LaFayette Leader Fall 2019
Lafayette Leader Fall 2019 - Cover
The Lafayette Leader
Fall 2019
Lafayette Leader Fall 2019 (From the CEO) Page 2
From the CEO
SHARON N. TOLBERT
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICERWelcome to the LaFayette Housing Authority's (LHA) quarterly newsletter, The LaFayette Leader! It is our desire that the The LaFayette Leader will be used as a useful tool to communicate upcoming events, news and more with our residents, community partners and the public at large.
It is truly my pleasure to serve as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the LaFayette Housing Authority (LHA). As CEO, it is my desire to work diligently to fulfill LHA's mission of providing safe, decent, and sanitary housing conditions for individuals and families. The LHA's objective is to provide personal, economic, and social upward mobility to provide individuals and families the opportunity to make the transition from subsidized to non-subsidized housing.
The LHA is managed by the Auburn Housing Authority (AHA). The AHA has managed LHA since 1994. Under AHA's leadership, LHA has maintained a"High Performer" rating. Performance is measured based on three performance indicators to include: (1) physical condition, (2) financial condition and (3) management operations. In an effort to
provide exceptional service to our families, the following staff is housed onsite in our Jenkins' community:
Shannon Walters, Property Manager ll
Kelvin Whitlow, Maintenance Mechanic
Jonathan (Matt) Robinson, Maintenance Mechanic Assistant
To stay connected with LHA's news and events, all residents are encouraged to 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!
Sharon N. Tolbert
Lafayette Leader Fall 2019 (Commissioner's Corner) Page 3
COMMISSIONER'S CORNER
LHA 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 LaFayette. One member must be a resident of an LHA property or program.
The Commissioners are responsible for overseeing the fiscal management of the agency and is involved in reviewing and approving all policies pertaining to the housing authority.--
BOARD MEETINGS
Board meetings are held at noon on the third Wednesday in March, June, September, and December. The meeting is held at the LHA's Administrative Office located at 301 First Avenue S.W. The meeting date is subject to change.
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CURRENT BOARD MEMBERS
Peggy King, Chairperson
Elton Holloway, Vice-Chairperson
Angelia Davis, Commissioner
Mary Owens-Lyerly, Commissioner
Amanda Toles, Resident Commissioner
Lafayette Leader Fall 2019 (Human Resources & News) Page 4
HUMAN RESOURCES & NEWS
New AHA Employees
Richetta Stephens
Procurement SpecialistA.J. Harris
Director of Property OperationsCarrie Smith
Regional Property ManagerDemetrius Parham
Maintenance LaborerHarvey Maddox
Maintenance Mechanic AssistantJonathan (Matt) Robinson
Maintenance Mechanic Assistant--
NAHRO 2019
AWARD OF MERIT
AHA was awarded the 2019 NAHRO Award of Merit for the Administrative Innovation Category for its website.--
JOB VACANCIES
HCV Receptionist/Clerk
FSS Coordinator
For more information on these positions or to apply, please visit
auburnhousingauth.org
Lafayette Leader Fall 2019 (Resident Notice) Page 5
LAFAYETTE RESIDENT NOTICE
The Auburn Housing Authority's (AHA) mission is to provide safe, decent and affordable housing for families. The Lafayette Housing Authority (LHA) is managed by the Auburn Housing Authority (AHA). The AHA's Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program is funded by the federal government and AHA must comply with the Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) regulations and AHA's internal polices and procedures. AHA encourages families at LHA to comply with the following requirements to maintain their housing assistance.
a. Comply with your annual recertification requirements and submit the requested information by the deadline.
b. Report changes of your income and household composition as required.
c. Comply with your landlord's dwelling lease.
d. Comply with all written requests that are submitted by the Housing
Choice Voucher (HCV) Department and forward the requested information by the deadline.
Not complying with the requirements above may result in the termination of your assistance or eviction. The list above is not all inclusive.
