July 2013 grapevine

July 2013

THE GRAPEVINE Hopewell Redevelopment & Housing Authority

Langston Park Update At the last community meeting held by HRHA and Community Housing Partners (CHP), residents were informed that the redevelopment project was awaiting approval of the VHDA tax credit application. HRHA and CHP received notice in mid-June that VHDA had approved the pending application and plans to redevelop Langston Park could move forward. The funding of the redevelopment is significant in that it will be the first in the state financed by the RAD program using highly competitive nine percent tax credits administered by VHDA.

Volume 208, Issue 41

Monthly Reminders: 

Kippax Place— July 7, 2013 5:30 pm Davisville/Bland Court— July 17, 2013 1:00 pm Piper Square—July 17, 2013 1:00 pm Thomas Rolfe—July 25, 2013 1:00 pm Langston Park—July 24, 2013 1:00 pm 

As the nonprofit owner, developer, architect and contractor of Langston Park, CHP will use environmentally-responsible practices and  products to upgrade the community to 56 energy efficient EarthCraft certified rental homes for area families. The mixed-income project will involve demolition of the existing outdated units and construction of 26 new two-bedroom apartments, 26 three-bedroom apartments and four four-bedroom apartments. The redeveloped community will serve families and individuals earning at or below 50% of the area median income (AMI), with 30 of the apartments receiving residents with HUD project-based rental assistance through the RAD program.

The RAD program is a central part of HUD’s rental housing preservation strategy that was initiated in September 2012 and provides a mechanism for housing authorities to convert public housing and assisted housing properties to project-based or long-term Section 8 rental assistance communities. The program allows properties to be redeveloped, rehabilitated and financed as stable long-term assets.

The LIHTC program is administered in Virginia by VHDA and encourages the development and rehabilitation of affordable rental housing by providing owners with federal income tax credits for units meeting the program’s requirements. David Schultz, CHP Vice President of Development, stated, “Without VHDA’s support of this project, the revitalization of Langston Park would not have been viable.”

“Most of the existing public and low-income housing in the city is functionally obsolete, although much effort is being put into maintaining this stock,” stated Steve Benham, HRHA Executive Director. HRHA is internally working on its goal to revitalize its complete housing portfolio and be a catalyst for the revitalization of housing in the city of Hopewell and the Tri-cities region. The agency is proud to be the first recipient of this award and looks forward to the benefits that project completion will provide to area citizens.

Neighborhood Watch/Resident Council Meetings:

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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Teen Summit

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Management Corner

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Father’s Day Celebration

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Laos Outreach Center

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Upcoming Community Events

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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 Greg Parham. Greg has been employed with HRHA since 2005. Greg works as a Maintenance Aide for the Davisville and Bland Court communities.

He was born in Maryland and now resides in Richmond. Prior to employment with HRHA, Greg worked as an electrician with County Line Electric for four years and also served as a cook at Fort Lee for five years.

In his spare time he enjoys festivals of all music genres, eating Italian food, reading and spending quality time with his family.

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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

Teen Summit Women Empowering Women (WEW) is a nonprofit organization located in Richmond, Virginia. WEW has aided the less fortunate and helped inspire women through empowerment sessions, community services and social activities. The purpose of WEW is to support and care for the community and empower women to live life to their fullest potential.

WEW has three program and service areas. People Empowering People (PEP), which provides workshops and support services to people who are in a disadvantaged position due to incarceration, poverty, homelessness or involvement with the criminal justice system. The R.I.S.E. mentoring program, which provides a platform for women to address self-esteem and social competency issues while building strong relationships. Lastly, the Second Chance Scholarship program provides women a second chance at a college education. Scholarship funds are applied to tuition and book expenses for women who did not attend, graduate from college or are returning to college.

The organization will be hosting their first annual Teen Summit on August 10 & 11, 2013 at the Vision Center located at 2500 Chamberlayne Avenue, Richmond, Virginia. The theme is “Shine Bright Like a Diamond.” Girls ages 14-19 will discuss specific issues related to their demographic in a forum style discussion setting. WEW is interested in gaining a better understanding of the affects and thoughts on particular issues such as relationships, medial portrayal of young women and job readiness skills. The summit will end with a trip to Hadad’s Lake on August 11, 2013. Participants must register by July 31, 2013. There is no cost for the summit, but parents or a responsible guardian must transport the youth to the events.

