30 Year Partnership with the PNRC

Inside this Issue:

Carbon Monoxide Safety

2

Holiday Contributions

2

Read Across America Event

2

Census Jobs 2

Dancing Dreamers 3

Family Self -Sufficiency

3

Resident services announcements

4

COMMUNITY NEWS

WINTER 2020

OUR MISSION: To provide safe, quality, affordable housing to low income families, elderly, and the disabled in the Greensboro community; to maintain a secure community environment; and to encourage personal responsibility and upward mobility of residents while maintaining the fiscal integrity of the agency.

GREENSBORO HOUSING AUTHORITY

Greensboro Housing Authority and the Greensboro Police Department (GPD)

joined together on November 21, 2019 celebrating 30 years of the Police

Neighborhood Resource Center (PNRC) Program. The event was held at the

Claremont Courts community building.

This award winning program began in 1989 as an effort to combat crime in

Greensboro’s four largest public housing communities. Due to the success of

the program, the PNRC program now includes offices at six GHA locations

throughout Greensboro – Smith Homes, Ray Warren Homes, Claremont

Courts, Hampton Homes, Hickory Trails, and Gateway Plaza.

PNRC resident managers staff the PNRC offices in the designated properties

and accept calls from concerned residents about crime in their communities.

Calls are reported to the officers and referrals to local social service agencies

are made for specific residents’ needs.

The program recognized the efforts of the current PNRC Officers and resident

managers. Officers from throughout the PNRC’s 30 year history attended and

were recognized for their service to GHA, the individual communities, and

Greensboro as a whole.

Through bike patrols, foot patrols, and the involvement of residents and

service agencies throughout Greensboro, GHA and GPD continue to work

cooperatively in implementing crime reduction strategies for all GHA

communities.

Recognizing Community Holiday Contributions

Each year, volunteers from across the Greensboro community, commit their

time and resources and offer a bit of extra cheer around GHA during the

holidays. Below are just a few contributions from community partners!

Students from St. Pius X performed

a Christmas Carol Chorus at Hall

Towers and the offered a giving

tree, where members provided gifts

to residents.

Several residents from GHA’s senior sites

attended the Annual Christmas Community

Dinner at Westminster Presbyterian Church

through the Four Seasons Civitan Club.

Bender’s Tavern, a local Greensboro

restaurant, delivered individual box meals to

151 residents at Hall Towers and 200

residents at Gateway Plaza on Christmas Day. The Lots of Love Community

Volunteers also served over 110 Christmas dinners to the seniors at Stoneridge,

Gateway, and Hall. These generous contributions helped make the 2019

holiday season one to remember!

Carbon Monoxide Safety

Although GHA units have carbon monoxide detectors, it is important to be educated and take precautions as the weather turns colder, and heating systems are turned on. Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless gas that often goes undetected, striking victims caught off guard or in their sleep. Infants, the elderly, and people with chronic heart disease, anemia, or breathing problems are more prone to illness or death.

Do not burn anything in a stove or fireplace that isn’t vented.

Never heat your house with a gas oven.

Do not use a generator, charcoal grill, camp stove, or other gasoline or charcoal-burning device inside your home, or outside less than 20 feet from a window, door, or vent.

Leave your home immediately and call 911 if your carbon monoxide detector ever sounds. Seek prompt medical attention if you suspect carbon monoxide poisoning and are feeling dizzy, light-headed, or nauseated. Do not reenter the premises until getting the OK from the fire department.

Do not remove the battery in your carbon monoxide/smoke detector. Tampering with your detector is a serious health and safety concern.

First offense of tampering: $25

Second offense of tampering: $50

Third offense of tampering: Eviction

Page 2

The Census Bureau is r ecruiting thousands of people across the country to assist with the 2020 Census count.

To be eligible for a job you must be:

At least 18 years old. Have a valid Social Security number. Be a U.S. Citizen. Have a valid email address. Complete an application and answer

assessment questions. Be registered with the Selective

Service System if you are a male born after Dec. 31, 1959.

Pass a Census-performed criminal background check , and a review of criminal records, including fingerprinting.

Commit to completing training. Be available to work flexible hours,

which can include days, evenings, and/or weekends.

Most jobs require employees to: Have access to a vehicle and a valid

driver’s license, unless public transportation is readily available.

Have access to a computer with internet and an email account (to complete training).

Application available: https://2020census.gov/en/jobs.html

Come Celebrate Read Across

America Day!

March 2, 2020; 5 - 7 p.m.

Ray Warren Homes

Come for games, toys, prizes, and

food for kids and their families up to

3rd grade!

Book and clothing giveaway!

Page 3

Family Self-Sufficiency Success In January of 2020, Greensboro Housing Authority (GHA) was awarded a

grant to continue the Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) Program for Public

Housing, Housing Choice Voucher, and Project-Based Voucher programs

through the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The

FSS program has been an essential piece of GHA’s Resident Services

programming since 1993.

