Spring 2012 Newsletter - Syracuse Housing Authority
Transcription
Spring 2012 Newsletter - Syracuse Housing Authority
Spring 2012 Edition SHA COMMUNITY NEWSLETTER Syracuse Housing Authority Citywide Council Welcomes Two New Service Coordinators The Citywide Council of Low Income Housing Residents, Inc. would like to introduce their two new Service Coordinators; Camille Ferrell -Knighton and Juanita Gamble. Ms. Juanita Gamble and Camille Ferrell-Knighton Ferrell-Knighton will be working with residents at Vinette and Ms. Gamble will be assisting Fahey Court Residents. Ms. Ferrell-Knighton brings to the position a background in counseling, case management and rental contract management. Ms. Gamble’s background includes extensive case management experience with youth and adults, including focused work with those impacted by substance abuse and the criminal justice system. The new service coordinators are available to serve those in Vinette and Fahey Court, and have office hours from 8:30am until 4:30pm. To reach Ms. FerrellKnighton at Vinette, call 395-3367. To reach Ms. Gamble at Fahey, call 395-4990. Omar Ahmed’s Journey to the United States My name is Omar Ahmed. I was born in Somalia. I am 30 years old, married to Sangabo Abdi, with 6 children; 3 boys and 3 girls. One of eight children, I have three sisters and four brothers. Family means a lot to me. When we lived in Somalia, there was a civil war. The President in Somalia vowed not to leave his power unless he dies, and the fighting continues even today. Somalia has no established government; it is chaos. The Civil War took my parents. One day, our village and my home were attacked by gunmen. During the attack, my brothers and sisters ran in different directions. I did not run-I stayed with my parents. They were killed by the gunmen for no reason. I stayed until they were buried, not knowing where my siblings were and whether I would see them again. Somalia was home to me. (continued on next page) Inside this issue: Omars Ahmed’s Journey (Continued) 2 Eastwood Homes New Computer Center 3 On Point for College 3 City School District offers Pre-Kindergarten 3 Section 3 Workers Hired at Leonard Buildings 4 Football Program 4 Father’s Day Event History Corner– Fahey Court 5 City School District Liter- 5 acy Zones Meet the Site Office Staff at Vinette/Ross 6 Omar’s Journey to the US ( continued from front page ) Nestled in the horn of Africa, it neighbors Kenya, Ethiopia, Dijibouti and Yemen. It was colonized by the British and Italian governments and gained its independence in 1960. Somalia has a significant number of different ethnic and economic minority groups. People of the Somali-Bantu descent tend to live in farming villages and in the southern part of the country. Individuals of Arab and other nonAfrican immigrants tend to reside in the coastal cities, such as Mogadishu. Currently Somalis are located in Somalia and the neighboring countries including Ethiopia and Kenya. Many live in England, Australia, Sweden, Finland, the Netherlands, and in the United States today. Since the collapse of the central government in 1991, Somalia has been subject to widespread violence and instability. After the death of my parents in 1991, I fled to Kenya with my Uncle and his family. My Uncle Hassan Suleiman gave me everything and was very kind; he wanted me to forget everything that happened to my parents in Somalia. I was 11 years old when I went to Kenya with my uncle, and while he loved me very much, life there was difficult. There was little food due to the drought. Many were starving. We lived in a Refugee Camp in the North East Province. We would spend 12 years there, even applying for resettlement to Mozambique. Our application was denied due to the massive floods there. Then, my uncle decided to apply to immigrate to the United States. Two years later, the United States accepted our application. Our long journey to the United States began with a five day trip to Kakuma Refugee Camp. Once we were there, we spent two additional years waiting for resettlement to the United States. During that time we were interviewed, fingerprinted and questioned as to why we wanted to Page 2 live in the United States. My response was “in the United States you have a better life, good education and jobs.” Finally, we were on our way to the Omar Ahmed in front of the newly relocated Somali-Bantu Community Center United States. We took a plane to Belgium and from there we went to Atlanta, Georgia. From there we took our final plane to Hancock International Airport in Syracuse NY. There were 8 of us that would come to know Syracuse as home. When and showed us how to use the kitchen appliances to cook, and how to take care of the apartment. She showed us how to get to school. She brought us pens and notebooks for school. I thanked her that day, but she was only one of the first of many people that would help us and show us kindness in our new home. The United States government and the people of the US have helped give many of my people a chance at a better life and opportunities we would never have imagined in Somalia. I have never forgotten my past and my 12 year journey from home after