Roanoke Rising Fall 2021

Roanoke Rising Fall 2021 - Cover

Roanoke Rising

Fall 2021

Roanoke Rising Fall 2021 - From the CEO

From the CEO
Sharon N. Tolbert, Chief Executive Officer

Welcome to the Fall 2021 edition of the Roanoke Rising! I am pleased to say the Roanoke Housing Authority (RHA) transitioned to Phase 3 of its COVID19 Re-Opening Plan in May 2021. We are open to the general public, staff has resumed their normal work schedule, and the Maintenance Division is responding to emergency and routine work orders.

We are grateful to be back in the office and to resume business as usual but we respectfully ask for your patience as we work through the backlog of administrative and maintenance requests as a result of the pandemic. Although we are open to the public, the following will be strictly enforced in an effort to protect our clients, staff, and the general public.

Face masks are required

Temperature checks

Limited capacity in the lobby

I apologize for the inconvenience our protocols may cause but the goal is to enforce safety measures in an effort to keep everyone safe as we continue to navigate through the global pandemic.

Despite the pandemic, RHA performed well during FYE2021 (July 2020 - June 2021)! The average occupancy rate was at 96% (98% for April 2021 - June 2021) and the work order completion rate averaged 100%. Kudos to RHA staff for a strong FYE2021!

Thank you to RHA's Commissioners for your commitment in serving on the Board of Commissioners! I want to express my sincere gratitude to the Board for your unwavering support and for entrusting me to continue to serve as CEO of RHA.

As always, it is my desire that you find the Fall 2021 Roanoke Rising edition to be a useful tool to communicate upcoming, news, events, and more. For more information, please visit our website at www.auburnhousingauth.org and sign up for "News and More" to receive email and text notifications. Also, be sure to connect with us on social media!

Please stay safe,

Sharon N. Tolbert

Roanoke Rising Fall 2021 - Commissioner's Corner

RHA is governed by a five-member Board of Commissioners, representing a cross section of the community and appointed by the Mayor of the City of Roanoke. One member must be a resident of an RHA property or program.

The Commissioners are responsible for overseeing the fiscal management of the agency and approve policies.

The board meetings are held at 5:30 pm on the 2nd Thursday in March, June, September, and December. The meeting date is subject to change.

Paula Lambert, Chairperson

Sarah Nunn, Vice-Chairperson & Resident Commissioner

Michael Watkins, Commissioner

Robert Alton Joiner, Commissioner

Patrice Awbrey, Commissioner

LHA Board Meeting
Date: December 15, 2021
Time: 12:30pm (CST)

Time/Date Subject to Change.

Welcome!

The RHA would like to welcome Commissioner Patrice Awbrey to its Board of Commissioners. Commissioner Awbrey's term of office began on June 11, 2021.

Thank You

RHA would like to thank Mr. Terry Kennedy for nine years (March 2012 - June 2021) of loyal and dedicated service for serving on the
Board of Commissioners.

Board of Commissioner's 2021 Annual Meeting Update

During the Roanoke Housing Authority's Annual Board Meeting held on June 10, 2021, Paula Lambert was elected Chairperson and Sarah Nunn was elected Vice Chairperson. Both will serve in their respective positions on July 1, 2021 - June 30, 2022. The Board also approved the fiscal year beginning (FYB) 2021 operating budget, FYB2020 budget adjustments, and other action items.

Roanoke Rising Fall 2021 - Human Resources & News

Staff Directory

Sandra Sanders Executive Admin Assistant 237 ssanders@auburnhousingauth.org

Beth Redding Property Manager 334-863-4513 bredding@auburnhousingauth.org

Greg Moore Regional Maintenance Manager 262 gmoore@auburnhousingauth.org

Richetta Stephens Procurement Officer 228 rstephens@auburnhousingauth.org

Sylvia Impson Purchasing Clerk 255 simpson@auburnhousingauth.org

Charlotte Mattox Resident Services Coordinator 230 cmattox@auburnhousingauth.org

Note: To contact staff at the Auburn Admin Office, dial 334-821-2262 and enter extension once prompted.

