n e w s b r i e f APRIL—MAY, 2015 VOLUME 8, ISSUE 2

More than 70 people gathered in honor

of National Women’s and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. This year’s theme highlighted the importance of testing. Various ages and occupations came together to promote the importance of increasing knowledge and awareness in women on the subject of HIV/AIDS. Keynote speaker Catherine Wyatt Morley encouraged the audience to know their status – whether HIV positive or negative. Knowing whether one is HIV positive or negative refers to knowing whether or not one has the (Human Immunodeficiency) virus that causes AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome) a stage in the disease which causes the body not to be able to fight off simple infections.

Although Ms. Wyatt-Morley tested positive for the virus and she now has full blown AIDS, her story is one of success born out of hardship. She used what was a devastatingly tragic diagnosis as a platform for success in live and a loudspeaker for encouraging others to do the same. These days Wyatt-Morley is an internationally recognized author, a distinguished Faculty member of the Bristol-Myers Squibb Speaker’s Bureau, and Chief Executive Officer of the nonprofit organization

NATIONAL WOMEN AND GIRLS HIV/AIDS

AWARENESS PROGRAM

Get Informed—Get Tested—Protect Yourself!

Women On Maintaining Education and Nutrition (W.O.M.E.N.). The organization’s mission is to bridge service gaps to reduce health disparities.

During the course of the event several attendees took advantage of the on-site testing that was offered by the Health Department.

First Person Panelists

Three first-person speakers told the audience their stories using examples, simple narrative and poetry.

Their moving stories told what it is like to lose your parents to AIDS, to have a child diagnosed with AIDS and to be told that you are the one who has tested positive for HIV or AIDS. Their sometimes emotional, sometimes matter-of-fact testimonies brought understanding and enlightenment.

Pat Whitfield of the Cumberland County Department of Public Health brought the latest in local Statistics.

African American and Hispanic/Latina women continue to be disproportionately affected by HIV. The rate of HIV infection among African American women remains the highest among all women — 19 times that of white women and almost 4 times that of Hispanic/Latina women.* (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention).

-Continued on page 10

Catherine Wyatt-Morley, CEO of W.O.M.E.N. and Virginia Hill, Education Director of N.A.M.I. Cumberland, Harnett and Lee Counties (National Alliance on Mental Illness)

Stephanie

Brown, Panelist

2

HELP! I THINK I MAY HAVE BED BUGS

WHAT TO DO IF YOU THINK YOU HAVE BED BUGS If you think you have bed bugs contact the Housing

Management Office immediately. Housing Management staff will accompany the Pest

Control contractor to inspect your unit to confirm that you actually have bed bugs.

If the Pest Control contractor finds you have bedbugs, you will be notified and provided guidance on how to prepare your unit for treatment by eliminating clutter, laundering and granting access for inspection and treatment.

Do not delay treatment! FMHA must contact the Pest Control professionals and begin treatment as

soon as possible because bed bugs will reproduce and spread making their control much more difficult and costly.

ASSISTANT HOUSING MANAGERS

Darcel Burns Director of

Housing Management

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF

HOUSING MANAGEMENT

SONYA GREEN

OCCUPANY SPECIALISTS

SHARON BETHEA

PSON BLUE

KIM DEATON

ALLISON HERRING

HOUSING CLERK

WANDA MEEKINS

Richard Gregg

Blueberry Place Holland Homes

Murchison Townhouses McNeill Apartments

Scattered Sites

Viola Lee

Hillside Manor

Lewis Heights Stanton Arms

Point Place Melvin Place

GROVE VIEW TERRACE HOUSING MANAGEMENT

OFFICE HOURS

8:30 a.m.—5:00 p.m.

Monday—Clients are not seen—Rent payments only

Tuesday—Friday - Clients are seen all day

Applications for housing taken on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday from

9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

3

LET’S KEEP OUR COMMUNITIES CLEAN

As the saying goes… “A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words…” The pictures below are some

of the issues we are finding at our sites

Trash (“dirty diapers”) left on patios and Trash around the dumpster starts like this…

but almost always leads to this…

It has come to our attention that we have a problem with trash and traffic control at our sites. Each resident has a part in keeping the community decent, safe and sanitary as required by your lease. As a reminder, YOU can do your part by:

Picking up excess trash that you see in the yard around the building where you live.

