Boulder Housing Boulder Housing Partners Partners November ... · com or call (855) 846-8376 to...

BoulderHousingPartners

Providing Homes, Creating Community, Changing Lives

Boulder Housing Partners

Providing Housing Creating Community Changing Lives

November 2012

4800 BroadwayBoulder, CO 80304boulderhousing.org(720) 564-4610

Find at facebook.com/BoulderHousingPartners

Follow us on Twitter @boulderhousing

Subscribe to our blog, boulderhousing.tumbler.com

LEAP EnErgy AssistAncE ProgrAm Boulder County is again offering its Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP) to assist low-income families and individuals with their heating costs November 1 through April 30. To receive LEAP assistance your household must

contain at least one member who is a U.S. Citizen (or Legal Permanent Resident) and meet income guidelines. Applica-tions are available in English

and Spanish at the BHP main office, at Boulder County offices, and online at bouldercounty.org. To have an appli-cation mailed to you call the Colorado Department of Hu-man Services Customer Service hotline at (866) 432-8435.

HoLidAy giving ProgrAms During the Holidays, area agencies coordinate giving programs like the Volun-teers of America Holiday Fruit Baskets, EFAA Holiday Food Baskets, Angel Trees, and gifts from the Boulder Fire Department for children served by the Youth Services Initiative (YSI). Some of these programs are only for seniors or children; BHP staff will be informing you of spe-cific program details and events throughout the coming weeks.

tHAnksgiving mEALs Barb and Joe Eberle will hand deliver Thanksgiving meals on November 22 to those of you who have signed up.

mEdiAtion The City of Boulder Community Me-diation Service assists in resolving disputes for City of Boulder residents in the areas of landlord/tenant, fam-ily, victim/offender, cross-cultural relations, and more. Mediation is a person-to-person problem-solving pro-cess offered in a non-intimidating environment. A me-diator will not force an agreement or make decisions for the parties involved. If you would like more informa-tion or are interested in using this service, contact Carin Armstrong, Program Coordinator, at (303) 441-4369.

mEdicArE oPEn EnroLLmEnt Medicare Open Enrollment or the Medicare Annual Election Period is open now through December 7. Whether you have Orig-inal Medicare, Medicare Advantage or a Part D prescrip-tion drug plan, you now have the opportunity to make changes to your plan. To compare the plans available in your area or enroll in a new plan, visit medicare.gov or call (800) 633-4227. You can also contact your Area Agency on Aging Medicare Counseling Program at (303) 441-1546 or check in with your Resident Service Coordinator. Any changes you make will take effect January 1, 2013.

FAmiLy rEsourcE cEntEr The Family Resource Center (FRC) is designed to support all of the residents living within the Boulder Valley School District with a child from 0-19 years of age. The FRC can provide par-enting support, counseling, health and wellness services, childcare, adult education and more. Most services are free and all FRC staff speak Spanish. Call (720) 279-7027 or visit bouldercolorado.gov/cyf/frc for more information.

AFFordABLE intErnEt And comPutErs From comcAst And cEntury Link If your child receives free or reduced price school lunches, your family may qualify for home Internet service from Comcast at the rate of $9.95 per month. Upon initial enrollment, you may also choose to purchase a low-cost computer for $149.99. Visit internetessentials.com or call (855) 846-8376 to learn more or sign up.

Century Link provides internet at a discounted rate of $9.95 for the first twelve months of service for low-income families (the cost in-creases to $21.94 per month after the first year). Laptops are available for $150.00 upon enrollment. Call (866) 642-0444 and ask about Century Link’s Internet Basics plan.

T hank You! At the start of this year’s Holiday Season, the staff at Boulder Housing Partners would like to take a moment to thank you for your continued tenancy and for

choosing us to meet your housing needs. Please accept our well-wishes for a happy, healthy holiday season.

Resources







Boulder Housing PartnersProviding Housing

intErEstEd in imProving your EngLisH? Intercambio offers affordable group and individual English classes throughout Boulder County. In addition to Eng-lish grammar and vocabulary, Intercambio’s curriculum teaches life skills, like how to open a checking account or write a resume. The cost for new students is $35 and $20 for continuing students. Scholarships are available. To find out more about the classes and workshops Intercambio offers in Boulder County, contact Maria Velasco at (303) 996-0275 extension 3 or [email protected].

