Quarterly News - Grand Rapids Housing Commission
Transcripción
Quarterly News - Grand Rapids Housing Commission
GRAND RAPIDS HOUSING COMMISSION Quarterly News Volume 7, Number 2 Fall-Winter 2011/2012 Arts competition at Mount Mercy Apartments! Details inside! In This Issue... National FSS Program Study Results Published G.R. 9th for Growth in Suburban Voucher Use A Visiting Physicians professional provides blood pressure screening during a recent Resource Fair at Adams Park Apartments. Adams Park serves disabled adults and senior citizens ages 62 and older. Development Update New Partnership with Pine Rest Supports Health Services at Adams Park Art Fest Spotlights Resident Artists Hurst Mechanical Spreads Holiday Cheer The Grand Rapids Housing Commission (GRHC) and Network 180 have forged a partnership with Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services to ensure that needed supportive services continue to be available to the disabled and elderly residents of Adams Park Apartments. Pine Rest is providing two fulltime on-site staff to assist resident Network 180 clients who are coping with a mental health or substance abuse problem that puts them at risk for homelessness. The GRHC continues to employ a full-time MSW-level Resident Services Specialist who works with the general tenant population at Adams Park and who will also coordinate efforts with Pine Rest staff. Adams Park Welcomes Pine Rest Staff The new partnership has evolved from a collaborative effort the GRHC and New Partnership with City Parks & Recreation Bewitching Fun at Café Second Anniversary Bash GRHC Human Resources Update Thank You, Interns! 4th Annual FSS Resource Fair Highlights Network 180 began at Adams Park in 2009. A two‑year Community Mental Health Block Grant funded on-site security services and one full-time social worker who was the liaison for tenants referred by Network 180, communicating with each resident’s case manager, therapist and other care providers to ensure continuity of care. Now that the Community Mental Health Block Grant has been expended, the involvement of Pine Rest ensures that our agency will continue to effectively serve vulnerable households at Adams Park. The GRHC has also identified HUD resources that will enable us to continue the security services that are vital to the success of this specialized housing initiative. National FSS Program Study Results Published HUD recently published the results of a five-year study that explored the features, operations, partnerships and policies of Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) programs nationwide. The GRHC was one of 100 public housing authorities (PHAs) that participated in the study, which also summarizes the outcomes of the FSS program for a sample of participants and examines the factors that may influence a family’s ability to successfully complete the program. employed increased to 70 percent in 2008, fell to 55 percent in 2009, and 60 percent of FSS participants were employed in 2010. GRHC FSS Program Participation and Employment Rate 400 340 280 220 Conducted between 2005-2009, the study methodology included tracking the progress of 181 FSS program participants from 14 PHAs, including several from the GRHC’s program. All were families that participated in the Section 8 program. Counseling, employment-related services and education were the most commonly identified service needs among participating families during the study’s first year. Barriers to participation included the cost of child care, lack of job skills, lack of transportation, and chronic health problems coupled with a lack of health insurance. The economic downturn that began in late 2007 affected expectations and goal setting for some tracked families as gaining or even maintaining employment became more challenging. Some participating FSS programs shifted the emphasis from “maintaining suitable employment” to “seeking and maintaining employment,” also redefining what “suitable employment” entails. The complete HUD study can be found online at www.hud.gov/policy. The GRHC’s FSS staff are striving to mitigate the impact of the economic recession on program participants by working to link them with community resources that can enhance their employability and access to available jobs. We have built a partnership with Grand Rapids Public Schools to offer GED preparation classes on site at our family housing developments. We also partner with organizations such as Michigan Works, LINC, Goodwill Industries, the Women’s Resource Center and local employment agencies to offer FSS families budgeting and employment resources. Additionally, in 2009 we acquired HUD funding that enabled us to hire a third FSS Coordinator, expanding our caseload capacity. These efforts have encouraged relative stability within the GRHC’s FSS program overall. The number of participants in our FSS program has increased slightly since the beginning of the recession. During 2007, 58 percent of FSS participants were employed. The percentage of participants 160 100 No. of FSS Participants Employed Participants 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 