April 2015

Volume 1, Issue 1

The Housing Choice Voucher Program (HCVP)

INTRODUCES

THE RESOURCE CENTER

The purpose of the Resource Center is to assist participants in de-veloping job and life readiness and computer skills, apply for jobs, take tests, print job verifications, take classes, and do college work. There will be three (3) computers available for use to participants of the Charleston County Housing and Redevelopment Authority’s Public Housing Programs. Staff assistance will be provided by CCHRA Program representatives. To schedule one hour appoint-ment slots with a limit of two per day you can contact one of our program representatives at 843.277.6014 or 843.628.4130.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Tenant Conference Fall

2015

Landlord Orientation

Summer 2015

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

The Resource Center.. ....... 1

Farewell!….Welcome ! …… 1

May 2012 Waiting List ...... 2

Family Self-Sufficiency ..... 3

NAHRO Poster Contest ..... 4

CCHRA Employment Op-

portunities……………………...5

And so it goes….

“FAREWELL!!!”

Please join us in saying “GOOD-

BYE!!!!” to Ms. Barbara Miller,

former HCVP Specialist, who’s last

day with the housing authority was

February 18, 2015. Ms. Miller’s

career with CCHRA has spanned

nearly 12 years. She will be missed.

“WELCOME!!!”

Please say “HELLO!!!” to Ms.

Shante Wilson who celebrates a

promotion to the HCVP Specialist

position effective March 9, 2015.

Ms. Wilson formerly coordinated

portability, intake, waiting list, and

emergency vouchers.

ISAAC NEWTON’S THIRD LAW OF MOTION “For every action, there is an opposite and equal reaction.”

Karen Gorham, CEO

Dear Applicants to the Housing Choice Voucher Program (HCVP):

Effective March 2, 2015, the Charleston County Housing and Redevelopment Authority has reached voucher capacity. We are fully leased up to our funding capacity.

What this means is that the Housing Authority will not issue any more vouchers or process any more vouchers due to insufficient funds at this time.

If you received a voucher and it was rescinded, your name will go back to the top of the waiting list.

You are not guaranteed a voucher.

To remain eligible to be pulled from the waiting list you signed up for in 2012, you must continue to keep us informed in writing of your current name or new name, address, phone num-ber and email address. Should you receive a request for infor-mation or update request from us, please respond completely to all information requested by or before the deadline on the letter. If the requested information is not complete or not received by the deadline, you may be declared ineligible to continue on the waiting list.

HCVP WAITING LIST UPDATES

FINANCIAL

MANAGEMENT

TIP

When kids learn

of responsible

money manage-

ment at an early

age it will last a

lifetime. Set an

example for your

children .

2

HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHER PROGRAM

(HCVP)

The Charleston County Housing and Redevelopment Authority receives federal funds from the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to administer the voucher program. The Housing Choice Voucher Program then assists very low-income families, the elderly and the disabled to af-ford decent, safe and sanitary housing in the private market. Participants are responsible for finding their own suit-able housing in the private market where an owner agrees to rent under the program. Trained Housing Quality Standards (HQS) staff deter-mine whether the units meet minimum health and safety guidelines. The housing authority pays a subsidy directly to the owner/landlord on behalf of the participant family. The fam-ily pays their portion of the rent as determined by the pro-gram guidelines which is the difference between the actual rent charged and the amount subsidized by the program.

“Our MISSION is to provide

quality afforda-ble housing and assist in improv-

ing economic opportunities for the low-

income citizens of Charleston

County”

FAMILY SELF-SUFFICIENCY GRADUATES

The Charleston County Housing and Redevelopment

Authority’s Housing Choice Voucher Family Self Sufficiency

Program celebrates the accomplishments of its FSS Gradu-

ates annually in October.

All graduates received funds from escrow to assist

them with becoming self-sufficient. The 2014 year’s high-

lighted graduate was Mr. Roland Hall who was recognized for

his efforts to better his quality of life. Mr. Hall worked part-

time while on dialysis to save for a kidney transplant. After

receiving the transplant, Mr. Hall, began to diligently work

toward his dream of homeownership.

The previous year’s highlighted graduate was Ms.

Claudette Gill. She realized her dream of homeownership

and started an entrepreneurial venture—Gill Trucking. Her

motto is “Real Women Drive Trucks.”

(Shown below left to right: Ms. Gil receives check from CEO Karen Gorham, Sam Berry,

Rae Robinson and Ginean Mazyck; Ms.. Gil addresses the 2014 Board of Commissioners

about her company. (L-R Tim Rogers, Roy Gilliard)

FAMILY SELF-

SUFFICIENCY

(FSS)

Currently, there are

47 participants en-

rolled in CCHRA

HCV FSS Program.

