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June 2023
Dickson Housing Authority - Resident Edition - Vol. 2, Edition 6
June 2023
A Word From Our Executive Director
Hello Residents,
Happy Birthday to all of the May Birthdays. And congratulations!! To our 2023 graduates!! You did it!!
As Always... Let's Get Involved!!
Sincerely,
Sherry Lynch, Executive Director
Inside This Issue
- Letter from the Director
- DHA News
- Maintenance
- Calendar
- Resident Services
- Employment Opportunity
- Did You Know...
- Tips
Maintenance Emergency
If you have an emergency and it's during office hours, please call the office before calling maintenance.
615.417.0813
615.607.8639
615.607.8640
It is getting warmer outside, and the kids will be outside enjoying the sun. Please slow down and look out for the children.
Parents: Watch your children! Do not allow them to play in the street/parking lots. Encourage them to play smart and not take dangerous risks.
DHA News
- Rent: We encourage all residents to use the online rent portal for rent payments. To access the portal, visit our website and click on "Pay Online." You will have to create an account if you haven't already. Got questions or need help, please contact our office.
- No Smoking!! There should be absolutely no smoking inside your unit.
- Covid Rent Relief!! The Covid Rent Relief payments are intended for rent payments only. All residents should continue paying utilities and any other fees due, as usual.
- Roaches and Bed Bugs: If you suspect that you have roaches and/or bedbugs, it is extremely important that you let us know immediately. The longer this goes untreated, the harder it will be to get under control. Get in the habit of inspecting your beds, furniture, and curtains frequently. Do not bring used furniture, clothing, and other items into your unit.
- Pets!! We are having a major issue with pet waste in the yards. If you have a pet, you signed a pet agreement that states that you are responsible for cleaning this up. If this continues to be a problem, pet fees will increase.
- Parking!! There is to be NO parking in the yard whatsoever.
- Leashes!! When your pet is outside, they are to be on a leash at all times. They ARE NOT to be tethered and left outside. You must stay with them. When tethered, make sure that neither the leash nor your pet will be able to cross over walkways, stairs, sidewalks, etc. When finished with the leash/chain, do not leave it on the ground. These can cause serious damage to mowers/weed eaters. If we pick it up, it will be discarded.
- Changes to Your Unit!! Do not make any cosmetic changes to your unit. This includes painting, building shelves in the closets, pantry or storage unit, carpeting, etc.
- Pools!! As the weather gets warmer, remember pools are not to be left outside unattended. Pools must be emptied every day. If left out overnight or unattended, maintenance will remove them from the property. No pools larger than 5 FT in diameter.
Maintenance
- Trash!! If your trash does not fit in your trash can, do not set it on the ground. Cumberland Disposal will not pick it up. Do not store trash on your porches. If it doesn't fit, take it to one of the city trash receptacles.
- Outside of Units!! There should be nothing stored outside of your unit other than lawn furniture and grills. Mattresses, old tires, bikes, toys, tarps, wagons, trash, etc., should not be stored on the porch or in the yard. Use your storage rooms or get rid of these items. Any trash on the ground around your unit is your trash - Please pick it up.
- Plants!! If you have planted any garden plants, shrubs, flowers, etc., that are annuals, remove them once they have died out. If you have perennials, keep them weeded and cleared up or they will be removed. All trees, shrubs, and bushes must be planted more than 2 feet from any unit, or they will be removed due to potential damages done by root infiltration.
- Yard Decorations!! Yard decorations - solar lights, statues, large stones, etc. - are no longer allowed in the yard.
- Grease and Scraps!! Do not throw food and/or grease outside, over a fence, or out the back door!!
Dispose of old grease in a resealable container - an old grease can or jug, an empty laundry or coke bottle. When it is full, make sure the top is tight and place it in your trash. As for food scraps or bones, double up grocery bags, and garbage bags (any plastic bag), secure the bag and place it in your trash. You could also store the bag in the refrigerator until trash day. This will help deter gnats, roaches, dogs, cats, and other animals around your unit.
June 1
Store Day
June 6
Strong & Healthy
June 8
Store Day
June 9
Strong & Healthy
June 12
Adult Bingo
June 13
Strong & Healthy
June 15
Store Day
June 16
Strong & Healthy
June 19
Juneteenth / Closed
June 20
Strong & Healthy
June 22
Store Day
June 23
Strong & Healthy
June 24
Soup For Souls
June 27
Resident Association Meeting
June 27
Strong & Healthy
June 29
Store Day
June 30
Strong & Healthy
Other March Events
Store Day: Please pay attention to "Store Days" on the calendar, as one will be on the following Friday due to a prior engagement.