the death of my parents. Today I am a United States Citizen, having arrived here in 2003. I speak English now and teach Citizenship to new refugees coming here for the same promise and new life I had sought. Omar Ahmed is an Outreach Worker with the Somali-Bantu Community Association (SBCA). Located at 302 Burt Street, the SBCA serves immigrants, refugees and new Americans with Case Management support, help applying for benefits, assistance in finding employment, English as a second language instruction, and academic tutoring and citizenship classes. While the center serves many Somalis, it also currently works with participants from Burma, the Congo, Nepal, and many others. The center offers services and programming for all ages. The SBCA is an incorporated 501c3. To learn more about the SBCA, call 254-2628 or stop in to the center between the hours of 8:30 AM and 4:30 PM. we arrived, we were very surprised by what we saw. Men and women were kissing each other on the lips. This was never done in Somalia. They gave us an apartment to live in with appliances we had never before seen. Everything was different. The next day, a caseworker from Catholic Charities visited us SHA COMMUNITY NEWSLETTER Eastwood Homes Tenant Council Holds Ribbon Cutting Event and Open House for New Computer Lab The Eastwood Homes Tenant Council held its Computer Lab Open House on Saturday March 3rd. Residents were invited to come and see the new 5-computer lab and share in the celebration with cake and refreshments. The Tenant Council was pleased to have Sheena Solomon from the Gifford Foundation in attendance. The Gifford Foun- Housing Authority, were also on hand. Ms. Anna Lamontagne, Eastwood Homes Tenant Council President, along with Janice Rufus, Vice President, cut the ribbon. The center has open lab hours for ages 8 and older every weekday evening form 4pm to 7pm. dation provided $2500 in financial support to the center and also donated the five computers through their “What If” mini grant. Gladys Smith, Chairperson from the Citywide Council of Low Income Housing Residents, and William Simmons, Executive Director for the Syracuse Syracuse City School District Has Pre-Kindergarten Program The Syracuse City School District has a pre kindergarten program for 4 year olds who are living in Syracuse. There are classrooms, both full day and half day, in almost every school building and in community sites throughout the city. There is a classroom near you! To find out more information or to register your child, please call the Pre-K Office of the Syracuse City School District at 435-4276. You will need to hve your child’s birth On Point for College Are you between the ages of 17 and 25 and interested in going to college or into a vocational training program? On Point for College can help you. On Point for College provides free one-toone counseling on choosing a college, financial aid, and scholarship and college applications. They also offer college visits, mentoring, transportation to and from college during breaks, advocacy and follow up counseling and financial assistance with college supplies. On Point for College has various offices throughout Central NY; some are located within Syracuse Housing Authority sites. For more information and to sched- ule an appointment, call 3625003. Page 3 SAVE THESE DATES: SATURDAY, JUNE 9, 2012: SHA will be sponsoring a Father’s Day Event on this date. It is scheduled to be held at the Martin L King School side open lot if it is a nice Saturday afternoon; if the weather does not cooperate with us, it will be moved inside the school building. The Black Lites are scheduled to perform!! Please be sure to mark this date; it will be a fun filled day to spend with your family and friends to celebrate the men in your lives! More detailed information will be forthcoming soon. SATURDAY, JUNE 23, 2012: Once again SHA, in conjunction with CNY Football Academy, will be recruiting youth ages 9-12 for their FREE FOOTBALL CAMP on SATURDAY, JUNE 23rd. Tyron Branch (Oakland Raiders) Jo-Lonn Dunbar (New Orleans Saints) and Mike Hart (Indianapolis Colts) and other athletes will again organize the 2012 CNY Football Academy at Sunnycrest Park behind Henninger High School. If you know of someone who is between ages 9-12 who is interested in participating on June 23rd, please contact Kenneth Boyd of the SHA Life Program at 470-4254 to register. Both Boys and Girls are invited. Section 3 Workers Hired to Work on Leonard Buildings Environmental Construction Group of Rochester (ECG) has been in business for about six years now. The primary functions of the business are remediation, abatement, demolition and construction services. Recently, ECG was awarded a contract to provide abatement services for the renovation of the Leonard Buildings. The Leonard Buildings are three apartment buildings and one community building located near the corner of S. West St. and W. Onondaga St. in Syracuse. Upon their completion Syracuse Housing Authority (SHA) will utilize the buildings to provide affordable housing to low- income residents. Bruce Corey is the owner of ECG. He has been able to provide opportunities for five (5) low/very-low income