Employee News & Interim Changes

New Staff

Charlotte Bowen
Receptionist/Cashier
(06.09.21 AHA site)

Cole Worthy
Maintenance Mechanic
(06.14.21 AHA site)

Rashaad Moore
Maintenance Mechanic
Assistant (07.19.21 LHA site)

Christina Williamson
Property Manager
(09.30.21 LHA site)

Bonnie Morgan
Receptionist/Cashier retired May 1st after 18 ½ years of service

Anniversary
Sylvia Impson 5-year Anniversary (07.14.21 AHA site)

Promotions
Greg Moore, Regional Maintenance Manager (effective 09.08.21)
Harvey Maddox, Maintenance Mechanic (effective 09.20.21)

Interim Changes
Wendy Cochran, Interim Chief Operating Officer (effective 06.09.21)
Shannon Walters, Interim HCV Manager (effective 06.17.21)
Laura Squiers, Interim Multi-Family Housing Director (effective 07.01.21)

Roanoke Rising Fall 2021 - Careers & Procurement

Current Openings

Maintenance Mechanic (AHA)

Employee Benefits:

BCBS Medical Benefits

BCBS Dental Benefits

Group Life Insurance

State Retirement

Supplemental Insurance

Annual leave

Sick leave

Paid holidays

Four-day work week (Monday - Thursday)

Visit www.auburnhousingauth.org/careers for job descriptions.

E-Procurement Process

To improve our communication with our vendors, reduce administrative costs, and streamline our procurement process, AHA conducts most of its competitive solicitations on the e-Procurement Marketplace site. Please be advised that AHA absorbs all costs for using this Marketplace. Therefore, your firm incurs no additional charges to use this Marketplace site to respond to a published procurement solicitation. If you are a vendor and are interested in partnering with AHA, please complete the sign-up process outlined below. Once you are a registered vendor on the Marketplace site, you will receive notifications of any new bid opportunities as they occur.

To take part in the e-procurement process, please follow these instructions:

Visit ha.economicengine.com (no "www").

Registered Users - Click on the "login" button on the upper left side

Non registered Users - Click on the "Sign up as a Vendor" button in the lower-left side of the screen and follow the listed directions to register.

Select - Auburn Housing Authority as your Agency.

If you have any problems accessing or registering on the Marketplace, please contact their customer support at (866) 526-9266.

Benefits of utilizing e-Procurement include:

Automatic notification of bid opportunities

The ability to download procurement documents

Automatic notification of addenda

Access to procurement

Roanoke Rising Fall 2021 - Covid19 Guidelines

RHA IS COMMITTED TO YOUR SAFETY AND OURS

Roanoke Housing Authority (RHA) encourages all residents to report positive Covid-19 cases or exposure to Covid-19 regarding members of their household. Reporting allows RHA staff to coordinate with local health officials, communicate possible COVID-19 exposure, and provide any needed resources and assistance. RHA will maintain confidentiality as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Privacy Act and not disclose any names, apartment numbers, and other personally identifiable information. To report or ask questions concerning reporting positive Covid-19 cases or exposure to Covid-19, contact AJ Harris, Director of Public Relations & Compliance, via phone at 334-821-2262 ext. 210 or via e-mail at ajharris@auburnhousingauth.org.

Please note before entering our offices:

Masks are required to be worn at all times

Temperature Checks are required for entry

Lobby seating capacity is limited to three seats

The front door will remain unlocked until the lobby seating capacity is reached. If the door is locked, call the office at 334-863-4513 to sign in and wait in your vehicle.

If you are experiencing any of the following, please refrain from entering:

Have been diagnosed with/tested positive for COVID-19, or currently awaiting test results relating to a suspected coronavirus (COVID-19) diagnosis,

Have signs/symptoms of a Covid-19 infection such as fever (>100.4 F), loss of taste and/or smell, fatigue, cough, shortness of breath, body aches, or sore throat

Came into close contact (within 6 feet for greater than 15 minutes) with someone who has a confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis in the past 14 days?

You can make an in-person or virtual meeting appointment by contacting the Multi-Family Housing Department at 334-863-4513 or the Housing Choice Voucher Department at 334-821-2262 ext. 217. Payments can be made in-person, via the drop box located at the Avenue A Office, or online by visiting auburnhousingauth.org.

Roanoke Rising Fall 2021 - Covid19 Testing & Vaccinations

Previously our agencies partnered with East Alabama Medical Center to host multiple Pfizer vaccination clinics for our staff, residents, and anyone age 16+ in the local community!

