Northwest Notes

Office of Public Housing

Region X - Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Washington
FY2007 Quarter IV, August 1, 2007

The Director's Corner
This past February, Debra Sutton, our long-time Program Assistant, accepted a position in HUD's Northwest Office of Native American Programs. Debra contributed an extraordinary amount to the daily operations of our office. We wish her the best of luck in her new position and future endeavors.

Reminder: For the public housing program, please have your auditor include the Actual Modernization Cost Certificate (AMCC) in your annual audits reports to expedite closeouts of your Capital Fund Program grants.

On behalf of the Office of Public Housing team members in Seattle, Portland & Anchorage, we hope this newsletter is helpful to you. Thank you.

Harlan Stewart, Director, Office of Public Housing, Region X

Energy Star
Visit the Energy Star website (http://www.energystar.gov/) to find out how your agency can benefit from Energy Star services.

FSS Success at Bremerton Housing
The Bremerton Housing Authority's (BHA) Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) program helps participants to become financially independent with credit counseling, job seeking skills and savings plans for homeownership and education.

Kristafer Whitcher and his daughter Danakai outside their home at Westpark

A single father who had just received custody of his daughter Danakai, Kristafer Whitcher was struggling with substance abuse when he moved into the Bremerton Housing Authority's public housing development, Westpark, in May of 2001. He knew something had to change, so he sought help and walked away from the substances that threatened his relationships and his personal growth.

Today, Kristafer is focused on a bright future. In addition to the FSS program, Kristafer, participates in BHA's Keys To A Better Life, which helps residents develop self-esteem through life skills classes, with a focus on everything from GED preparation to parenting. Kristafer credits both programs as being integral to his recent success, noting that the Westpark Community Center staff have been incredibly supportive and encouraging.

He regularly attends the Hillcrest Assembly of God and a Twelve Step Program held in Westpark. Kristafer is currently working at the YMCA on the Character Development Team with their teen late night program, and as a Youth Activity Assistant at the Westpark Community Center. Along with both jobs, Kristafer is taking classes at Olympic Community College. He plans to a get a family services certificate and then his Associate's Degree.

For more information about the Keys to a Better Life or FSS Programs, contact the Westpark Community Center at (360) 479-8108.

Limited English Proficiency (LEP)
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) published guidance in the Federal Register January 22, 2007 to assist housing providers in ensuring that people with limited English proficiency (LEP) have an understanding of housing documents.

Executive Order (EO) 13166, "Improving Access to Services for Persons with LEP," requires all federal, local and state agencies that receive federal funding ensure that people with limited language skills have meaningful access to government programs and services.

The guidance provides an analytical framework that housing providers may use to determine how best to comply with statutory and regulatory obligations to provide meaningful access to the benefits, services, information, and other important portions of their programs and activities for individuals who have limited English proficiency.

HUD currently has discrimination complaint forms in Arabic, Vietnamese, Russian, Chinese and Spanish, and one model lease in Spanish. These documents are currently available on HUD's website and free to the public. In the future, HUD, an agency that offers a Spanish-language website, also plans to translate a model apartment lease into French, Portuguese, Korean, Amharic, Russian and Chinese.

Learn more about the LEP guidance on HUD's website.

April is Fair Housing Month
FHEO and its partners in the Fair Housing Assistance Program investigate approximately 10,300 housing discrimination complaints annually. People who believe they are the victims of housing discrimination should contact HUD at (800) 669-9777 or TTY (800) 927-9275. Learn more about Fair Housing on HUD's website.

EcoWise
The EcoWise Environmental Resource Newsletter, published by HUD's Public Housing Energy Conservation Clearinghouse, includes articles, training events and webcast information. Sign up for EcoWise on HUD's website.

Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Homeownership
HCV Homeownership Closings as of 4/1/2007

Cheryl Southwick and Graeme Atkey of King County Housing Authority attended PIC Training at HUD Seattle Office, March 20-21, 2007

PIH Information Center (PIC) Training Provided
Suzanne Manville, PIC Coach, conducted PIC training March 6-7 and 20-21, 2007 at the Seattle Regional HUD Office. If your agency was unable to participate, but would like to participate in future training sessions or would like copies of training materials, please email Suzanne at Suzanne_Manville@hud.gov.

Earned Income Verification (EIV) and Identity Theft
If EIV information reveals possible Identity Theft, the PHA should notify the participant and provide them with a copy of this information.

The participant should provide the following information to the PHA documenting the identity theft:

• Copy of police report (not a police report number);
• Notice from credit bureau regarding fraud alert placed on credit report; or copy of credit report with fraud alert notice; or copy of identify theft report filing with the Federal Trade Commission;
• AND copy of tenant's letter sent to employer to dispute information and request for correction;
• AND any correspondence the tenant received from employer.

Remember: EIV information can only be provided to the adult household member to whom it pertains!

Keeping Current with PIH/REAC Notifications
VERY IMPORTANT: It is the PHA's responsibility to ensure the following information is correct and current under the HA Inventory-Housing Authority Sub-module in PIC:

• Agency address, phone, FAX, and email information
• Both physical and mailing addresses (if different)
• Physical address for visitors and overnight express packages (cannot use P.O. Box)
• HA Contacts (official data source for PIH-REAC)
  • Must list at least one Executive Director
  • Must list governing board members
• PIH searches for valid email addresses for the PHA in the following order:
  • Executive Director
  • Acting Executive Director
  • Housing Director
  • Section 8 Director
  • HA General Email Address

PHA is responsible for maintaining a valid email account and keeping it emptied. Failure to maintain a valid email address is not an acceptable excuse for missing an important communication from PIH-REAC.

EIV Recertification by April 30th
REMINDER: PHA Users must be recertified by PHA User Administrator by midnight 4/30/07. HUD Field EIV Coordinator will recertify PHA User Administrators.

Recently Published
See all Federal Register and Notices on HUD's website.

HUD Highlights Regional Office E-Newsletter
Find out what's new in the Region across all HUD program areas. Sign up to receive the newsletter on HUD's website.

Important Upcoming Quarter II Dates
!!! Please Note: All dates subject to change. Refer to program area websites for most current information and complete list of forms due!!!

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