Meet April's Rock Star of the Month!

Please join me in congratulating April's ROCK STAR of the month:  Kaja Guilmette.

Let’s get to know Kaja better:

How long have you worked at EHM and your current location?

I've been at EHM for 9 months at Parish Court.

What is your current position?  

Resident Services Coordinator.

Have you held any other jobs at EHM?  

No.

What do you like most about working here?   

My favorite aspect of working for EHM is the level of support and guidance that I receive from co-workers and my supervisor. I'm constantly learning new things in my position and the others RSC's are always willing to step in and help me out if I need it, so it's great to know that although we're all geographically spread out, we're not alone.

What is your favorite EHM memory?  

I don't really have one "favorite" memory, but more so a cluster of positive events. I really enjoy helping others, so it's a great feeling when you're able to provide a resident with the tools to succeed through their struggles. It was also quite hilarious walking in on my first day and not realizing that my aunt also works for the company!

Do you have any advice for new employees? 

My advice for new employees would be to take the time to get to know your residents, especially when working as an RSC. When you know more about their individual personalities, likes, dislikes, etc. you're better able to provide them with the services and assistance that would benefit them as an individual. It will also help you think outside the box when trying to meet their needs.

What do you like to do outside of EHM?    

Outside of EHM I like to continuously challenge myself and try new things. I'm enrolled in graduate school online for Health Information Management and I spend a lot of time with family, friends, and my two spoiled cats.

***CONGRATULATIONS KAJA***

HUD 2017 Income Limits

HUD has released the 2017 income limits. 

They are effective 4/14/2017, and can be found here:

https://www.huduser.gov/portal/datasets/il.html#2017

 These should be entered into OneSite immediately. 

To download the income limits:

1.  Go to the link above, and find your income limits using the prompts. 

2.  Print out the income limits and post them as required.

To enter the 2017 income limits In OneSite:

1.            Log in, and click on “Setup

2.            On the left side, under “General Property,” click “Affordable”

3.            Click on Income Limits (third down in the white area)

4.            Find your current income limits, and click “Edit”

5.            On the top right, enter the effective date (4/14/2017).

6.            Just below the effective date, you will see “Enter the 50% very low 

                income limit amounts for the area.  To enter all income limit amounts, 

               click here to make the table fully editable” and then a check box.  Ensure 

               that this box is checked.

7.            Enter the one and two person income limits (or more if you have larger 

               units) for the 30%, 50%, and 80% income categories.  For any 

               categories you don’t need, you can just enter zeroes.

8.            Click “Save.”

PLEASE NOTE THAT YOU WILL NEED TO RECALCULATE ANY CERTIFICATIONS YOU HAVE COMPLETED THAT ARE EFFECTIVE AFTER 4/14/2017.  You do not need to have those signed; just print them out and note them as "corrected for income limits effective 4/14/2017."

DOH / USDA sites, your limits are not officially out yet, but they're likely to be out soon.

VAWA 2017

VAWA requirements have been updated, and the deadline for implementation of the new requirements is May 15.  

To review, VAWA stands for the Violence Against Women Act, and it protects victims of domestic violence from losing their housing due to their status as victims.  While the original Act protected only residents of Section 8 housing, the Reauthorization Act of 2013 expanded those protections to cover the following housing programs:

• HUD HOME Investment Partnership Programs
• HUD 202 
• HUD 202/8
• HUD 202 PRAC
• HUD 236
• HUD 811 
• HUD 222(d)(3) BMIR
• HOPWA Housing Program
• HUD's McKinney-Vento homeless programs
• Low Income Housing Tax Credit Program (LIHTC)
• USDA 515 housing (click the link for USDA guidance)

HUD Sites:  
HUD VAWA forms noted below are all linked on the blog in procedure 3-38:  VAWA

VAWA Final Rule 
Published 11/16/2016

Notice of Occupancy Rights under VAWA:  
This should be provided with a copy of the Certification form and resource list as follows:

• with applications; 
• to existing household members at their next certification; 
• to rejected applicants; 
• at move-in; 
• with any notice of termination; 
• with any notice of eviction (YOU WILL NEED TO ADVISE YOUR ATTORNEY)

Certification of Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault or Stalking
This should be provided with a copy of the above notice as noted above, and also upon request by an individual needing to file for protected status under VAWA.

VAWA RSP Clarification
Must be filed with your RSP (be sure to note RSP date of approval on the form, and have your Board approve the addition of this language to the RSP).  RSPs revised from this date onward will have this language included in the Unit Transfer section.

VAWA Emergency Transfer Plan and Support Services List
Must be completed by all applicable sites and emailed to Linda no later than April 1, 2017.  It should also be posted at your site, and kept with your Resident Selection Plan.  Please note that transfers due to VAWA status take priority over all other types of transfers, including reasonable accommodations.  This is because VAWA status indicates an imminent risk.  Those transferring due to VAWA status may only be transferred to units they qualify for (i.e., generally cannot be transferred to an adapted unit if they do not need the features).

USDA Sites:
USDA VAWA forms noted below are all posted on the blog under the procedure 3-38:  VAWA

USDA VAWA Guidance handout.
This notice details USDA guidance on VAWA.

Notice of Occupancy Rights under VAWA:  
This should be provided with a copy of the Certification form and resource list as follows:

• to existing household members at the next certification, 
• to rejected applicants 
• at move-in
• with any notice of termination, 
• with any notice of eviction.

Certification of Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault or Stalking
This should be provided with a copy of the above notice as noted above, and also upon request by an individual needing to file for protected status under VAWA.

VAWA RSP Clarification
Must be filed with your RSP (be sure to note RSP date of approval on the form, and have your Board approve the addition of this language to the RSP).  RSPs revised from this date onward will have this language included in the Unit Transfer section.

VAWA Emergency Transfer Plan and Support Services List
Must be completed by all applicable sites and emailed to Linda no later than May 1, 2017.  It should also be posted at your site, and kept with your Resident Selection Plan.  Please note that transfers due to VAWA status take priority over all other types of transfers, including reasonable accommodations.  This is because VAWA status indicates an imminent risk.  Those transferring due to VAWA status may only be transferred to units they qualify for (i.e., generally cannot be transferred to an adapted unit if they do not need the features).

All of the VAWA forms have been updated on the Forms and Procedures page (it's procedure 3-38, all the way at the bottom of the page).

If you have any questions on VAWA, please contact me, and watch for notification of a training conference call to be scheduled soon.

Meet January's Rock Star of the Month!

Please join me in congratulating January’s ROCK STAR of the month:   Michael Collins. 

Michael received a You Rock Award for going the extra mile every day.  He is the Live-In Superintendent at Hearth Homes and was without power in his apartment for 4 days.  We offered to put him up in a hotel but he refused.  He wanted to stay on site so he could tend to the residents and perform his job duties.  He was chosen at random from the December You Rock award winners.   Mike has been awarded with a paid day off.

Let’s get to know Mike better:

1.     How long have you worked at EHM and your current location?

        3 years

2.     What is your current position?

        Superintendent

3.     Have you held any other jobs at EHM?

        No

4.     What do you like most about working here?

        Learning new things

5.     What is your favorite EHM memory?

        Tenant Appreciation Luncheon

6.     Do you have any advice for new employees?

        Take notes while learning new things. Be aware of your surroundings 

        and of things that need to be done.

7.     What do you like to do outside of EHM?

        Spend time with family and friends.

«««CONGRATULATIONS MIKE «««