NeighborhoodNews

rEsidEnt rEPrEsEntAtivE counciL (rrc) mEEting The mission of the Resident Representa-tive Council (RRC) is to address the needs and concerns of residents living in BHP housing or Section 8 voucher holder units and communicate these issues to Boulder Housing Partners. The RRC is responsible for generating & allocating funds to projects that will benefit residents. Ultimately, the RRC works toward improving the resi-dent’s quality of living and help-ing residents have a more positive sense of well-being. Their next regularly scheduled meeting is No-vember 14 at 12:30pm at North-port, 1133 Portland Place. The RRC member holiday party will be held at North Port on December 12, also at 12:30pm. This is a potluck event so please bring a dish to share!

rEsidEnt Advisory committEE uPdAtETen members attended the first Moving to Work Resident Advisory Committee meeting on August 16, 2012. The topics of discussion included reviewing the 2012 Activities that were implemented this year and a preview of the 2013 Activities. The group provided great feedback on the pro-posed 2013 Activities, displayed a wide array of knowledge and experience, and was eager to meet more than twice per year. The RAC’s second meeting was held November 1.

Join tHE mtW rEsidEnt Advisory com-mittEE Are you living in Public Housing or have a Section 8 Voucher? If so, consider applying to join the Moving to Work Resident Advisory Committee. This committee advises and provides feedback on Public Housing and Section 8 activities that can provide incen-tives for families to become more self-sufficient; in-crease housing choices for low income families; and help BHP become more efficient. For more informa-tion please call the BHP main office at (720) 564-4610.

corrEction Financial Stability Classes pro-vided by the Boulder County Housing Counsel-ing Program have been moved from BHP to EFAA, Emergency Family Assistance Association, 1574 Yar-mouth. For more information call (720) 564-2279.

oFFicE HoLidAy Hours The BHP main of-fice will be closed Thursday November 22, Friday No-vember 23, Monday December 24, Tuesday December 25, Monday December 31, and Tuesday January 1 .

BHP Adds 34 nEW AFFordABLE APArt-mEnts to its PortFoLio! BHP purchased a new apartment building in north Boulder at Broadway and Yarmouth that we’re calling WestView. These 34 beautiful, affordable apartments are targeted to working families whose income is half of the area median. BHP is very excited to make this much needed affordable and workforce housing available to individuals, couples and families at 50% or below of the area median income. Additional information can be found in the Now Rent-ing section of our website www.boulderhousing.org.

rEd oAk PArk Wins nAtionAL And intErnAtionAL AWArdsRed Oak Park was awarded the prestigious Urban Land Institute’s 2012 Global Award for Excellence in Design in a ceremony on October 19. Our green, affordable rent-al property was selected as one of fourteen winners from among housing developments located around the world.

On October 30 BHP was also awarded the Nation-al Award of Excellence for their redevelopment of a mobile home park to permanent affordable hous-ing (Red Oak Park) by the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO).

Creating Community Changing LivesBHP News







Boulder Housing PartnersProviding Housing Creating Community Changing Lives

PArtnErsHiP AWArds Each quarter BHP acknowl-edges the exceptional work of community, non-profit, and government partners. In October we thanked Wanda Pelegrina Caldas, Sue Prant, and Rich Points, of Com-munity Cycles, David Shurman and the Residents of Presbyterian Manor, and Olga Jacoby, Community Pro-grams Specialist, at Boulder County Area Agency on Aging for enhancing the lives of many of our residents!

Sustainability

grEEn rEtroFit EnErgy rEductions BHP has invested in energy and water conservation measures at many of its properties. We recently did a complete green renovation at one of our larger buildings and would like to share the success of the project. one year after the work was completed the property used 39.75% less elec-tricity, 36.60% less gas, and 35.59% less water! Wow!

sAvE monEy on WintEr utiLitiEs• Keep doors and windows closed• Dress warmly• Use several light blankets instead of one heavy one to

trap warm air• Turn off lights when not in use• Open window coverings on the sunny side of your

apartment and close them at night and on cloudy days

stoP Junk mAiL To stop getting mail from Pub-lishers Clearing House go online to dmachoice.com or write (with a $1 fee) to Direct Marketing Association, DM Mail Preferences Service, PO Box 643, Carmel, NY 10512. To stop getting Credit Card offers call 1-888-567-8688. To make sure catalogs won’t use your name or send promotional material, go to CatalogChoice.org.

Winter Tips

Here is a collection of tips compiled from the Nation-al Safety Website, Southern California Edison Elec-tric Utility, Big Tree Volunteer Fire Companies, the Oregon University Website, the Housing Authority In-surance Group, and the US Department of Commerce.

HoLidAy strEss The holiday season is one of the most stressful times of the year. You can’t avoid stress completely, but you can give yourself some re-lief. Allow adequate time to complete all of your holiday tasks and only plan to do a reasonable num-ber of errands. Remember to take time out for your-self and go through the season at your own pace.

tiPs to kEEP cHiLdrEn sAFE Small children may think that holiday plants look good enough to eat, but many plants can cause severe stomach problems. Be sure to keep the following plants out of children’s reach: mistle-toe, holly berries, Jerusalem cherry, amaryllis, poinsettia.

HoLidAy FirE sAFEty• Do not use indoor extension cords or indoor lights out-doors.

• Avoid using nails, staples, or tacks to fasten electrical wiring.