Following the schedule set up for cleaning the breezeway of your building (if you live in a building with a

breezeway).

Throw Away Trash / Unwanted Items Properly – This Means:

DO NOT LEAVE IT ON YOUR PATIO/BALCONY OR OUTSIDE YOUR DOOR.

PLACE ALL TRASH OR UNWANTED ITEMS IN THE DUMPSTER – DO NOT LEAVE TRASH BAGS

ON THE GROUND BESIDE OR IN THE AREA AROUND THE DUMPSTER (as this make it easy

for stray animals to tear the trash apart and have it scattered around the site).

PLACE LARGE ITEMS INSIDE THE DUMPSTER WHEN POSSIBLE (if not put it neatly inside the

fenced area around the dumpster).

DO NOT SEND SMALL CHILDREN TO DISPOSE OF TRASH IF THEY CANNOT LIFT IT TO PUT

INSIDE THE DUMPSTER.

DO NOT PARK IN FRONT OF THE DUMPSTER / NO PARKING AREAS.

HELP US STOP NON-TENANTS FROM DUMPING TRASH AT OUR SITES. If you notice a vehicle

coming into the area to dump trash, TAKE DOWN THE LICENSE PLATE NUMBER AND CALL

THE HOUSING MANAGEMENT OFFICE. This will allow us to have the police contact those

people to stop them from using our site as a “dumping ground”.

Remember, trash that has not been thrown away properly can cause you to be charged a “TRASH CHARGE”.

THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR HELPING TO KEEP OUR COMMUNITIES CLEAN. HOUSING MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT

(910) 483-6980

Vehicle blocking the dumpster

… how can trash collector get

to the dumpster?

4

COMMUNITY SERVICE Q & A

Questions & Answers about Community

It’s a Requirement of Your Lease!

Q: Why do I have to do Community Service when I pay rent?

A: Community Service is a HUD requirement for all public housing residents, unless you meet an Exemption.

Q: How do I meet an Exemption so I do not have to do Community Service?

A: In order to be Exempt from Community Service, a resident must be 1) 62 years or

older; 2) Blind or Disabled (according to the Social Security Act); 3) Working or Doing Work Activities; 4) Going to School; or 5) Receiving TANF.

Q: What if I don’t meet an Exemption, but cannot or have not done my Community

Service Hours?

A: Community Service is a requirement of your lease and at 8 hours must be completed each month. Failure to complete your Community Service hours can cause

your lease to not be renewed and you to lose your housing.

Q: I haven’t been doing my Community Service and owe a lot of hours; what can I do

now?

A: Contact the Housing Management Department as soon as possible. Staff will explain ways you can get caught up on your Community Service and avoid losing your

housing. Remember - Community Service is volunteer work at a local public or non-profit agency or attendance / participation in a self-sufficiency program. Community

Service is not: volunteering at any for-profit business (even if it is a daycare or nursing home).

Q: What can I do to make sure I keep up on my Community Service hours and do not

fall behind?

A: If you owe hours for Community Service, DO NOT hold them to submit at a later date. Turn in your hours as soon as you earn them. This helps you avoid losing the

documents or finding out later that the hours do not count towards Community Service.

Also, report all changes in status in 10 days. This means report not only when you start/stop work or receiving income, but also when you start /stop school and

submitting a schedule whenever you start new classes.

5

COMMUNITY SERVICE NEWS

Old Forms No Longer Accepted

Effective June 1, 2015, we will no longer accept any hours older than 3 months old.

HUD requires that public housing residents complete 8 hours Community Service each month. Staff cannot document that a resident is meeting the requirement if we do not

receive the forms. Do not get caught with hours that cannot be accepted. Turn in your hours immediately!

For Example: Sheila earned 25 hours Community Service in January. Sheila holds

on to the papers and does not submit them to Housing Management until April. Sheila will not receive credit for the hours earned in January as they were earned 4 months

ago.

