NEWS DETAILS

February 2018, Volume 3, Issue 1

February 1, 2018

Message From the Executive Director/CEO

It is our goal at the Moline Housing to provide a holistic housing services includ-ing but not limited to the well – being of our residents and the Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8) participants. With that in mind, I would like to take the opportunity to make few suggestions as to how to cope and enjoy the cold winter months. Winter is now in full force except for plenty of snow. If you are like me who prefers the warmer weather, then you can’t wait for winter to be over. For those of you who love the winter weather, I hope that you will have enough snow to make your winter enjoyable. During this season, days get shorter, nights colder, and many people also experience low energy levels and lack of mo-tivation during this period; even the best among us can get a little down. Howev-er, winter can be the best time for some helpful contemplation, and an opportunity to learn new things. Instead of avoiding the snow and winter weather – look for the best it has to offer! Try winter sports such as snowboarding, ice skating, sled-ding, or even hockey, arts and crafts, and a new language including sign lan-guage. Enjoy all these opportunities while they last – after all, winter is here for just a few months every year.

Most people know that sunlight can provide vitamin D, but did you know that it can also improve your mood? Winter days are much shorter and darker than other months. It’s also the time when people spend less time outdoors. Therefore, lack of sunlight can make people depressed. As with exercises, sunlight can directly affect one’s mood. So, try to spend some time outdoors, keep your shards up and sit near windows most of the time.

I take this opportunity to again remind you of my open door policy, so come on by for a visit, and if you have any concerns, regarding any aspects of the service delivery or just want to chat, my door is always open and it would be great to see you. I am always looking for new ways to improve the service we provide, but I cannot do it alone, I need you to work in partnership with me to improve the ser-vice. So if you have any suggestions or an idea which will help, please let me know. However, all your day-to-day tenancy related matters should first be dis-cussed with the management office as they are in a better position to help you. Thank you for your support and cooperation, and I look forward to your contin-ued support.

Take care and have a great winter, and stay warm.

Tips from Housing—Welcome Al

The Moline Housing Author-ity welcomes Albert Cueller as its new Chief Operating Officer. Al joined the Au-thority in late 2017 and his career in affordable housing has spanned over 30 years, starting with the U.S. De-partment of Housing and Urban Development office located in Chicago, Illinois. Al is a solid Mid-Westerner, having resided, worked, or attended college in Illi-nois, Indiana, and Michi-gan. He most recently re-located from Michigan and currently resides in East Moline.

Al will oversee the day-to-day operations of the Mo-line Housing Authority’s Public Housing and Hous-ing Choice Voucher (Section 8) programs. He encourages resident par-ticipation in the affairs of the Authority, its pro-grams, and the neighbor-hood. Al has an open door policy and looks forward to meeting our residents whenever they have con-cerns or suggestions af-fecting their residency or the well-being of the com-munity.

Maintenance Corner—Welcome Sedrick

The Moline Housing Au-thority welcomes Sedrick McDowell as one of its new Maintenance employees. Sedrick joined the Authority in November of 2017. Sedrick is in a relationship and has a daughter and a son. He is very family ori-ented and always puts his family first.He has worked in maintenance for the past four years and is excited about the learning opportu-nitites available here. Sedrick looks forward to developing a beautiful relationship with the employees and tenants of the Moline Housing Auuthority!

Section 8 Info—How the Program Works

In the Housing Choice Voucher Program, partici-pants find suitable housing offered by a private owner (landlord) using a voucher issued by MHA. Any hous-ing selected must pass Hous-ing Quality Standards (HQS) inspection. Families who are newly admitted to the pro-gram or move to a new unit, cannot pay more than 40 per-cent of their income towards rent and utilities at the time of move in.

The subsidy is calculated by using the lower of the Voucher Payment Stand-ard or the gross rent minus the total tenant payment. All voucher units must meet a rent reasonableness test, i.e. the rents cannot be higher than similar unas-sisted units in the area. This test is performed on each unit at the initial lease-up and when an owner (Landlord) request a rent increase.

“Home is a place where you are comfortable and where you can be yourself. A place where many mem-ories are build” so, remem-ber to adhere to all program requirements so as to con-tinue to have a place call home.

Bits from the Board

The MHA is government by five board members known as commis-sioners.

Principal responsibilities of a com-missioner include: Providing leader-ship and advocating for affordable housing and community develop-ment activities, setting policies gov-erning authority operations, and charting the direction of current and future programs; ensuring, through independent review and audits that the housing authority operates with-in law, good practice and according to regulations established by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.; Participate in hiring a qualified executive to manager day-to-day operations; Obtaining and managing monies to support the housing authority; Adopting op-erating and other forms of pro-grammatic budgets; and Estab-lishing policies to prevent fraud, abuse, mismanagement and dis-crimination, and to ensure that the agency acts legally and with integrity.

The role of the Board of Com-missioners as a whole include: Establish a vision, work with staff to structure and plan goals; determine and develop policies for effectiveness; Provide for im-plementation of policy through staff with appropriate oversight; Monitor policy implementation for efficiency; Advice and con-sent.

Dr. Melvin Grimes Chairperson

Chuck Capan Vice-Chairperson

Leslie Stange-Crotty Commissioner

David Parker, Jr. Commissioner

Diane Fox Commissioner

Rap from RAB — Food Pantry Coming to MHA!

The Resident Advisory Board under the presidency of Tammy Jones in collaboration with the Resident Commissioner, Ms. Fox have successful negotiated with Riverbend Food Pantry to bring food pantry service to the Hous-ing Authority. The food pantry service to be provided is called “Produced Drop” consisting of fresh fruit and vegetables to be distributed to the residents on a quarterly basis. Detail infor-mation on how the program would work and when it would start will be provided to residents as soon as the final details are worked out. Kudos to the Resident Advisory Board and the Resident Commission-er for making this happen. The first produce drop off will be March 2nd. They will be providing 20 produce boxes to each site.

The Resident Advisory Board is al-ways looking for volunteers to serve as Board Members, so if you are inter-ested in serving and would like to make a difference in your communi-ty, please contact the office for further information. The primary responsibil-ity 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 the residents and the quality of service delivery. It also organizes activities such as health fair; and attends the monthly meeting of the Board of Commissioners to represent residents and the Housing Choice Voucher Program partic-ipants on policy and operational issues. So, get involved and make a difference!

Important Dates