October 2015 Grapevine

October 2015

THE GRAPEVINE Hopewell Redevelopment & Housing Authority

Purpose Bound Parents

LaWanda Woods, founder of Purpose Bound Parents, pictured above.

LaWanda Woods began the Purpose Bound Parents program five years ago. The program goals were to assist single parents with back to school purchases, home makeover projects, youth camp registration fees and individual assistance for special needs.

Through her work with the John Tyler Community College, LaWanda has developed a special relationship with single parents who are struggling to maintain their responsibilities as a parent and meet their obligations as a student. As a result, the Purpose Bound Parents program has expanded its reach.

Today, Purpose Bound Parents is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that advocates for single parents and their children.

Established to specifically help low-income families who are supporting children, we have adopted a unique program model called “The Purpose Bound Scholar House.” This program helps guide single parent students towards earning a degree and a higher paying career.

The Purpose Bound Scholar House is an educational program that will soon have a housing element. This initiative will enable the head of household to reach self- sufficiency. The housing and education components will be operated as one unit, with housing depending on the client’s successful participation in an affiliated educational institution.

HRHA is very excited about its upcoming partnership with Purpose Bound Parents, which will target residents in its Family SelfSufficiency (FSS) program. HRHA is currently recruiting FSS residents to participate in a monthly workshops that will focus on health and wellness, college and career planning and community networking.

Activities to support these core areas include parenting skills, management of family resources, nutritional education, problem solving, employment skills, job-searching techniques, career placement opportunities and more.

The organization is currently raising funds to purchase 100 computers for single parentstudents who are enrolled in colleges. Those interested in donating can do so by visiting http://www.gofundme.com/pbparents.

Volume 211, Issue 10

Monthly Reminders: 

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Community/Resident Council Meetings: Kippax Place — October 6, 2015 5:30 pm Davisville/Bland Court — October 14, 2015 1:00 pm Piper Square — October 21, 2015 1:00 pm Thomas Rolfe — October 22, 2015 1:00 pm Rental payments are due on the 1st of each month and must be paid at the HRHA main office drop box 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 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. in the Piper Square community center.

Inside this issue: HRHA Grievance Procedure

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After School Program

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HRHA Board of Commissioner 2 Management Policy

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Trunk or Treat

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Rental Payments

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GED Classes

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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.

ML2 After School Program HRHA will run an after school program in the Piper Square community center, Monday through Thursday from 3:30 to 6:30 pm. Mentoring sessions will also be available every other Saturday. Registration sessions were held in September and participants were admitted on a first come first serve basis. Students participating in this program will focus on improving math, literacy and leadership skills. The program will also have a cultural enrichment component in partnership with Hopewell Is Alive.

Interns from local colleges, including Virginia State University, will serve as tutors and mentors for youth in the program. HRHA is working diligently to expand this program into the Thomas Rolfe and Davisville communities, as the goal is to help all students increase their SOL scores through a fun and creative learning environment.

If you have any questions, please contact Resident Services.

HRHA Board of Commissioner HRHA would like to welcome aboard Edward Page Henry, III as the newest Board of Commissioner for the agency. Henry was born in 1955 in Hopewell and is a lifelong resident of the city. Henry is graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University where he obtained a Bachelor of Science degree and Averett College where he earned a Master of Business Administration degree. After 30 years as a manager in the manufacturing industry, Henry is retired.

Henry has served in the City of Hopewell as a member of the Board of Directors of the Appomattox Basin Industrial Development Corporation (ABIDCO), is a member of the Hopewell Traffic Board, Downtown Partnership, Committee to End Homelessness in Hopewell and the Hopewell/Prince George Crime Stoppers. Henry attends First United Methodist Church of Hopewell and is also an active member and past President of the Hopewell Lions Club, Sons of the American Legion, Men’s Auxiliary to the Veterans of Foreign Wars and a member and past Worshipful Master of DuPont Masonic Lodge #289, A.F. & A.M. Henry also participates in several volunteer organizations including the Homeless Warming Shelter, Hope House and the Hopewell Food Pantry. Please help us welcome Mr. Henry.

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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

Trunk or Treat

On Saturday, October 24th, Helping Hands will be hosting their fourth annual Trunk or Treat Harvest Festival in the parking lot of Crystal Lake park in Hopewell. This event will be held from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. and will consist of candy, games, prizes, music and more.

Helping Hands is an organization of people whose goal is to make a difference in the community by showing positivity and promoting unity in the city of Hopewell. With hundreds of kids attending the festival each year, Helping Hands is looking for volunteers to assist with this event. Volunteers are asked to decorate car trunks to pass out candy to the youth as well as help with the overall event. Make sure to stop by the HRHA car for lots of treats!

Helping Hands is collecting money for this event at http://www.gofundme.com/sx3rymsg. Those wanting to donate candy for the event should contact Shan Foskey at (757) 470-9134 or helpinghandsrhere2015@gmail.com.

Rental Payments Beginning October 15th, 2015 SunTrust Bank will only accept rental payments from residents with a SunTrust account. HRHA will be installing a drop box on the front side of the administration building located at 350 East Poythress Street in Hopewell. Residents will be able to insert payments in the form of check, money order, or cashier’s check. Cash payments will not be accepted.

This drop box will be available and ready to accept your payments on November 1st. Payments attached with the current monthly rent statement may still be mailed to P.O. Box 1361, Hopewell, VA 23860.

GED Classes Southside Programs for Adults Continuing Education has released their fall class schedule for those needing their GED. Classes will be held at the Woodlawn Learning Center located at 1100 Dinwiddie Avenue in Hopewell. Day classes are held Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and evening classes are held on Mondays and Wednesdays from 6:00 to 8:30 p.m. Classes are for individuals of all levels.

For more information please call (804) 733-2670 or visit www.southsideadulted.org.

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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, Acting 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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