Participants in this voluntary program sign a five-year contract that outline

specific goals such as employment, transportation, education, or working

toward homeownership. Once goals are identified, the Resident Services

Coordinator helps clients break the steps down to aid in the participant

achieving those goals. When the income of an FSS participant increases, the

increase in their rent share is matched in a savings account. Upon successful

completion of the FSS contract, the funds are dispersed and can be used for

any purpose, such as debt reduction in order to improve credit scores,

educational expenses, transportation, or a down payment on a home.

Every day, GHA Resident Services Coordinators work to connect residents

to supportive services, employment, and multiple resources in the

community. These supports enable participants to pursue their goals with a

strong foundation for future success.

Cynthia Pickett is a an FSS participant and

resident at Smith Homes. Through working with

her FSS coordinator, she achieved the huge

milestone of graduating with her Bachelor’s degree

in Music Education from the University of North

Carolina Agricultural and Technical State

University. She is working full-time and plans to

seek a position to teach music at the elementary

level. She still has more goals to accomplish and

intends to complete the program in 2022.

Regina Witcher is a recent graduate from the FSS

program and a resident of Hall Towers. Through

her involvement and work with her coordinator, she

attained a full-time job and prepared for her goal of

homeownership. She started the program in 2015

and is now a graduate as of January 2020! In

addition to completing her formal FSS goals, she

also achieved several personal goals outside of her

contract.

The FSS program is ideal for residents who want to move in, move up and

move out! Let it be your stepping stone to achieving your goals and dreams!

Are you interested in being part of this program? For PBV properties,

contact Tiffany Dunlap at 303.3009 or tdunlap@gha-nc.org; Smith Homes,

contact Sabrina Abney at 303.3003 or sabney@gha-nc.org; for Housing

Choice Voucher, contact Carol Velez at 303.3079 or cvelez@gha-nc.org.

Dancing Dreamers

During the summer of 2019, Greensboro Housing Authority (GHA) offered a new opportunity for the performing arts, Dancing Dreamers. Partnering with Royal Expressions Contemporary Ballet, this program was designed to introduce participants to the art of movement by exploring various dance styles, including hip hop, lyrical, and ballet. This program is unique, because in addition to learning dance routines in the first half of class, the second is devoted to discovery of the self with encouragement through positive messaging. Students write in a journal with prompts that encourage thought about topics such as: what it means to be successful, how to learn from your past, or how to move on from one’s present circumstances. Dancing Dreamers will be offered again, starting this February 19, 2020 through May 13, 2020. These classes are open to residents aged 9 to 14 among GHA’s communities and voucher recipients and meet on Wednesdays from 4 to 5:30 pm at the Smith Homes Community Building. If interested in being a part of this great opportunity, contact Sabrina Abney, at 303-3003 or via email: sabney@gha-nc.org

Participants during their self-choreographed, final performance.

Participants start out each session with a warm-up routine.

Greensboro Housing Authority 450 North Church Street Greensboro, NC 27401-2001

PRST STD

U.S. Postage Paid

Greensboro, NC

www.gha-nc.org

Community News A publication of the Greensboro

Housing Authority

Tina Akers Brown

Chief Executive Officer

Maggie Larkins

Editor

Contact Us

Administrative Office

275-8501

Assisted Housing Office

271-3368

Property Management Region 1

Claremont Courts ·

Laurel Oaks · Lakespring Ct.

274-3491

Property Management Region 2

Hampton Homes

274-3236

Property Management Region 3

Smith Homes

273-3688

Property Management Region 4

Ray Warren Homes · Woodberry Run ·

Baylor Court

275-6995

Property Management Region 5

Gateway Plaza · Hall Towers

275-9892 · 272-7869

Property Management Region 6

Hickory Trails · Woodland Village ·

Abby Court · Foxworth · North Pointe

856-8631

Property Management Region 7

Applewood · Silverbriar ·

Pear Leaf · River Birch · Stoneridge

303-3305

Housing Choice Voucher Program

Family Self Sufficiency ·

Homeownership

303-3079 · 271-2546

Public Housing Family Self Sufficiency

303-3003 · 303-3009

Resident Services

336-303-3010

GHA Maintenance Emergencies

272-4137 (Primary #)

(Secondary 336-659-3050 - Call only if

primary # is not operating)

Do you have a Middle School or High School Student interested in attending a

National College Fair?

Sunday, March 22, 2020

***If interested in attending, contact Sabrina Abney at 336.303.3003 or

email sabney@gha-nc.org

What Home Means to Me Art Workshops

The What Home Means To Me Poster Contest will be starting in

February 2020. Youth in grades K-12th create a picture of what

home means to them and they could win gift cards ranging from

$10 to $100!

*** If interested, contact Sabrina Abney at 336.303.3003 or

email sabney@gha-nc.org

Eligible recipients must be an immediate

member of a family who has resided in

publicly assisted housing for a minimum of

one uninterrupted year. The recipient

must have occupied the home during this

period.

For more information: contact Marilyn

Smith, 336.303.3010, or email

masmith@gha-nc.org