Over 60% of those

participants have ex-

perienced an increase

in income and are

working towards

their dream of finan-

cial independence.

If you are interested

in the FSS Program

please call:

Ginean Mazyck, FSS

Coordinator at

843-628-4130.

The honorees were: (from left to right)

Theresa Gary, Lonice Waring, Theteka

Rambert, Roland Hall, (Not pictured

Gail Jackson & Tiffney Wright.)

3

Mr. Hall receives check; (from left to

right) Cassandra Jamison, Karen

Gorham, CEO, Roland Hall, Ginean

Mazyck, Tony Joyner.)

“WHAT HOME MEANS TO ME” POSTER CONTEST

CCHRA invites you to participate in the NAHRO (National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials) Housing America Campaign. An art creation session with free art supplies will be hosted by CCHRA on the following dates:

April 2, 2015 10:00 am – 1:00 pm

April 18, 2015 10:00 am – 1:00 pm

If you would like for your child(ren) to attend, please RSVP to:

Stephanie Gladden, Public Housing Specialist (843) 628-4176 or Ginean Mazyck, Family Self-Sufficiency Coordinator (843) 628-4130

Or

Follow the Poster Contest Specifications below and deliver completed Posters to:

The Charleston County Housing and Redevelopment Authority

2106 Mt. Pleasant Street Charleston, SC 29403

Poster Specifications:

Participants must live with Housing Choice Voucher or Public Housing Recipients of the Charleston County Housing and Redevelopment Authority.

Theme - “What Home Means to Me”

Poster Size—No larger than “22 x 28”

Media—Contestant may use any art media (marker, crayon, paint, collage textiles, etc.), but please consider that the poster will be mailed and reproduced.

The child’s name, name of the housing authority and contact information for the housing authority must be on the back of each poster.

Poster and Narrative must be submitted at the same time.

Deadline entry date for submission is April 30, 2015.

ATTENTION!!!!!!

2015-2016 $CHOLAR$HIP OPPORTUNITIES FROM YOUR HOUSING AUTHORITY

THE SERC-NAHRO SCHOLARSHIP AND THE 2015-2016 BRANDON JAMES BICKLEY & HAN-NAH FAITH BICKLEY MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIPS 8 one year scholarships ranging from $1,000—$7,500. Eligibility Requirements:

Must be a resident of a household that has participated in the Public Housing or Housing Choice Voucher programs for at least one year.

Must expect to receive a HS Diploma or GED by Spring 2015.

Must have an overall grade average of 2.5 or higher.

Must have a copy of SAT or ACT scores and High School transcript.

Must have two letters of reference from a school employee or community figure.

Must submit a 400-500 word essay on a particular topic.

DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION IS APRIL 25, 2015 If interested, please contact: Ginean Mazyck, FSS Coordinator at 843-628-4130 or Stephanie Gladden, PH Housing

Specialist at 843-628-4176

Charleston County

Housing and

Redevelopment Authority

2106 Mt. Pleasant Street

Charleston, SC 29403

THE CHARLESTON COUNTY HOUSING AND

REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY (CCHRA)

Palmetto CAP (formerly Charleston County Human

Service Commission) Summer Employment Program

Project Pride is accepting applications for Summer

Youth Works! 2015! There are still some slots left so

please encourage your young people to apply!

www.palmettocap.org

HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHER

PROGRAM

DIRECTORY

PHONE: (843) 722-1942

Direct Deposit: hcvp_dd@cchra.net Portability: hcvp_portability@cchra.net Scans/Emails: scanstoHCVP@cchra.net

Karen Gorham, CEO

Rae Robinson, HCVP Director (Administration, Land-lords) (843) 628-1560

Jacqueline Littlepage, Receptionist (Receptionist, Scheduling ) (843) 628-4121

Vacant, Case Intake Specialist (Waiting List, Portability, Projects) (843) 408-4176

Ginean Mazyck, FSS Coordinator (843) 628-4130

Roy Gilliard, HQS Inspector (Annual Inspections, Quali-ty) 843) 628-6961

Shay Region, Temp. Admin Asst. (Projects, QC, News-letter, Events) (843) 277-????

Samuel Berry, Sr. HCV Specialist

(Last Names A-Gk; Initial Inspections) (843) 628-4162

Shante Wilson, HCV Specialist

(Last Names GL-Pk; Initial Inspections) (843) 628-4157

Paul Johnson, HCV Specialist

(Last Names PL-Z; Initial Inspections) (843) 628-4126

For employment and housing opportunities please visit

http://www.cchra.net/cchra/pages/employment2.html