THE GRAPEVINE

September 2014

Hopewell Redevelopment & Housing Authority Volume 210, Issue 9

Monthly Reminders:

Community/Resident Council Meetings:

Kippax Place — September 2, 2014 5:30

pm

Davisville/Bland Court — September 10,

2014 3:30 pm

Piper Square— September 17, 2014 1:00

pm

Thomas Rolfe—September 18, 2014 1:00

pm

Rental payments are due on the 1st of

each month and must be paid at Sun-

Trust 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.

Job Corps Orientations at Hopewell VEC

every Thursday at 9:00 am

Employment assistance every Tuesday

from 9:00—11:00 a.m. at Piper Square

FSS Program Orientation in the Piper

Square community center September

20th at 1:00 p.m.

HRHA Grievance Procedure 2

Race to GED 2

Employee Spotlight 2

Management Corner 3

JOBS Program 3

Management Policy 4

Power Of Attorney 4

National Night Out 4

Inside this issue:

Langston Park Ground Breaking

The Hopewell Redevelopment and Housing Authority (HRHA) became the first Housing Authority in Virginia to break ground on a Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) pro-ject on Friday, July 25. HRHA and its develop-ment partners celebrated the official ground-breaking for Langston Park Apartments as the first step toward revitalizing the neighbor-hood.

Built in 1962 as a public housing develop-ment, the Langston Park Apartment complex consists of 30 units in sixteen two-story build-ings. Once construction is completed, Lang-ston Park will have 56 units in eight two-story buildings.

Steven Benham, Executive Director, HRHA, said “Langston Park will be the newest and best designed in Hopewell.”

The new Langston Park will be “a community with energy efficient homes, lots of green space, a new community center and playground allowing neighbors to enjoy their community,” added Carrie S. Schmidt, U.S. De-partment and Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Richmond Field Office Director.

Schmidt noted that, RAD is a key component of HUD’s affordable rental housing preservation strategy. It helps communities attract investments that will enable them to convert housing developments, such as Langston Park, into project-based rental assistance developments with more in-come levels and amenities than before.

The RAD award has helped Hopewell to attract new investment into the City. Investors and partners in the Langston Park project include the Low-Income Housing tax Credit program, HOME Investment Partnership (HOME) funds, Virginia Housing Trust funds, private bank financing, and a strong development partner, Community Housing Partners.

Linwood Crenshaw, Chairman of the Board of Directors for HRHA, noted that there were obstacles that stood before HRHA, and with “community support, funds, space, and outstanding partners, HRHA is determined to stay focused and to get this done.”

“It’s a wonderful day for Hopewell, we’re excited. We in Hopewell are on the move, and we see progress,” said Crenshaw.

Pictured above is Linwood

Crenshaw, Chairman of the

HRHA Board of Commissioners

and Steven Benham, HRHA

Executive Director.

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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 Grievance Procedure

Employee Spotlight

Brian Charity is a native of Charles City and currently serves as Team Lead of the Maintenance Department for

Davisville and Thomas Rolfe Court. Brian has been in the maintenance field for over 25 years, where he has

gained experience with building construction and conventional properties.

He has three children and enjoys riding four wheelers and watching sports, specifically football. He has served

as the coach for a youth quarter back league here in Hopewell and feels that it has made a difference in the

lives of children, especially those living in HRHA communities.

Brian is extremely pleased to have the opportunity to work for HRHA, ensuring that the needs of the

residents is his number one priority.

Race to GED

Southside Programs for Adult Continuing Education has free classes for persons interested in Pre-GED, GED, ESL and reading. Classes will take place in Colonial Heights, Dinwiddie, Hopewell, Petersburg and Prince George starting September 9th and students may enroll at any time.

For more information please call 804-733-2670 or visit the website at www.southsideadulted.org.

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Management Corner

JOBS Program

Recently HRHA residents reporting a change of income left voicemail messages to report the change. This is not the correct procedure to report your change of income. In order to ensure that your income is calculated cor-rectly and that the information reported to HUD is correct, HRHA residents should follow the procedures that are outlined in your HRHA Dwelling Lease.

1. Redetermination of Rent, Dwelling Size and Eligibility:

Tenant agrees that all changes in family composition or income will be reported to Management within ten (10) calendar days of such change. Additions to household members, excluding births, adoptions and court awarded custody, require advanced written approval. Any additions must pass HRHA’s screening criteria. Tenant must wait for HRHA approval before allowing additional persons to move into the prem-ises.

At least once a year, when requested by Management, Tenant agrees to furnish accurate information to Management as to family income, employment and composition, for use by Management in determining whether the Rent charged to Tenant should be revised, whether the size of the Unit is still appropriate for Tenant's needs, and whether Tenant is still eligible for continued occupancy. These determinations will be made in accordance with HRHA’s ACOP available in the Management Office. Once the new rental rate is established, it shall remain in effect until the next reexamination or renewal, unless another inter-im review and change is warranted or Tenant elects to change the method of rent calculation.

The mission of the Job Opportunities Basic Skills (J.O.B.S.) Program is to provide 8th and 9th grade students with training in workforce readiness, life skills, character education, and wellness. The program provides class-room instruction throughout the year that leads to a summer internship.

The program works to identify local employers who can offer internships, then works with the school’s classroom partners to place students with the employers. The program’s goal is to have interns gain a minimum of 80 hours of experience. Employers have no commitment to the student for continuing or future employment once the internship is completed.

Cheyanne Lyden, a native of Hopewell, is an upcoming high school fresh-man in who had the privilege to work with Hopewell Redevelopment &

Housing Authority (HRHA) this summer through the JOBS program. “It was really nice working at HRHA, every-body was so kind and it was really laid back. It was a great first job experience and it opened my eyes to the working field,” said Cheyanne. Through this experience Cheyanne was able to work on her communication skills with others and more.

Cheyanne would like to enter the medical as a nutritionist or a chiropractor. She loves being active and playing the piano. “I love horseback riding, I’ve been doing it since I was six years old and I’ve put pretty much my life into being with my horse. I’ve been playing for about five years now and I am also teaching myself how to play guitar and violin.”

The JOBS program is a great way to begin gaining work experience and it helps prepare you for the future. When asked what she could say to motivate her peers, Cheyanne stated “the work experience and getting used to working with other people and as a company will benefit you in the long run.”

For more information on how to get involved with the JOBS program please see your high school guidance counselor.

Cheyanne Lyden, HRHA summer JOBS

program intern.

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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

Management Policy

Power of Attorney

River View on the Appomattox will be hosting an informational session to discuss the duties and responsibili-ties of a Power of Attorney (POA). If you are wondering what a POA is or if you want to know how to obtain a POA for a loved one, this is the place to be.

This event will take place on Thursday, September 18th from 10:00 am – 12:00 pm at River View on the Appo-mattox located at 201 Eppes St, Hopewell 23860. This free event requires you to RSVP and will include light refreshments and guest speaker from Carrell Blanton Ferris Attorney at Law.

RSVP by calling 804-541-1445.

National Night Out

Thank You

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Public Housing Staff

Madelyn Madison-Hyde, Public Housing Director – (804) 458-5160

Lillian Quintana, 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

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 Coordinator — (804) 855-7065

Emergency After Hours – (804) 640-9337

Hopewell Redevelopment & Housing Authority P.O. Box 1361 350 E. Poythress Street Hopewell, VA 23860 Phone (804) 458-5160 Fax (804) 458-3364 Website www.hopewellrha.org

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