If you have questions about your Community Service requirement, contact the

Housing Management Department at 483-6980.

SOME EXAMPLES OF COMMUNITY SERVICE

Serving food at a nonprofit

homeless agency such as the

Helping at the

Sorting clothing at a non-profit such as

Goodwill

Helping at the local animal shelter

Attending self-sufficiency classes

Babysitting for another public housing resident so that he/she can work or perform Community Service hours

Mother's Day in the United States is annually held on the second Sunday of May. In 2015, it falls on Sunday, May 10th. This

is a day to celebrate motherhood and is a time to appreciate mothers and mother figures.

6

COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE FOR HOUSING

AUTHORITY RESIDENTS

DEADLINE FOR COMPLETED APPLICATIONS

APRIL 14, 2015

Contact Resident Services for more information 910-483-2945 Ext. 1104

2015 Scholarship Program Deadline

Tuesday, March 31 at 11:59 pm

The Cumberland Community Foundation has updated its website with information about the

foundation’s 2015 scholarship program. Only online applications will be accepted. Applicants will have

the opportunity to upload transcripts and Student Aid Reports and to notify their references by email.

Information needed to begin the process is located on the website at: http://www.cumberlandcf.org/

scholarships-2/how-to-apply-2/.

This scholarship is for any students who are applying to colleges for the 2015-2016 academic year.

CUMBERLAND COMMUNITY FOUNDATION

Knitting for Self-Sufficiency

All classes to be held at Grove View Recreation Center - 134 Grove View Terrace

All Knitting Classes Meet Community Service Eligibility Requirements.

To Register, Contact Resident Services (910)-483-2945. Registration Required to Receive Class Incentives

Open To 11 to 12 year olds in Cumberland County who might benefit from equine assisted psychotherapy

*ONLY 8 SLOTS AVAILABLE To REGISTER reply to this e-mail or contact us by phone

APRIL 6th - MAY 6th

Mondays and Wednesdays from 3:15 to 4:15 pm

Parent Meeting & Assessment: April 1st (Time TBA)

You can find information about us, including detailed directions on our website → HorsesHeal.com.

HORSE CONNECTION

* DISCOVER * EMPOWER * CHANGE

Sponsored in part by: Junior League of Fayetteville

FARM ADDRESS

9390 East Reeves Bridge Road

Linden, NC 28356

(910) 323-0965

deborah@horsesheal.com

7

Maintenance Office Sustains Fire Damage

The Maintenance Office located at 108 Wiley

Street was ravaged by fire in mid-January. The

facility is comprised of three buildings. The center

set of offices, where the fire was located, was a

total loss. The Warehouse was spared as well as

the Work Order section. Thankfully no one was

injured.

The fire caused a bit of a set back but the work

continues with Maintenance temporarily working

out of the Grove View Terrace and Administrative

Offices.

January 20, 10:00 am February 17, 10:00 am

March 17, 10:00 am April 21, 10:00 am May 19, 10:00 am June 16, 10:00 am

July 21, 10:00 am August 18, 10:00 am

September 15, 10:00 am October 20, 10:00 am

November 17, 10:00 am December 15, 10:00 am

January 19, 2016, 10:00 am

SMART SPENDING

All classes to be held at Grove View Recreation Center – 134 Grove View Terrace All Smart Spending Classes Meet Community Service Eligibility Requirements.

To Register, Contact Resident Services (910)-483-2945 (Registration Required to Receive Class Incentives)

Every morning is a new beginning, a chance to rewrite the story of your life!

Wilkie

8

An interactive program of music, dance, play and developmental skills for

children 1 to 4 years. April 14 - 1:00 pm

March 31—1:00 pm

April 14— 1:00 pm

April 21 - 1:00 pm

April 28 - 1:00 pm

May 5 – 1:00 pm

May 12 – 1:00 pm

May 19 – 1:00 pm

May 26 – 1:00 pm

Kindermusik Classes Meet Community Service Eligibility Requirements.