Getting vaccinated is one of many steps you can take to protect yourself and others from COVID-19. Protection from COVID-19 is critically important because, for some people, it can cause severe illness or death.

Stopping a pandemic requires using all the tools available. Vaccines work with your immune system, so your body will be ready to fight the virus if you are exposed. Other steps, like masks and social distancing, help reduce your chance of being exposed to the virus or spreading it to others.

Together, COVID-19 vaccination and following public health recommendations to protect yourself and others will offer the best protection from COVID-19.

Roanoke Rising Fall 2021 - AAHRA Conference

Staff and Commissioners attended the 2021 Alabama Association of Housing and Redevelopment Authorities (AAHRA) Conference in Sandestin, FL, on August 16 - 18. Commissioners attended training sessions on Commissioner's role, succession planning, strategic planning, and more. Staff participated in various training sessions to include but are not limited to Fair Housing, finance, crime prevention, HUD PHA Plans, and more. All conference attendees thoroughly enjoyed the Scholarship Dinner and Awards Banquet. The Authority received the Newsletter of the Year Award (medium category), and 11 youth received a medal for participating in the "What Home Means to Me" Poster Contests. In addition, Sharon Tolbert, CEO, received The Trailblazer Award.

Roanoke Rising Fall 2021 - Thank You

Volunteers play a vital part in allowing RHA to serve our residents. We appreciate all of the organizations and individuals that volunteer their time to help our residents.

Roanoke Rising Fall 2021 - Talk With Us Tuesdays

Talk With Us Tuesdays in October!
Join us for a variety of classes this October! View the workshop schedule below and contact Resident Services Coordinator, Charlotte Mattox at 334-821-2262 ext. 230 for more information!

Mask required for all in-person events!

How Important is Life Insurance? (In-Person & Zoom)

October 5th, 2:00pm - Meeting ID: 845 8387 6355

Join Ebony Vines of Lincoln Heritage Insurance as she discusses the benefits of having life insurance, the risks of not having it, and how it does not cost a fortune to get quality life insurance coverage. Join Ebony to find out how you can access the benefits of an affordable life insurance plan.

Porter Community Center (415 White Street, Auburn, AL)

Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) Program Meeting (Zoom)

October 12th, 2:00pm - Meeting ID: 895 0293 4795

Join Rachel Harris, FSS Coordinator, as she discusses the benefits of the FSS program. The FSS program aims to help HUD-assisted families increase their income by connecting participants with resources in the community while depositing money into an escrow savings account. The FSS program is available to PBV & TBV program participants. Join Rachel to hear about FSS participant success stories and the benefits of joining the program.

Roanoke Rising Fall 2021 - Football Schedules

Roanoke Housing Authority

Football Schedules for SEC and High School

Roanoke Rising Fall 2021 - Emergency Housing Vouchers (EHVs)

Auburn Housing Authority has received 44 Emergency Housing Vouchers from the Department of Housing and Urban Development through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) of 2021 (Public Law No: 117-2) as a relief to address the continued impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the economic, public health, State and local government individuals, and local businesses.

Emergency Housing Vouchers are to assist the following individuals and families:

Homeless

At risk of homelessness

Fleeting, or attempting to flee, domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, or human trafficking, or
were recently homeless or have a high risk of housing instability

If you feel that you may qualify for this program or would like to find out additional information, please see the details below.

EHVs help individuals and families find housing and remain stably housed long-term. Our agency has partnered with Alabama Rural Coalition for the Homeless (ARCH) to determine which individuals and families will be eligible to receive an EHV.

How to Apply
To be eligible for an EHV, an individual or family must meet one of the eligibility categories:

Lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence.

Has an income below 30 percent of median family income for the area as determined by HUD.

Reasonably believes that there is a threat of imminent harm in their current residence.

To apply, contact Sabrina Betts at ARCH by calling 334-273-0668, and when prompted, select option 2.

Roanoke Rising Fall 2021 - Resident Corner

Rent Payment

1) As of July 1, 2021, cash payments are no longer accepted. If you place your payment in dropbox, please pay by check or money order. You may also pay by debit/credit card in person or online at apps.auburnhousingauth.org/.

2) Late fees have been reinstated beginning with September 2021 rent. Please remember rent is due on the 1st and late after the 6th. If the 6th falls on a holiday or weekend, you will have until the end of the following business day to pay without penalty.