• Check all your light strands, every year, new or used, for broken sockets, frayed cords and loose connections; throw damaged strands away.

• Don’t risk electrical shock: never change bulbs or fuses while light sets are plugged in.

• Think “no more than three” to avoid overload-ing a circuit. Don’t plug more than three strings of lights into a single outlet or extension cord.

• Although your building is designated Smoke-Free, we would like to remind you to never use lighted can-dles near trees, wreaths, boughs, curtains, or drapes.

• Always unplug Christmas tree lights be-fore leaving home or going to sleep.

• Try to keep live trees as moist as possible by giv-ing them plenty of water daily (a newly cut tree can absorb a gallon or more of water every day). Do not purchase a tree that is dry or dropping needles and dispose of your tree as soon as it begins drop-ping needles; dried-out trees are highly flammable.

• Make sure the tree is at least three feet (one meter) away from any heat source and try to position it near an outlet so that cords are not running long distanc-es. Do not place the tree where it may block exits.







Boulder Housing PartnersProviding Housing Creating Community Changing Lives

sAFEty tiPs For sEniors Dress for winter by covering as much exposed skin as possible. Wear sev-eral layers of lightweight clothing for easy movement. A hat is important since so much body heat escapes from an uncovered head. Mittens will also keep your hands warmer than gloves and may be easier to wear.

To avoid slips and falls, wear boots that are non-skid. For those who use a cane, replace the rubber tip be-fore it is worn smooth or it will become slippery, espe-cially when wet. Consider purchasing an ice pick that fits onto the end of the cane. The sharp tip will give you extra grip on winter days, and folds up when not in use. This device is available at home health care stores.

WintEr storm tiPs Have disaster supplies on hand in case the power goes out. • Flashlight and extra batteries • Portable, battery-operated radio and extra batterie• First aid kit • One-week supply of food (include items that do not

require refrigeration or cooking in case the power is shut off)

• Nonelectric can opener • One-week supply of essential pre-

scription medications. • Extra blankets and sleeping bags • Fire extinguisher (A-B-C type)

EmErgEncy PLAn Develop an emergency communication plan in case family members are separated from one another during a winter storm (a pos-sibility during the day when adults are at work and children are at school). Ask an out-of-state relative or friend to serve as the “family contact.” After a disaster, it’s often easier to call long distance. Make sure everyone knows the name, ad-dress, and phone number of the contact person. Teach chil-dren how and when to call 9-1-1, police, or fire department, and which radio station to tune to for emergency information.

smokE ALArm rEmindEr With the Day-light Saving Time comes the seasonal remind-er to change the batteries on your smoke alarms.

Health

HAndWAsHing sAvEs LivEs Keeping hands clean through im-proved hand hygiene is one of the most important steps we can take to avoid getting sick and spread-ing germs to others. Many diseases are spread by not washing hands with soap and clean, running water.

What is the right way to wash your hands?

• Wet your hands with clean, running water (warm or cold) and apply soap.

• Rub your hands together to make a lather and scrub them well; be sure to scrub the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails.

• Continue rubbing your hands for at least 20 seconds. Need a timer? Hum the “Happy Birthday” song from beginning to end twice.

• Rinse your hands well under running water.• Dry your hands using a clean towel or air dry them.

For more information and tips, visit cdc.gov/handwashing/ or call (888) 232-4636.

Maintanence

snoW As in past years the Maintenance Department will be doing snow removal and ice melt at all sites. We will be plac-ing orange buckets with lids around your site with ice melt in the bucket. This ice

melt is available for residents to use around the exte-rior of your apartment and/or building, sidewalks and steps. Snow will be removed when there is an accumu-lation of one (1) inch of snow or more on sidewalks. If there is less than one inch then the decision for removal will be at the discretion of the Maintenance Director. Snow removal will start either at the beginning of the day or when the snow stops falling. Sites are priori-tized by need, starting with the senior sites. Residents are to notify maintenance on the routine maintenance work order phone line at 720-564-4620 of any problem areas or ice after snow removal has been completed.

coLd WEAtHEr PrEcAutions To prevent damage from frozen water to your personal belong-ings and BHP property, please follow these tips:

• Always leave your heat thermostat set at, or above, 65 degrees, especially if you will be gone for an extended amount of time.

• Open your kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors on cold nights or if you will be gone, to al-low warm air to circulate around the water pipes.

• Make sure all windows are securely closed to prevent freezing drafts from entering your apartment. Notify maintenance of any cold air drafts from the outside that you may feel.

• Notify maintenance if you don’t have hot or cold water at any of your faucets, this is the first sign of pipes freezing.

If you have any questions, please call the Maintenance Office at 720-564-4620.

Boulder Housing Boulder Housing Partners Partners November ... · com or call (855) 846-8376 to...

Documents

Transcript of Boulder Housing Boulder Housing Partners Partners November ... · com or call (855) 846-8376 to...