To Register, Contact Resident Services (910)-483-2945 Registration Required to Receive Class Incentives

THE SNYDER MUSIC ACADEMY &

FAYETTEVILLE METROPOLITAN HOUSING AUTHORITY

BRING YOU

KINDERMUSIK

Time: Tuesday, 1:00-1:45 PM

Dates: Ongoing

Location: Grove View Rec Center (all classes)

Ages: 17 months-3 1/2 years (accompanied by parent/caregiver)

Cost: FREE

Wiggles and Giggles Kindermusik curriculum is…

A music and movement class for children 17 months-3 ½ years

A musical atmosphere of play, song, dance, and learning

A Connection for you with other parents

A link to ideas on how to use music to make parenting easier

9

Benefits of Music Lessons For children:

Improved academic skills

Develops physical skills

Refines discipline and patience

Boosts Self-esteem Cultivates social skills

D

Where?

Old Wilmington Road Neighborhood Resource Center

229 Lincoln Drive Fayetteville, NC 28301

Tuesdays 4 pm

BEGINNING PIANO FOR SENIORS The Fayetteville Metropolitan Housing Authority's music program also includes classes for senior citizens in the eight-keyboard music lab taught by Dr. Richard Ellis. Dr. Ellis is retired from Fayetteville State University and is a Commissioner on the Fayetteville Metropolitan Housing Authority Board. Dr. Ellis noted that, Jennifer Bugos, an assistant professor of music education at the University of South Florida, Tampa, studied the impact of individual piano instruction on adults between the ages of 60 and 85. After six months, those who had received piano lessons showed more robust gains in memory, verbal fluency, the speed at which they processed information, planning ability, and other cognitive functions, compared with those who had not received lessons. Engaging in piano lessons for beginners thus provides both physical and mental stimulation for senior citizens, including: •Increase of coordination ability–hands must be directed by the brain to behave independently of each other. •Increase of hearing ability–by focusing on the interplay of sounds and musical progression, seniors are “retraining” their ears to detect unfamiliar tones and pitches, which also stimulates the brain. •Exercises visual muscles and perception–when playing the piano, the eyes must focus on interpreting the musical notes. This perception sends messages to the brain that, in turn, relays commands to the hands. •Increase of social interaction–whether taking group lessons, one on one lessons or lessons with a grandchild, taking piano lessons for beginners provides seniors, who are at risk for isolation and depression.

For more information, contact Karen Moore, Resident Services Director at 483-2945 xx 1104

10

Old Wilmington Road Neighborhood Resource

Center Book Club Presents:

AIDS Memoir Journal of an HIV-Positive Mother

By: Catherine Wyatt-Morley

This powerful memoir by an average mom turned AIDS activist ranges from

humorous to sobering.

The Book Club meets every 1st and 3rd Tuesday

5:30 pm – 6:30 pm

Old Wilmington Rd. Neighborhood Resource Center

229 Lincoln Drive, Fayetteville, NC 28301

Don’t Miss It!

To sign up call 910-483-2945

or stop by the Center during

Business hours

Join us for a real live discussion of real life issues

Fayetteville Metropolitan Housing Authority in partnership with

Cumberland County Department of Health and the City of Fayetteville

CHILDREN ARE NOT ALLOWED TO ATTEND

-CONTINUED FROM FRONT COVER -

Participants enjoyed a hearty dinner of fried chicken, potato salad, green beans, cake and punch as they listened to the informative program which also honored local workers in the fields of HIV/AIDS education, service and prevention.

Community Honorees

The following individuals were honored for their long-term service in the area of HIV/AIDS education:

Barbara Carraway, Cumberland County Department of Public Health

Yvonne Early, Southern Regional Area Health Education Centers

Sherri McGregor, McGregor’s Travelling Angels Outreach

City and County Political Representatives

County Commissioner Glenn Adams brought

greetings from the County. City of Fayetteville Mayor Pro Tem Kady-Ann Davy thanked the sponsors and gave Ms. Wyatt-Morley a City of Fayetteville coin and pin.

Community Sponsors included Holy Temple Missionary Baptist Church, Unique 79Red Hatters, Kinlaw’s, PWC, HUG-A-Bug Daycare, Sammio’s, My Beauty Spot (Fort Bragg Road), Cumberland County HIV Task Force, Cumberland county Department of Public Health, Community Health Interventions, AIDS Healthcare, Target, Chick-Fil-A (Ramsey St.), and Panda Express.