G.R. Ranked 9th for Growth in Suburban Voucher Use A recent Brookings Institution study that compared data on housing voucher utilization in the nation’s 100 largest metropolitan areas ranks Grand Rapids ninth for growth in the use of Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers for suburban rentals. The study reports that the total percentage of vouchers used in Grand Rapids suburbs—including vouchers administered by not only the GRHC but also Kent County Housing Commission, Wyoming Housing Commission and the Michigan State Housing Development Authority— increased from 23 percent in 2000 to 34 percent in 2008. The Brookings Institution is a nonprofit public policy organization based in Washington, D.C. Affordable housing advocates view the suburbanization of housing voucher use as very positive since one of the goals of the Section 8 program is to discourage the concentration of poverty in any given geographic area. GRHC Director of Program Management Holly Sturges notes that GRHC staff specifically counsel voucher holders regarding the option to move to neighborhoods with low poverty rates. She added that factors such as lack of access to transportation can put suburban housing out of reach for some families. The GRHC’s Section 8 program served 3,116 low-income households in 2011, including 1,558 families with children, 1,534 disabled persons and 499 seniors. Development Update GRHC Completes $469,000 in Capital Improvements intercom system, rooftop fans, needed interior/exterior painting, needed window replacements, community room lighting and kitchen upgrades, lobby furniture. Mount Mercy Apartments, 1425 Bridge St.: Stairwell wall repairs, gutter and downspout repairs or replacement; 1511 Bridge St.: elevator improvements. Employees of Steenwyk & Sons Excavating Contractors work on drainage improvements at Campau Commons Apartments. The Housing Commission recently completed $469,000 in capital improvement projects at our agencyowned low-income housing developments. GRHC staff have developed a 2012 capital budget that includes $537,000 in additional improvements, pending the availability of funds. Highlights of projects to be undertaken at GRHC housing developments during 2012 include: Campau Commons Apartments: Exterior trim painting, concrete repairs, alarm system improvements. Creston Plaza Apartments: Roof repairs. Leonard Terrace Apartments: Heating and air conditioning improvements in common areas, entry Hope Community Service Center: Entry door improvements, repair or replace gutters and downspouts, replace fencing around Child Care Center, new bathroom vanities, countertops and faucets. Duplex units: Replace decks at two units, landscaping. Ransom Tower Apartments: New window panes in stairwells, heating/ ventilation improvements, replace two boilers, fire alarm panel and fire fan replacement, plumbing repairs, balcony repairs, community room improvements. Sheldon Apartments: Card access reader at south entrance, exterior lighting and security system improvements, boiler room improvements, landscaping upgrades. For the latest GRHC development news, please visit our website at www.grhousing.org. Creston Plaza Redevelopment Update The redevelopment of Creston Plaza Apartments is on hold indefinitely pending the identification of needed funding. Creston Plaza redevelopment planning was launched in 2009 with a series of resident and community input meetings. We remain committed to this important project and will continue to seek the financial resources needed to complete it. Mount Mercy Art Fest Spotlights Resident Artists Pictured left: Kathy Goote points out the fanciful sea creatures that decorate her inspired fabric art. Kathy earned First Prize for her beautiful quilted wall hanging. Below: Gerard Jean-Pierre displays the energetic acrylic painting that earned him a Second Prize award. As part of the ongoing Mount Mercy Apartments “Art at the Mount” enrichment program, the GRHC sponsored an early October “Art Fest” art exhibit and competition in the low-income retirement development’s Auditorium. Eleven talented resident artists entered the friendly creative competition, sharing work representing a wide range of media, including needlework, painting and drawing, poetry, sculpture, pottery, photography and recycled art. More than 80 art enthusiasts visited Art Fest during its one-week run and cast votes to help their favorite artists win a $50 cash First Prize or a $25 Second Prize award. Congratulations to fabric artist Kathy Goote who won First Prize for her quilted and embroidered wall hanging entitled “Under the Sea: A Child’s Imagination” and to painter Gerard Jean-Pierre who won Second Prize for his lively acrylic painting of a church. Many thanks to the generous anonymous donors who provided the Art Fest Prizes and to all who visited the Mount Mercy Auditorium to enjoy this exciting and inspiring special event. Residents admire the photographs and textile art of Carol Brugger (far left) and Patricia Taylor (second from left). New Partnership with Parks & Rec! Mount Mercy’s “Art at the Mount” initiative has