubs

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Health Careers Program

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CARES Partnership

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Best of Hopewell Festival

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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 Mellisa Underwood. Mellisa works as the HRHA receptionist part-time.

She enjoys helping others and is very excited to be part of the HRHA family.

She is the youngest daughter of a retired army colonel. Growing up in a military family taught her the importance of service to her community and she feels a sense of fulfillment when she is able to help uplift her fellow citizens. Before coming to HRHA, she ran several professional kitchens as well as her own catering business as a classical French trained chef in Richmond, VA. In her spare time she enjoys working on a cookbook for children, spending time with family and being an avid animal rights activist.

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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

HRHA Mother’s Day Events “Mother 2 Mother” Workshop Thursday, May 9,2013 10:00 a.m. -12:00 p.m.

Langston Park Community Center 1101 Winston Churchill Drive Hopewell, Virginia 23860

“Mother’s Day Luncheon”

Friday, May 10,2013 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

John Randolph Foundation 112 N. Main Street, Hopewell, Virginia 23860 Please call LaFonia Thornton at 541-0392 x 2 or reply to the HRHA Facebook event by 4/30/2013. Seating is limited.

Blood Drive River View on the Appomattox is partnering with the American Red Cross to host a local blood drive on May 23, 2013 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. All donors will be eligible to enter a drawing for a $100 Wawa gift card. Refreshments will be provided during the event.

Please call 804-541-1445 to register for the event. Your donation could help save a life.

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Management Corner The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place. ~ George Bernard Shaw Do you frequently change your phone number? Is your physical mailing address different from your HRHA residence address? Did the wind carry away the last notice HRHA left on your door? If you’ve answered yes to one or more of the above questions, you may be experiencing a break in communication with HRHA staff. HRHA makes every effort to circulate information in a timely manner to our residents. However, we receive many returned letters due to incorrect addresses and have trouble calling many residents because of disconnected return phone numbers left for us.

HRHA uses several methods of communication: mailed notices, phone calls, flyers, social media and website announcements and the Grapevine newsletter. Please take a moment over the next couple of months to contact your leasing office and update your contact information to include email addresses if applicable. This little effort can make a huge difference in being informed.

Hopewell Good News Clubs Hopewell City is kicking up its heels with Good News Clubs! Did you know that all 3 elementary schools, Dupont, Harry E. James and Patrick Copeland, now have Good News Clubs on a weekly basis?—It just doesn’t get any better than this—children are playing games, hearing a Bible lesson, singing songs and enjoying review games in a safe environment.

“Where do they get all this cool stuff?” asked one participant. Children are learning about the importance of being respectful and productive members of their communities.

During the summer the clubs move from the schools to the communities where the children live. The fun doesn’t stop! HRHA will host a 5 day club in Thomas Rolfe Court and Piper Square during the summer. Volunteers will provide activities for youth for 1.5 hours each afternoon during the week. Flyers containing more information will be posted at a later date.

There is no cost for the children or parents. Local churches sponsor the clubs and provide screened and trained volunteers.

Do you have children ages 5-12 years old who would like to participate in this fun-filled week?

A registration form is required and can be secured from:

Piper Square Apartments

Sean Adkins Adkinshope@aol.com or 804.898.9073

Thomas Rolfe Court

Trudy Tiller trudytiller1960@yahoo.com or 804.605.0764 4

New Student Program to Introduce Health Careers Southside Health Education Foundation (SHEF) has received a grant to launch the Southside Healthcare Career Experiential Learning Program (Health-CEL). Health-CEL will provide students, ages 16-20, with experiential learning of the array of health careers available in the region. The program will seek to recruit students in the regions served by Southside Regional Medical Center, HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital of Petersburg, Poplar Springs Hospital and John Randolph Medical Center. This is a regional response of educators and healthcare providers to develop and implement a health careers pipeline program.

Application information for the new program will be available in school guidance offices in late Spring.

Prospective students may also obtain applications from the SHEF website at www.shefva.org. Beginning in September 2013, accepted students will attend monthly career nights at area hospitals and medical practices to receive hands-on experience in radiation technology, nursing, physical therapy, hospital administration and more.

SHEF’s mission is to provide financial education assistance to residents of Southside Virginia who have a desire and ambition to become healthcare provider, but lack sufficient financial resources. SHEF also serves as a resource for information that supports healthcare opportunities in the community.

Since 2008, SHEF has distributed over $725,000 to nearly 250 residents, students and healthcare employees in the region.

New Partnership with CARES Shelter HRHA and the Crisis Assistance Response Emergency Shelter (CARES) of Petersburg are working together to help women and children with high housing barriers achieve stable, permanent housing. Through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the agencies, HRHA will facilitate the transition of women from the shelter into public housing on a referral basis.

This agreement is a result of the revisions made in the 2013 HRHA Admissions and Continued Occupancy Policy (ACOP). In 2012 HRHA Resident Services staff received many requests from CARES regarding families needing permanent housing. However, there was no provision in the Jean Grim, CARES Social Services ACOP to include preference points for homelessness or domestic vioCoordinator, is all smiles about the lence victims. HRHA recognizes the value of being a community partner new partnership. and assisting in the local efforts of CARES and other service providers whose mission is to assist homeless individuals or families and victims of domestic violence. The new preferences will enable HRHA to make a greater contribution to the mission of CACH and the participating member agencies.

CARES is the only temporary shelter in the area for homeless families. This partnership will become part of the rapid re-housing efforts throughout the Tri-Cities area.

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Public Housing Staff Hopewell Redevelopment & Madelyn Madison-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 Resident Services Specialist – (804) 452-1880 ext. 4 Emergency After Hours – (804) 640-9337

Best of Hopewell Festival Hopewell’s Got Talent!

The Downtown Partnership and the Hopewell High School FBLA are partnering to host a creative arts competition. They are seeking entries showcasing artwork, poetry, music and photography. Prizes will be given for each category and winners will be showcased during an upcoming one day festival. Entries are being accepted from individuals and organizations. For more information call 804-446-4847 or visit www.hopewelldowntown.com. Good luck!

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