Adult Bingo: Adult Bingo will be Monday, June 12th. Snacks and prizes will be given.
Soup For Souls: Free Lunch for June will be on the 24th from 11:30 until 12:30 or as the food lasts. Everyone is invited - this is not for just public housing residents.
Resident Association Meeting: Our Resident Association Meeting will be on June 27th at 1:00 PM. Our speaker will be announced.
Strong & Healthy: Our "Live Strong, Live Healthy" classes are every Tuesday and Friday. Residents have to have registered for these classes.
DHA Summer Camp Week: DHA Summer Camp Week will begin June 20th - 23rd from 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM.
Resident Services
- Store Days will continue to be every Thursday 8-11 AM. Rides must be requested no later than 24 hours in advance.
- Any doctor's appointments must be made before 11 AM and must be in Dickson.
- All riders must wear masks while inside the van. Please put the mask on before you enter the van and wear them correctly. If you are sick, be honest and let me know.
- We have lots and lots of activities going on this month. Not only do we encourage you to get involved, we also ask that you allow and encourage your children to get involved. We work hard to bring programs and events to the residents, but we can't do these without participation.
- If you have any ideas, connections, or suggestions for any events or activities, I would love to hear them and explore them. Just contact me.
- Please note that changes can be made pretty quickly. Stay connected to our Facebook page - DHA Resident Services - for any last-minute time changes, cancellations, or announcements.
- As your Resident Services Coordinator, I am able to help with referrals and information for services such as community health programs, benefit programs, food distribution, educational opportunities, child care...and much, much more! Feel free to contact me!!
Tracy Grigsby,
AmeriCorps Member & Resident Services Coordinator
Reminder Lease Violations
- PET POLICY: Residents are reminded that there are pet policies and procedures that must be completed before you can have an animal at your apartment - whether they are a pet or you are requesting a support animal. All animals must be approved by the Housing Authority before they can be at your apartment. Visiting pets are not allowed on the property.
- UNAUTHORIZED GUESTS: We continue to find some residents allowing unauthorized guests to live with them. Residents are allowed guests three nights per year, and upon approval, you may request up to a maximum of 14 days per year. If they are not on your lease, then they are unauthorized to live here. If you want someone to live with you, you must add them to your lease.
- INCOME CHANGES: It is very important to report all changes in family composition and income, in writing, to the office within ten days of the change. For example, report a job as soon as you obtain it - do not wait until you receive your first check. Waiting will result in less than a 30-day notice of any increases and may result in owing back rent in addition to your regular rental payment.
We must have a current registration for each vehicle parked on the premises. If you get a new car or have not registered your vehicle, please file your registration with the office immediately. When you bring in your registration, you will get a parking permit.
All parking passes must be clearly visible in your vehicle while on the property or risk the possibility of your vehicle being towed at your expense.
Also, remember if you no longer have a vehicle that has been registered with us, let us know so that we can remove it from our records.
Employment Opportunities
Part-Time, Seasonal Groundskeeper
Dickson Housing Authority is accepting applications for a part-time, seasonal groundskeeper. The groundskeeper performs landscaping tasks using power equipment and hand tools to maintain the facility's grounds. Applicants must be 18 years of age or older and must be able to pass a drug test and criminal history screening and post-offer employment physical if an offer of employment is made. The position is part-time, 24 to 28 hours per week, during the months of March through September 2023. Pays $16 an hour with a flexible work schedule.
Submit applications online @ dicksonhousing.org. The position will remain open until filled.
Dickson Housing Authority is an Equal Opportunity Employer
Be Careful About What Little Ears Hear.
A friend hosted a dinner party for people from work and everyone was encouraged to bring their children.
All during the dinner, one co-worker's five-year-old daughter stared at the man sitting across from her at the table. The girl could hardly eat her food due to staring so much.
The man checked his shirt, felt his face for food, and patted his hair in place, but nothing stopped her from staring at him. He tried his best to just ignore her but finally, it was too much for him.
He asked her, "Excuse me, but why do you keep staring at me?"
Everyone at the table had noticed her behavior, and they all went quiet waiting for her response.
The little girl said, "I just want to see how you drink like a fish."
Come Party With Us All Week at DHA Summer Camp Week
June 20th -23rd
12:00 PM - 4:00 PM Each Day
Registration Required
(Contact Tracy at the Community Center)
Get your outfits together now!!
Each day there will be a different theme.
