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May 2023
Dickson Housing Authority - Resident Edition - Vol. 2 | Edition 5
May 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 warmer weather approaches, please remember to keep an eye on your children and the children of your community. Slow Down!! There is a speed limit of 10 mph throughout each complex. We ask that you remind any visitors of the speed limit, as well. Please talk with your children about playing safe, picking up their trash, and making safe and healthy decisions. We want everyone to enjoy themselves and have a safe, peaceful, and enjoyable summer.
It is mowing season. Remember to keep all toys, dog chains, trash, yard stakes, etc., picked up. If there are damages done to the mowers due to things in your yard, you could be charged.
Also, remember pools are NOT to be left unattended at any time, for any reason. They are to be emptied every day! Please see "DHA News" for more information.
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.
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, 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.
May 2023 Calendar
May 5
Store Day
May 11
Store Day
May 14
Mother's Day
May 15
Adult Bingo
Snacks and prizes will be given.
May 18
CW Graduation
May 18
Store Day
May 19
DC Graduation
May 25
Store Day
May 26
Youth Bingo
May 27
Soup for Souls
May 30
Our Resident Association Meeting
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, May 15th. Snacks and prizes will be given.
Youth Bingo: Youth Bingo will be held on May 26th after school. That is a half day of school (Report card pick up); we will start at 3 pm and end around 4. Prizes given.
Soup For Souls: Free Lunch for May will be on the 27th 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 Assoc. The meeting will be on May 30th at 1:00 PM. Our speaker will be announced soon.
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
Petals and Pearls - Mother / Daughter Tea Party
A free event hosted by the Dickson County Health Department, UT Extension, and Drug-Free Dickson. Join us for a fun, educational evening with games, refreshments, and prizes!!
Topics include etiquette, communication, nutrition, and healthy behaviors.
For girls ages 6-12 and female guardians
May 16th, 6:00 PM
County Government Building
303 Henslee Drive, Dickson, TN 37055
Spots are limited, so please RSVP to Public Health Educator Cameron Chadwick or 615.446.2839
Donations Needed: For some of our activities and events at the Community Center, we depend on donations. If you would like to donate, please contact Tracy or drop off items at the Community Center. Our current Wish List is:
- Bright-Colored Printing Paper
Easter 2023
Craft Night
Check out these statistics to better understand what mental health and substance use challenges look like in 2020:
- In late June, 40% of U.S. adults reported struggling with mental health or substance use.
- One in six U.S. youth aged 6-17 experience a mental health disorder each year.
- Half of all lifetime mental illness begins by age 14, and 75% by age 24.
- Depression alone costs the nation about $210.5 billion annually.
- The average delay between the onset of mental illness symptoms and treatment is 11 years.
- Suicide is the second-leading cause of death among people aged 10-34 in the U.S. and the 10th-leading cause
of death in the U.S. - Many people suffer from more than one mental disorder at a given time. In particular, depressive illnesses
tend to co-occur with substance abuse and anxiety disorders. - More than 70% of youth in the juvenile justice system have a diagnosed mental illness.
- Transgender adults are nearly 12 times more likely to attempt suicide than the general population.
- The most common mental illnesses in the U.S. are anxiety disorders, which affect 40 million adults (18.1% of
the population).
Mental health and substance use challenges affect everyone differently, and recognizing when to get help yourself or offer support to someone else is an important step in changing these statistics for the better.
So how do we distinguish between those 'just in case items' that are worth keeping and those that can be let go when we're looking for
home organizing ideas? This is where the 20/20 rule comes in:
If you can replace something in less than 20 minutes for less than $20, you don't need to keep it.
De-Stress Cleaning... While many of us think of our washing machines as self-cleaning, that's far from the case. One study published in 2007 in the journal Applied and Environmental Microbiology found that running a typical wash and rinse with detergent was not enough to remove a number of infectious viruses.
But there's a simple solution to getting the machine that cleans your clothes in tip-top shape. "Run your machine on a clean setting with a mixture of hot water and a squirt of bleach," suggests O'Hanlon. This helps to kill off any nasties that could be lingering inside.
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