The event was a joint collaboration between the City of Fayetteville, the Fayetteville Metropolitan Housing Authority, and the Cumberland County Department of Public Health.

National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day is an annual observance to recognize the impact of HIV on women and girls.

11

Methods of Transmission

The most common ways HIV is passed from person to person are: Re-using and sharing needles for injection drug use (including steroids and hormones) Unprotected/unsafe sex (no condoms or other barriers) Mother to child (during pregnancy, birth or breast- feeding) HIV Cannot Reproduce Outside The Human Body. HIV IS NOT Spread By:

Air or water Insects, including mosquitoes. Studies conducted by CDC researchers and others have shown no evidence of HIV transmission from insects Saliva, tears, or sweat. There is no documented case of HIV being transmitted by spitting Casual contact like shaking hands or sharing dishes Closed-mouth or “social” kissing

No one should become complacent about HIV and AIDS. While current medications can dramatically improve the health of people living with HIV and slow progression from HIV infection to AIDS, existing treatments need to be taken daily for the rest of a person’s life, need to be carefully monitored, and come with costs and potential side effects. At this time, there is no cure for HIV infection. Sources: CDC, The Well Project

What is HIV?

HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus. HIV is the virus that causes AIDS. Most viruses can be controlled by the body’s immune system, however HIV targets and infects white blood cells in the body’s immune system that are crucial to helping the body fight illnesses. These white blood cells are CD4 cells or T-cells. Once infected, HIV takes over the CD4 cells and turns them into centers that produce thousands of copies of the HIV virus. As the virus replicates, it kills the CD4 cells; which weakens the immune system.

What is AIDS?

AIDS stands for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. AIDS is the advanced stage of HIV infection, when a person’s immune system is severely damaged and has difficulty fighting diseases and certain cancers. Once an infected individual losses too many CD4 cells and are less able to fight off infection, they can develop serious, deadly infections. These are called opportunistic infections (OIs). When someone dies of AIDS, it is usually caused by OIs.

The Difference Between HIV and AIDS

A person does not have AIDS as soon as they are infected with HIV. A person can live with HIV for many years without signs or only mild symptoms. However, without treatment; HIV will eventually destroy the immune system to the point that they have a very low CD4 cell count and develop OIs. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) identifies someone as having AIDS if he or she is HIV+ and has one or both of the these conditions: At least one AIDS -defining condition or OIs A CD4 count of 200 cells or less ( a normal CD4 count is about 500-1,500) People with AIDS can rebuild their immune system with the help of medication, however, even if their CD4 count goes back above 200 or an OI is successfully treated, the AIDS diagnosis remains.

How is HIV Spread?

There are many myths and rumors about how HIV is spread. Learn the facts—HIV is spread through contact with the following body fluids:

Blood (including menstrual blood) Semen Vaginal fluids Breast milk

12

FAYETTEVILLE METROPOLITAN HOUSING AUTHORITY

DAWN DRIGGERS, Executive Director

Post Office Drawer 2349

FAYETTEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA 28302

SERVING CUMBERLAND COUNTY FOR SEVENTY-FOUR YEARS

ALL FMHA OFFICES WILL BE CLOSED

ON FRIDAY, APRIL 3RD.

WE’RE ON THE WEB

WWW.FAYETTEVILLEMETROHOUSINGAUTHORITY.ORG

FMHA OFFICE PHONE NUMBER

ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES SECTION EIGHT OFFICE CASE MANAGEMENT OFFICE RESIDENT SERVICES OFFICE HOUSING MANAGEMENT OFFICE MAINTENANCE OFFICE AFTER-HOURS MAINTENANCE E EDITOR: Jo Ann Wilkie

Agency E-mail: faymetha@embarqmail.com

Phone: 483-3648 Phone: 483-3648 Phone: 483-2945 Phone: 483-2945 Phone: 483-6980 Phone: 483-2636 Phone: 483-2636 Phone: 483-3648