NEWS DETAILS

June 2019, Volume 4, Issue 2

June 1, 2019

Message From the Executive Director/CEO

The long-awaited summer is finally here. Summer did not arrive soon enough, especially if you prefer warmer weather like I do. However, it is here now and I hope you are enjoying it to the fullest. For those of you who do not find summer to be your favorite time of the year for various reasons, my heart goes out to you. I hope you make the most of it.

The summertime is a time of fun and relaxation for many people with all the outdoor activities, vacations, and road trips to see family and friends. But for some, the heat and sun can be dangerous if the proper precautions are not taken. Summer affects us all in one way or another. However, seniors and disabled individuals can be the most affected. There have been instances where seniors, disabled individuals, and those on fixed incomes were so concerned with the utility bills that they did not turn on their air conditioner and subsequently suffered from heat-related illnesses.

Obviously, we don’t want this to happen to anyone, and therefore we encourage all residents to use their air conditioners should the heat become unbearable. Seniors and disabled individuals who do not have an air conditioner should notify the office to see what can be done to help alleviate the potential for heat-related illnesses. For the purposes of this newsletter, a senior is anyone who is 62 years and older and a person with a disability is defined as a person who has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities; has a record of such an impairment or is regarded as having such impairment.

I also want to take the opportunity in this newsletter to provide important information on our rent structures. The Moline Housing Authority (MHA) has two rent structures: 1) formula or income-based rent, and 2) flat rent. It is impressive that many of our residents are employed and earn sufficient income to justify paying flat rent rather than income-based rent. Situations have recently come to our attention, however, that have led us to provide the following information so that our flat rent residents are fully informed of their options.

1. Flat rent residents may always request a rent adjustment and switch to formula or income-based rent in circumstances of financial hardship. Examples of financial hardship include, but are not limited to, loss of income or reduction of employment because you are not working, or because you are out of the country. Our process requires that you notify the Spring Brook office in person to complete a written Request for Interim Adjustment (Form 409).

Message From the Executive Director/CEO 2

Your lease requires that you notify the housing authority within 10 days of when you return to work. When you contact the housing authority, you will be asked to complete another Request for Interim Adjustment, and the housing authority will conduct an interim reexamination and recalculate your income-based rent.

Depending on your income, the new income-based rent may be higher than the flat rent you were previously paying. Regrettably, in that situation, you will not have a choice to immediately return to flat rent. Instead, you must continue paying income-based rent until your next annual recertification. Only at your next annual recertification will you have the option to switch back to flat rent. Please consult with the Spring Brook office if you have any questions about your rent options especially if you intend to travel out of the country.

Flat rents usually change every year. The flat rents for 2019 are listed below.

Bdrm Size 2019 Flat Rent

• Studio $445
• 1 $518
• 2 $664
• 3 $870
• 4 $980

My door is always open, and I appreciate your thoughts and opinions on the issues that matter most to you. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to me at 309-277-0283 or email me at jfa@molinehousing.com, or stop by at any time to see me.

However, if your concerns are particular to your tenancy, please first discuss the issue with the respective department and/or manager. If after that you are still not satisfied, then by all means come see me. Thank you for your support and cooperation, and I look forward to your continuous support. Thank you for choosing the Moline Housing Authority as your housing provider. We are here to serve you and to provide housing and opportunities.

I want to take the opportunity to remind you that the Moline Housing Authority is an equal opportunity housing provider and therefore does not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, national origin, sex, sexuality, creed, age, color, and or religion. Therefore, if you have reason to believe that you are being treated differently, or have been treated differently by the Housing Authority due to any of the above, please do not hesitate to bring the matter to my attention immediately.

We will not tolerate discrimination and prejudice in any form and will do our best to correct the problem.

Wishing everyone a great summer, and be a good neighbor!

Maintenance Corner—Meet Jamie Swisher

The Moline Housing Authority welcomes James Swisher as one of its new maintenance employees. Jamie joined the Housing Authority in April of 2019 and has over 20 years of experience in building maintenance. We are confident that Jamie’s experience will contribute to the overall maintenance operations. operations.

Section 8 Info—Meet Paige Vanderheyden

The Moline Housing Authority welcomes Paige Vanderheyden to her new position as Section 8 Housing Assistant. Prior to joining the Moline Housing Authority, Paige worked in the private sector rental housing. Paige is a graduate of Moline High School. She lives in Moline with her husband and their three daughters.

The New and Not So New Faces of Public Housing—Shannon Cole and Candace Strickland

Shannon Cole is the new face you see at the front desk and the Moline Housing Authority welcomes her aboard. She was recently hired as an office assistant. Shannon is a graduate of Scott Community College. Shannon lives in Iowa with her husband and daughter. Shannon’s past experience working with housing needs has helped her settle in her new position with MHA.

Rap from RAB—Be a Voice for the Voiceless

The Resident Advisory Board (RAB) is currently seeking volunteers from Spring Brook and Spring Valley to serve as RAB members. The primary responsibility of the RAB as mandated by law is to review and endorse the Housing Authority’s 5-year Agency Plan and to ensure that the plan would not negatively impact residents and the quality of service provided. However, the RAB also serves as the Resident Council and organizes activities such as health fairs, and attends the monthly meeting of the Board of Commissioners to represent residents and Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8) participants on policy and operational issues.

If you are interested in being a voice and an advocate for change and would like to represent fellow residents, please contact the office at 309-764-1819 for further information. Don’t just sit on the fence and watch, but get involved and make a difference. The Moline Housing Authority welcomes Candace Strickland to her new position of Public Housing Assistant. Candace joined the Authority in 2017 as an Office Assistant and then moved into her new position. Candace is a graduate of Rock Island High School. Candace has a son. We wish Candace success in her new position.

Important Dates