formed a new partnership with the Grand Rapids Parks & Recreation Department that is bringing a variety of fitness classes to Mount Mercy. For ten weeks beginning the week of January 8, Parks & Rec will offer Tai Chi, “Kick & Tone” and Ballroom Dancing classes at Mount Mercy, with residents receiving a 50 percent discount on class fees. There’s also an ongoing “Stretch & Flex” class. For more information, visit www.grcity.us/parksandrec. Bewitching Fun at Café 2nd Anniversary Bash! Senior Meals Program, Inc., staff and GRHC staff and residents celebrated the second anniversary of the Senior Meals service at Mount Mercy’s “Café on The Mount” with a Halloween-themed feast prepared by Senior Meals Café Coordinator Krista Aslakson and her talented team. Mount Mercy residents and their guests enjoyed a feast of ghoul-ash, mixed vegetables and cake Clockwise from above: A resident’s grandchild joins in the celebration; Hazel Evans reacts to winning second place in the costume contest; costume contest winner Nancy Ruiz rocks her “scary zombie” costume; contest judging; cake extraordinaire courtesy of Senior Meals! that was so delicious it was almost... scary! The feast was followed by a Halloween costume contest featuring residents in their holiday finery. Congratulations to contest winner Nancy Ruiz whose “scary zombie” attire earned her a $25 Meijer gift card donated by Life EMS and to second place winner Hazel Evans who won a $10 Subway gift card courtesy of a generous tenant neighbor. Housed in the commercialstyle kitchen and cafeteria of Mount Mercy’s west wing, Café on The Mount serves lunch each weekday, offering great comfort food and great company. Many thanks to the resident volunteers who have supported the café in recent months, including... Mary Margaret Aldrich Beulah Batiest Margaret Bluitt Mary Borden Susanne Brown Dorothy Brown Richard Breckenridge Dorothy Chrusciel Ray Corris Randy Dykwell Hazel Evans Ray Herzog Carol Ann Hines Mary Ann Jacokes Mary Martinez Karen McKinnon John Miller Thomas Oldfield Gerard Jean-Pierre Elaine Segars Paul Tuthill Betty Wright GRHC Human Resources Update Staff Promotions Congratulations to GRHC Deputy Executive Director Hattie Tinney who was recently promoted to her newly created post from her former position as Director of Housing Management. Hattie has more than 30 years of experience within the affordable housing industry, and her career includes management and administrative positions with the GRHC and the City of Grand Rapids Community Development Department. She has led our Housing Management team for the past ten years and holds a Master of Management degree from Aquinas College. In her new role, Hattie will use her leadership and administrative skills to oversee both the GRHC’s agency-administered housing developments and our leased-housing programs. Congratulations to Areli Colin who was recently promoted to Housing Assistant for Campau Commons Apartments, Creston Plaza Apartments, Sheldon Apartments and our Scattered Sites program. Prior to her promotion, Areli was the Receptionist at the GRHC main office. Holly Sturges Retires After more than 34 years of distinguished service within the affordable housing industry, Director of Program Management Holly Sturges is retiring from the GRHC. Holly began her housing career in 1977 with the City of Grand Rapids Housing Rehab Department. In 1984 she joined the Housing Commission to administer our agency’s Public Housing and Section 8 programs. Holly has been instrumental in the development of the GRHC’s Scattered Sites, 5(h) Homeownership and Hope Community Transitional Housing programs as well as the conversion of Mount Mercy to low-income retirement apartments. Under Holly’s leadership, our Section 8 program has grown from 250 to 3,190 units. She has also represented the GRHC in the Kent County Continuum of Care. We thank Holly for her contributions to our agency and wish her well as she begins an exciting new chapter in her life. New Management Assignments To promote cross-training and opportunities for professional development, two GRHC Asset Managers are swapping assignments. Toni Coristine now manages Adams Park and Ransom Tower Apartments. Toni transferred from her role as Asset Manager for Leonard Terrace, Mount Mercy Apartments, and Hope Community Transitional Housing Program. Former Adams Park and Ransom Tower Apartments Asset Manager Jake Blakeney now manages Leonard Terrace, Mount Mercy and Hope Community. New Hires The Housing Commission recently welcomed two new staff members. Esther McMurray is the new Receptionist at our main office. Esther comes to the GRHC with more than ten years of clerical work experience, primarily within the court system. Ronald Scott is the new Custodian for Leonard Terrace Apartments and our Scattered Sites program. Ronald brings more than ten years of custodial work experience to our team and comes to the GRHC from a position as Maintenance Technician for the Grand Rapids Public Library. Thank You, Resident Services Interns! GRHC staff and residents are grateful for the invaluable assistance provided by the fall term’s Resident Services student interns! Pictured left to right: Sandy Binnendyk, GVSU; Melissa Chivis, GVSU; Brett Kelp, Cornerstone University; Caitlin O’Neill, GVSU; Jacob VanDyke, GVSU. Not pictured, but very much appreciated: Autumn Bollman, GVSU; Katy Berghuis, Calvin College. 