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October 2022
Dickson Housing Authority - Resident Edition - Vol. 1 | Edition 10
October 2022
Special Points of Interest:
- DHA News
- October Calendar
- Did You Know...
Inside this Issue:
- Letter from the Director
- DHA News
- Maintenance
- Resident Services
- Calendar
- Upcoming Activities - Announcements
- Did You Know...
A Word From Our Executive Director
Residents,
I hope that everyone is enjoying the change in the weather. It will soon be that time of year for ghosts and goblins to collect lots of candy and treats. Please remember to be safe.
We have a few activities going on this month. We will be having a Chili Supper in the Meeting Room of the community center on Halloween night. We will start at 5 and go until the food runs out. Please come and enjoy. On October 14th, we will have a Lunch & Learn. We will have a speaker from the Bank of Dickson come and discuss savings, loans, and financial strategies while having lunch. On October 25th, we will have a speaker, Susan Hasely, from the READ Program (Reading Empowerment for Adults in Dickson County), and a brief Resident Association Meeting. Please find details about all events on the calendar and throughout the newsletter.
Lastly, please remember that all residents are to have parking stickers or placards visible in their vehicle(s). If you do not have one, please contact our office. All vehicles must be in running condition-starts, have no flats, and have current tags-otherwise, they cannot be parked on DHA property and will be towed at the tenant's expense.
Sincerely,
Sherry Lynch, Executive Director
Let's Get Involved!
Maintenance Emergency
If you have an emergency and it's during office hours, please call the office before calling maintenance.
DHA News
- Administrative Business: All business will be handled through the service window. If you are sick, please call our office instead of making a visit.
- Rent: We encourage all residents to use the online rent portal for rent payments. To access the portal, visit our website www.dicksonhousing.org 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.
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.
- 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.
- 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. These things have become too much of a hassle for mowing/weed-eating.
Resident Services
- Store Days will continue to be every Thursday 8-11 AM. Rides must be requested no later than 24 hours in advance.
- 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.
- Any doctor's appointments must be made before 11 am and must be in Dickson.
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
October 2022 Calendar
October 3-14
Fall Break
October 7
Bingo - 1 PM
October 13
Kids' Halloween Crafts - 12 PM
October 14
Lunch & Learn - 11:30 AM - Bank of Dickson
October 20
ADULT Bingo
October 22
Soup for Souls
October 25
Resident Association Meeting - 1 PM - Susan of READ
October 29
Drug Take-Back
October 31
No School - DHA Chili Supper - 5 PM
DHA Chili Supper
Monday, October 31st
Community Center Meeting Room
5 PM until we run out
Residents Only
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:
- Coffee Filters for crafts - any size
- Plastic Tablecloths for crafts and events
- Disposable Plates - any kind, paper or Styrofoam
- Colored Printing Paper
- Clear, plastic ornaments for crafts - Dollar Tree and Hobby Lobby has them.
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 3 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 10 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.
What do you call two spiders that just got married?
Newly webbed.
Drug Take Back
DEA National Rx Take Back
Saturday, October 29th - 9 AM - 1 PM
Turn in your unused or expired medications for safe disposal.
TriStar Horizon Medical Center
111 Hwy 70 East, Dickson, TN
- Shred Truck On Site
- Recycle Bins
Free Medication Lock Boxes - Count it, lock it, drop it! Don't be an accidental drug dealer.
Sponsors:
- Dickson Police
- Dickson County Sherriff
- Drug Free Dickson Coalition
615.352.2821 - www.drugfreedickson.com
Breast Cancer Awareness
Even though October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, chances are you're already aware of the disease: After all, one in eight women in the United States will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime. Let's take a look at some important breast cancer facts that you might not know:
- 12.4% of women in the United States will develop breast cancer over the course of their lifetime. This makes breast cancer the most common cancer among women, besides skin cancer.
- In 2018, an estimated 266,120 new cases of invasive breast cancer were diagnosed in women in the U.S., along with 63,960 new cases of non-invasive breast cancer.
- There were about 2,550 new cases of breast cancer in men in 2018.
- For women in the U.S., breast cancer death rates are higher than those for any other cancer besides lung cancer.
- Most women (about eight out of 10) who get breast cancer do not have a family history of the disease.
- Over 3.3 million breast cancer survivors are alive in the United States today.
- Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women, besides skin cancer.
- On average, every 2 minutes, a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer, and 1 woman will die of breast cancer every 13 minutes.
- A man's lifetime risk of breast cancer is about 1 in 1,000.
- Every 19 seconds, someone in the world will be diagnosed with breast cancer.
- The most significant risk factors for breast cancer are gender (being a woman) and age (growing older).
It is also important to get a yearly mammogram and do a monthly self-exam to help catch breast cancer in its early stages. This simple action may make a big impact on the future of your health Don't assume breast cancer isn't something you need to worry about. An estimated 60 to 70 percent of people with breast cancer have no risk factors.
Did You Know...
- Samhainophobia is the fear of Halloween.
- Fifty percent of kids prefer to receive chocolate candy for Halloween, compared with 24% who prefer non-chocolate candy and 10% who preferred gum.
- The owl is a popular Halloween image. In Medieval Europe, owls were thought to be witches and to hear an owl's call meant someone was about to die.
- Scarecrows, a popular Halloween fixture, symbolize the ancient agricultural roots of the holiday.
- Scottish girls believed they could see images of their future husbands if they hung wet sheets in front of the fire on Halloween. Other girls believed they would see their boyfriend's faces if they looked into mirrors while walking downstairs at midnight on Halloween.
- Halloween is thought to have originated around 4000 B.C., which means Halloween has been around for over 6,000 years.
- The average bag of candy that one child will collect on Halloween contains about 11,000 calories.
- In Alabama, it is illegal to dress up as a priest or as a nun on Halloween.
- In Bellville, Missouri, it is illegal to ask for candy if you are over the age of 13.
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)
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 $40
- After Hours
- Disabling Smoke Detectors $50 each
- Monthly Pet Fee $10
- Pet Deposit $300
- Maintenance Labor
Rate During Hours: $23.84 Hr
Rate After Hours: $40.00 Hr