If you have questions about your HCV assistance, please contact the HCV Department as follows:
Auburn Housing Authority
931 Booker Street
Auburn, AL 36832
(334) 821-2262
Lafayette Leader Fall 2019 (Resident Info) Page 6
RESIDENT INFO
Rent Payment
Rent and service fees are due the 1st of each month, late after the 6th. If the last day to pay rent falls upon a day the Authority is closed
(weekend or holiday) then residents have the next business day to pay rent. The late fee is $40.00 per month. Please pay your rent on time to eliminate late fees and possible eviction!--
Rental Insurance
Residents are encouraged to obtain rental insurance. Rental insurance helps to protect your belongings after a covered loss.--
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. 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 Heat (when the outside temperature is less than 35 degrees)Please call to request a work order:
Routine Maintenance Work Orders:
(334)821-2262, Option 4 then Option 1Emergency AFTER hours Work Orders:
(334)821-2262, Option 4 then Option 2For Police and Fire Emergencies dial 911
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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.--
WE ARE SOCIAL...
Stay updated on events, programs and initiatives sponsored by The Auburn, LaFayette and Roanoke Housing Authorities by liking, following, and engaging with us on social media. We're your key to Housing Opportunities!
CONNECT WITH US...
@AuburnHousing
AUBURNHOUSINGAUTH.ORG
sign up for "News and More" to receive email and text notifications.
Lafayette Leader Fall 2019 (Resident Advocates) Page 7
Resident Advocates
The RAB serves as an advocate for families that are served by the Auburn, LaFayette and Roanoke Housing Authorities.
Our Resident Advisory Board (RAB) recently attended the "Uniting to
Conquer" Resident Council Empowerment Conference in Birmingham, AL. The conference had visitors from multiple states throughout the southeast region to gather and learn about ways to create programs and initiatives that will help strengthen our communities.
During the conference our RAB had the opportunity to meet, share, and learn from others their responsibilities, best practices, and ways to better advocate for the residents of Auburn, Lafayette, and Roanoke Housing Authorities.
Conference attendees left motivated and excited to serve! Be on the lookout for new initiatives coming to an area near you soon! Interested in getting involved, don't hesitate to contact a member of the Resident Advisory Board or Resident Services for details.--
Some of the responsibilities of the Resident Advisory Board are as
follows:
-Managing tenant participation funds and grants.
-Mentoring/coaching young residents to become future leaders.
-Reviews HUD's Annual Plan before implementation.
-Implementing "Passion Projects" to improve the well-being of families.
-Preparing for change in the housing regulations/operations.
-Conducting successful resident elections.--
The mission of the RAB is to empower low to moderate-income level residents including Section 8 recipients in their journey to become self-sufficient by representing their interest, advocating for their needs, and collaborating with other organizations to ensure that services are provided. For more information contact: Resident Services at (334) 821-2262 Ext 230
Lafayette Leader Fall 2019 Page 8
5 Things to
Add to Your
Fall To-Do ListYou probably give your home a deep clean in the spring, but you should also show it some love at the beginning of fall. Here's where to start:
1. Perform a pantry audit. Remove all the cans and boxes from the shelves, and vacuum away any lingering dust or crumbs. Then, inspect each item before putting it back in its place, tossing anything
that is expired or past its prime.2. Test and clean your smoke detectors. Using your vacuum cleaner's soft brush attachment, clean in and around the detectors' openings. If any are more than 10 years old, replace them.
3. Flip your mattress. Sprinkle the mattress with baking soda to neutralize odors, and then vacuum it up.
4. Shampoo your carpet. Get a jump on holiday party season by giving your carpeting a good scrub.
5. Vacuum all upholstered surfaces. Give sofas and chairs a good vacuuming, making sure to hit both sides of the cushions, the back, sides, arms, and even the platform underneath the cushions.