- Tuesday - 20th
- Dr. Seuss Day
- Wear your Dr. Seuss attire
- Wednesday - 21st
- Backyard Barn Day
- Wear your farm attire or dress as a farm animal
- Thursday - 22nd
- Throwback Thursday
- Wear your 70s, 80s, or 90s attire
- Friday - 23rd
- DHA Day - CookOut
- Wear your craziest clothes ever! Mix match, brightest, most colorful, oddest accessories, or goofiest
Each day we will have a few organizations who will be here to sponsor activities and fun. Including Dickson County Health Department, TNCEP, Drug-Free Dickson, Women are Safe, Dickson County Library, Highland Rim Headstart, CareNet, and more!! On Friday, we will have our DHA Cookout with lots of resource vendors for our parents to explore.
Come join the fun - let's get involved!!
Cleaning Those Stove Hood Filters?
Run to an auto parts store and grab some degreaser - Dollar General
has some, too. Fill the sink with hot water and a degreaser, drop
in the filter, and let the degreaser do all the work. The filter will come
out sparkling clean in just a few minutes. Then just rinse it off.
- Kill two birds with one stone by doing similar cleaning tasks at the same time. "Clean your baseboards when you are vacuuming or washing floors, clean blinds when you are cleaning windows, etc.," suggests Becky Rapinchuk, owner of CleanMama.net.
- Doormats are your best friend when it comes to trapping dirt, so make sure you have two-one outside the house and one inside. This cleaning hack is especially helpful in the winter when you have salty and snowy boots going in and out of the house. Just be sure to clean the mats regularly as dirty mats contribute
to the mess. - When the permanent marker has ended up in the wrong hands, vegetable oil can clean it off lots of surfaces-even skin! Then just wipe up with a damp cloth and you're done.
- Grease and dirt build up on kitchen cabinets over time. To clean your cabinets, heat a slightly damp sponge or cloth in the microwave for 20 to 30 seconds until it's hot. Put on a pair of rubber gloves, spray the cabinets with an all-purpose cleaner containing orange oil, then wipe off the cleaner with the hot sponge. For stubborn spots, let the cleaner sit for five minutes first.
- Sheet vinyl 'resilient' flooring is so easy to clean that it may never require anything beyond damp mopping with a cleaner intended for vinyl floors. You can also use Isopropyl alcohol, sold as a disinfectant at drugstores, as a mild solvent. It's the best cleaner for heel marks and works on other tough stains too. You can also use lighter fluid or mineral spirits. Remember that all these products are flammable; turn off any nearby pilot lights and hang rags out to dry before throwing them away.
DHA Community Center Gym
8-11 AM Walking
1-3 Adult Free Play
3-4 Youth Free Play
If school is on a scheduled break, the Free Playtime is reversed for Adults and Youth.
Masks ARE recommended!
(Be aware that changes may occur at any time)
Dickson Housing Authority
Sherry Lynch - Executive Director
Phone: 615.446.9371 & 615.446.4708
Fax: 615.441.1391
Email Dickson Housing
The Dickson Housing Authority's mission is to provide safe, decent, and sanitary housing conditions for low-income families and to manage resources efficiently. The Dickson Housing Authority is to promote personal, economic, and social upward mobility to provide families the opportunity to make the transition from subsidized to non-subsidized housing.
FYI... Some Things Never Change!
Maintenance:
Non-emergency maintenance issues should be reported to our office during business hours - 7:30 AM - 4:30 PM.
Maintenance Emergencies before/after business hours should be directed to maintenance directly. (See phone numbers listed on the front of each newsletter.)
Emergencies Include:
- Suspecting Gas leaks
- Water leaks that may create a safety hazard or property damage
- No heat/air conditioning in concerning weather conditions
- Flooding
- Any situation that may pose danger or property damage
You will be charged a minimum of $40 for NON-emergency, after-hour calls
Rent:
- Rent is due on the 1st of each month.
- A $25 late fee will be applied if rent is not paid by 4:30 pm on the 10th.
- If rent is not paid by the 15th, an eviction is issued.
Residents are required to report all income changes within 10 days of the change.
Please discuss all income adjustments, changes in the household, employment changes, etc., with Tosha Curtis, Public Housing Manager.
Charges:
- Trash Collection $10
- Key Replacement $10
- Locks Changed $25
- Lock Out Charge (After Hours) $40
- Disabling Smoke Detectors $50 each
- Monthly Pet Fee $10
- Pet Deposit $300
- Maintenance Labor Rate (During Hours) $23.84 Hr
- Maintenance Labor Rate (After Hours) $40 Hr