4th Annual FSS “Passport to Success” Resource Fair The GRHC partnered with the Wyoming Housing Commission, Kent County Housing Commission and Grand Rapids Community College (GRCC) to offer the 4th Annual “Passport to Success” Resource Fair, held in September at the GRCC Applied Technology Center. Forty‑five organizations participated in a communitywide event that offered information about resources ranging from health care, transportation and child care services to education, job training, financial management and home ownership programs. Many vendors also offered door prizes. Special thanks to GRCC for hosting the Resource Fair, to The Rapid for providing free bus passes to GRHC residents who needed transportation to the fair, to Chemical Bank for funding a $100 Grand Prize Meijer gift card, and to all of our Resource Fair exhibitors: Arbor Circle Beacon Learning Centers D.A. Blodgett Davenport University Disability Advocates Express Employment Professionals Fair Housing Center Fifth Third Bank Goodwill Industries Grand Rapids Community College Grand Rapids Opportunities for Women Grand Rapids Public Library Grand Rapids Public Schools Grand Rapids Urban League Great Start Regional Resource Center Habitat for Humanity of Kent County Home Repair Services Hope Network Huntington Bank Inner City Christian Federation KCHD WIC and Immunizations Kent County Tax Credit Coalition Kent Regional 4C Legal Aid of Western Michigan Legal Assistance Center LINC Literacy Center of West Michigan Macatawa Bank Michigan Works! Network 180 Pathways to Prosperity Planned Parenthood The Rapid Pictured clockwise from top: Beacon Learning Centers staff offer information; young attendees; a representative from ICCF provides affordable housing information; a Women’s Resource Center staffer explains her agency’s programs; a United Way representative lends an ear. Safe Haven Ministries Shared Care of Kent County Spectrum Health Healthier Communities Spectrum Health MOMS Strong Beginnings United Way Kent County Department of Human Services West Michigan Center for the Arts & Technology (WMCAT) Kent Co. Health Dept. (KCHD) Maternal and Infant Care YWCA Healthy Living HUB KCHD HIV Program Women’s Resource Center GRAND RAPIDS HOUSING COMMISSION 1420 Fuller Avenue SE Grand Rapids, MI 49507 PRSRT STD U.S. Postage PAID Grand Rapids, MI Permit No. 564 An Equal Opportunity/ Affirmative Action Employer EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY Grand Rapids Housing Commissioners: Bobbie Butler, President Betty Zylstra, Vice President Angela Bunn, Robert Cooper, Patrick Miles, Sr. GRHC Executive Director: Carlos A. Sanchez Editor: Joyce Smith Staff Contributors: Lois Alexander, Stacy Brown, Judy Cannon‑Groce, Felicia Clay, Carlos A. Sanchez, Holly Sturges, Hattie Tinney, Michael Weaver, Erin Wieczorek Published by the Grand Rapids Housing Commission to keep residents, community partners and other supporters informed of our affordable-housing programs. Please send questions, comments or story ideas to: Grand Rapids Housing Commission 1420 Fuller Ave. SE Grand Rapids, MI 49507 E-mail: [email protected] Copyright 2012, all rights reserved. Hurst Mechanical Spreads Holiday Cheer Hurst Mechanical continued a six-year tradition of bringing holiday cheer to Mount Mercy Apartments with a mid-December visit that assisted a record number of residents in need. Hurst Mechanical employees delivered 41 holiday gift baskets and 25 Meijer gift cards. The total value of the donation from the company and its employees totaled approximately $3,600! Many thanks to Hurst Mechanical, to the staff and students of Unity Christian High School who once again sponsored a Christmas party at Adams Park Apartments, and to all of the organizations and volunteers whose incredible generosity exemplifies the true spirit of the holiday season. We are very grateful for your continuing support! Hurst Mechanical employees with a few of the 41 holiday gift baskets they delivered to Mount Mercy residents. Adams Park Welcomes Pine Rest Staff Adams Park Apartments staff and residents welcomed two new full-time staff from Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services in midNovember. The Pine Rest staff will assist residents as part of an ongoing partnership between the GRHC and Network 180. (See related story on the front page of this newsletter!) Victoria Sluga, MSW, is a Pine Rest Resident Supports Coordinator. She will provide counseling and assistance to Adams Park residents coping with physical or mental health problems, substance abuse, or other issues that put them at risk for homelessness. Dionna Bracey is a Pine Rest Recovery Coach. She will focus on providing counseling and support to Adams Park residents struggling to overcome substance abuse or other addictions that threaten health, housing stability and personal well-being.