--Happy & Healthy
Residents that attended the Health Fair sponsored by "Spirit Led Family Ministries" this summer, learned how to have a healthy and happy life! They received valuable information on how to take care of their bodies, along with various health screenings. Are you looking to better your eating habits or just simply want to make healthier lifestyle choices? If so, you will need to change up your routine in order to become the best version of yourself.
-Don't focus on your weight
-Exercise regularly
-Track your sugar intake--
Resident Spotlight
Ms. Willie Hodnett celebrated her 102nd birthday on June 27, 2019. Shannon Walters, Property Manager, Lafayette Housing Authority visited Ms.Hodnett during her birthday celebration and gifted her a plant, pound cake, and card.
Ms. Hodnett is our oldest resident and we are blessed to have shared in her special day! Congratulations again on adding another year to
your life. You are an inspiration to our community!
Lafayette Leader Fall 2019 (Student News) Page 9
STUDENT NEWS
Careers Begin at Job Corps
Job Corps is a tuition-free training and education program that connects eligible young men and women with the skills and educational opportunities they need to establish real careers. Job Corps offers career training in high-growth industries that will give you the hands-on, practical experience you need to begin working toward a long-term, successful career- not just a job, but an actual CAREER that you can build on for the rest of your life.
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Money for College
Scholarship applications and requirements may vary from year to year, it's never too early to begin. There are scholarships out there tailored to academic interests, talents, extracurricular activities, career goals, geographic location, and many more factors. Here are
five steps you can take to jump-start your search and make college more affordable.
1. Check Your Prospective Schools
2. Ask Your Academic Advisor
3. Dig Into Your Network
4. Try Online
5. Be Keenly Aware of Scholarship Deadlines
6. Take Both the SAT and ACT
You may review a hundred scholarships before you find one that applies to you. Be patient and stay the course (and keep those grades up !). Eventually, you'll uncover a good match. And you'll appreciate all your research when you secure some funds! (princetonreview.com)--
The 2020 PHADA Scholarship Program Applications
are due by January 31, 2020.Visit the link below for more information:
https://www.phada.org/ConferencesEducation/PHADA-Scholarship-Program
Lafayette Leader Fall 2019 (Summer Fun) Page 10
SUMMER FUN
Our youth residents this summer got to see that fun and learning do mix! Each day, during the Summer Camp, held at the Jenkins Community Center youth were actively engaged in hands-on experiments! They learned how clouds form when moist, warm rising air cools and expands in the atmosphere and even attempted to make their own cloud in a bottle. Kids also had a chance to utilize their sense of touch, while making slime! Summer Camp was even fun for our parents! On the last day, they joined in for some outdoor, water fun! We are looking forward to next summer and appreciate our amazing volunteers for helping out each day, along with our lunch sponsors at Freedom in Christ Ministries!
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FALL FUN IDEAS...
-Make pumpkin slime.
-Explore science with erupting pumpkins.
-Paint acorns.
-Make leaf lanterns.
-Paint pumpkins.
-Make thankful trees.
-Collect leaves and make leaf rubbings.
-Go apple picking.
-Have an apple cider "tea" party.
-Bake apple chips.
-Play "I Spy" during a nature walk.
-Collect and identify leaves.
-Check out a haunted house.
Lafayette Leader Fall 2019 (Easter Egg Hunt) Page 11
Resident Easter Egg Hunt
Our community partners, Freedom in Christ, hosted a resident Easter egg hunt earlier this year at the Jenkins Complex. As you can see from the pictures the children, along with our older residents had a BLAST! Find out more about the work that Freedom in Christ Ministries is doing, by visiting them online at freedominchristmin.org
Lafayette Leader Fall 2019 (Vacation Bible School) Page 12
Vacation Bible School
Our community partners, Freedom in Christ, hosted an amazing Vacation Bible School this summer while providing nutritious meals to our youth residents. We appreciate Freedom in Christ Ministries for ensuring that our children are active, engaged, and learning throughout the year!