Flyers are posted in the laundromats and management offices in HRHA communities. Registration forms can be obtained from a Resident Services staff person. For more information on WEW and its programs, contact Galanda Shaw at 804-380-6997 or visit www.wewrichmond.org.

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Management Corner The Real Estate Assessment Center's (REAC) mission is to provide and promote the effective use of accurate, timely and reliable information assessing the condition of HUD's portfolio; to provide information to help ensure safe, decent and affordable housing; and to restore the public trust by identifying fraud, abuse and waste of HUD resources.

Nearly 4 million American families live in rental housing that is owned, insured or subsidized by HUD. To ensure that these families have housing that is decent, safe, sanitary and in good repair REAC conducts approximately 20,000 physical inspections on properties each year.

REAC inspections will occur July 8, 2013 through July 12, 2013, between the hours of 9:00 am and 5:00 pm.

The REAC Inspector will randomly select 20% of HRHA units upon site arrival. Notices have been delivered outlining what you, as a resident, can do to help ensure our inspection receives the highest score possible. We hope everyone will be prepared to show HRHA is the best!

2013 Father’s Day Celebration

This year HRHA began its Father’s Day Celebration with two days of workshops for the fathers in our communities. The workshops were centered on transformation and the importance of being a father.

HRHA would like to thank the Mason family of Davisville for organizing a community cookout. The food was delicious! We hope to see even more fathers and their children at next year’s events!

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Roundhouse Results with Laos Outreach Center HRHA has a partnership with Laos Outreach Center to provide karate instruction, tutoring and an anti-bullying curriculum to the youth in our communities. DaShawn Washington of Piper Square is a rising sixth grader enrolled in the program. His favorite karate move is the punching kota. He was recently tested on this series of movements and successfully earned his yellow belt. He is now working hard towards his blue belt. When asked about the extra responsibilities of a yellow belt holder, DaShawn replied, “We can’t fool around and we have to have perfect attendance.” He is also helping the younger kids in the programs so they too will have the moves like Bruce Lee. He credits the program with helping him learn selfdefense and teaching him to stand up to bullies. He intends to join school clubs his first year of middle school and try out for the basketball team. He is also a member of the Piper Square Boy Scouts troop.

Micah Chatman of Langston Park will be in the 4th grade this fall. She also recently earned her yellow belt and is giving DaShawn some friendly competition on passing their blue belt tests. Micah enjoys the self-defense aspect of the program. Micah enjoys having silly conversations with her mom while at home and playing tag Laos Outreach Center provides karate instruction coupled with their anti-bullying program. The nonprofit believes this approach takes a holistic method to address several issues faced by today’s youth. In addition to HRHA, Laos has also partnered with the TLB and Fountain of Life outreach programs to recruit more youth into the program. HRHA youth benefit from peer interaction with other youth in Hopewell.

The program has a total of 16 participants and is accepting registrations. If interested contact the Resident Services department.

Upcoming Community Events National Night Out HRHA has registered to participate in the 2013 National Night event with over 15,000 other communities nationwide. This event is open to all HRHA residents and we hope you will join us for food, music and fun as we participate in America’s night out against crime.

Who: All HRHA residents When: August 6, 2013 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Where: HRHA Administrative Office, 350 E. Poythress Street Cost: Free of charge

Rainbow Summer Feeding Program Who: Youth ages 17 and under When: July 1—August 30, 2013 Cost: Free of charge RSVP: Registration forms are located with Resident Services staff in the Thomas Rolfe and Piper Square management offices.

Your child must be registered to participate!

HRHA residents are needed as volunteer bus monitors for the summer. This is an opportunity to earn community service hours.

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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 Terence Barber, Resident Services Specialist – (804) 452-1880 ext. 4 Emergency After Hours – (804) 640-9337

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