3) The eviction moratorium will soon expire. If you have a prior balance, please contact the property manager to set up a repayment agreement. For those that submitted an Authorization Form for consideration in the Emergency Rental Assistance Alabama (ERAA) program, please be sure to check your email for directions from ERAA on completing your application.

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Rental Insurance

Residents are encouraged to obtain rental insurance. Rental insurance helps to protect your belongings after a covered loss.

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Smoking Policy

Smoking is NOT permitted inside the unit. See the Smoke-Free Policy that's included as an addendum to your lease for more information.

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Pet Policy

RHA's Pet Policy is included within the Lease Addendum signed by all Residents. By signing, residents agreed to report all pets and pay deposits and applicable fees. Per the lease, RHA residents agree to:

Not to keep or allow dogs, cats, or any other animals or pets on the premises without the prior written consent of the Landlord and in accordance with the Landlord's pet policy. Tenants are only allowed to keep common household pets in their units subject to the execution of the pet policy of the Landlord and proper execution of the Lease addendum for pets. Tenant agrees to comply with pet policy and violation of the pet rules, as outlined in the lease addendum, will be grounds for removal of the pet, termination of pet owner's tenancy, or both. Violation of this Paragraph shall be considered to be a serious violation of this lease;

If you have a pet and have not notified the property manager, do so immediately. Failure to comply can lead to financial penalties and/or eviction. To request a copy or questions concerning the RHA's Pet Policy, contact Beth Redding via phone at 334-863-4513 or via e-mail at bredding@auburnhousingauth.org.

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Maintenance

An emergency work order will be completed and mitigated within twenty-four (24) hours. If a situation is determined to not be an emergency, the resident will be informed that the request will be considered as "any other resident work order request". Normal work orders will be resolved within 3 business days.

Emergency Work Orders are when the situation constitutes a serious threat to the life, safety or health of resident(s) or staff; or the situation will cause serious damage to the property, property structure or systems if not repaired within twenty-four (24) hours.

Examples of a work order emergency are:
-Broken exterior door lock
-Fire
-Loss of power - mechanical failure
-Broken water line
-Loose or falling ceiling
-No A/C (when the outside temperature is 90 degrees or above)
-No Heat (when the outside temperature is less than 35 degrees)

Please call to request a work order:

Greg Moore
Regional Maintenance Manager
Phone: (334) 821-2262 ext 262

For Police and Fire Emergencies dial 911

Roanoke Rising Fall 2021 - Foster Youth Initiative

Foster Youth Independence (FYI) Initiative

Our Agency has partnered with the Alabama Department of Human Resources to provide the Foster Youth Independence Housing Voucher.

HUD's FYI Initiative targets housing assistance to young people aging out of foster care and who are at extreme risk of experiencing homelessness. The initiative offers housing vouchers to local public housing authorities to prevent or end homelessness among young adults under the age of 25 who are, or have recently left, the foster care system without a home to go to.

Eligibility Categories:

At least 18 years and not more than 24 years of age

Left foster care, or will leave foster care within 90 days, in accordance with a transition plan described in Section 475(5)(H) of the Social Security Act.

Homeless or is at risk of becoming homeless at age 16 or older. A young person who meets the above requirements and is pregnant and parenting is also eligible as long as the children they are parenting do not have an open child welfare case.

Eligible youth may be referred to the program through public child welfare agencies and Continuums of Care.

For more information, contact Interim HCV Manager Shannon Walters at sbarrios@auburnhousingauth.org or 334-821-2262 ext. 221.

Roanoke Rising Fall 2021 - SERC Basketball

Roanoke Housing Authority is organizing basketball teams and cheer squads to compete in the 2022 SERC NAHRO MLK Basketball Tournament and Cheer competition held in Opelika, AL, January 14 - January 17, 2022.

Calling All Ballers & Cheerleaders!

Teams will compete in divisions 18 and under, 15 and under, or 12 and under.

To be Eligible:

You must be a resident of Roanoke Housing Authority

18 or younger as of January 14, 2022

Must be enrolled in school or an approved GED program

Have a C or better average or enrolled in a tutoring program

Cannot be a member of the Roanoke City Schools' Basketball Team

If interested, please contact AJ Harris by phone at 334-821-2262 ext. 210 or by e-mail at ajharris@auburnhousingauth.org by October 28, 2021.

CDC Guidelines will be followed.