area residents from SHA’s Section 3 database to work on the project. Darrell Smarr 48, is one of those individuals. He received his NY State Asbestos Supervisor’s License about 4 years ago through a program called VESID (now called ACCESS-VR). Working on the Leonard Buildings’ project has allowed him to utilize his knowledge of asbestos abatement to do demolition work. The work involves pipe cutting and asbestos and lath removal. Darrell said “Depending upon the Page 4 Jose Pineda and Jorge Saez remove lath from walls after asbestos has been abated job my license gives me the oppor tunity to earn at least $14.00 an hour. If the job is a ‘rate job’ the pay is even more.” There are other certifications and licenses obtainable that that can help individuals to better their position in the workforce too. A few of them are EPA Lead Certifications, BPI Weatherization and HAZWOPER. Darrell also has the HAZWOPER and Red Cross Training as well. Jorge Saez 24, is a Cuban emigrant who work at the site. Jorge has been in the US for about nine (9) years and speaks fluently in Spanish and English. He is often called upon to translate for others on the job site who has limited English speaking ability. Jorge has been licensed by the State of NY to do asbestos abatement for three (3) years. Like Darrell, Jorge enjoys the earnings that he is able to make because of his license. He got his license after a friend told him about the potential opportunities to obtain work in the field. ECG is currently working on getting other projects in the area. Their plan is to use Darrell and Jorge and others from SHA’s Section 3 database to work on them. If you are a public housing or low/ very-low income area resident and would like to receive more information about where to go to get certified, or if you are currently certified and would like to be placed in our Section 3 database, please email your resume to [email protected]. Be sure to include your up to date contact information. No phone calls or walk-ins please. Darrell Smarr with power pipe cutter SHA COMMUNITY NEWSLETTER HISTORY CORNER: FAHEY COURT apartments for the elderly and handicapped. Because of the unique layout of the original school building, many of the apartments are quite different from each other in design as to where the kitchens and living rooms are situ- The City of Syracuse had a vacant school building on the north side, namely Jefferson School, located at 1503 Park Street. The school was closed in the 1970’s. In an effort to re use some of Syracuse’s existing buildings, SHA applied in 1979 to the US Department of HUD with development plans to renovate this vacant building into housing for the elderly and handicapped. Mr. Joe Maryak of JCM Architects, was the architect hired by SHA to design the re use of this old school house. With a budget of $1.3 million dollars, renovations began in June of 1981 and after a few delays, was ready for occupancy in April of 1982. It was 100% occupied by December of 1982. The large classrooms were converted into 30 good size one and two bedroom ated. It was a wonderful way to reuse the building instead of having it fall into disrepair and, at the same time, supplied the City with much needed housing for low income senior citizens. When the newly renovated building was opened, everyone, including the neighborhoods surrounding the building, were extremely pleased with the end result. After everyone had moved in, the resident committee and city officials wanted to rename the building, (it was still being referred to as the old “Jefferson School”), in honor Judge Joseph Fahey, City Court Judge for the City of Syracuse. A large crowd attended the Dedication Ceremony held on April 11, 1983. Attendees included the Fahey Family, Fred Murphy, the SHA Director at the time, the SHA Board, the Mayor, City Officials, all the new residents, along with many other Citywide members and SHA staff. On that day it was officially renamed “Fahey Court”. This 30 unit housing development retained some of it’s charm of the old school house. The two story community room is an attractive meeting area and the second floor laundry is set in a mezzanine to this common area. New site lighting and security systems were installed in 2001 and 2003. Federal Funding for this type of development will never again be at the level it used to be when SHA redeveloped this building for elderly housing. The Syracuse City School District Literacy Zones Provide FREE Services Throughout the City Including: Connect to Community Services and Agencies GED ESL and Adult Basic Education Classes Assist with Job Readiness, Training and Vocational Programs Navigate the Department of Social Services Help with Childcare and Housing Immigration Resources and Citizenship Classes Communicate with your child’s Teacher Search for a Medical Care Provider Provide Health and Financial Literacy, and much more…. Please call or stop by at one of these three centers: West Family Welcome Center 307 S. Geddes Street Syracuse, NY South Family Welcome Center Dr. King School 416 E. Raynor Street North Family Welcome Center Grant Middle School 2400 Grant Blvd. Phone: 214-4218 Phone: 435-6000 Phone: 435-6376 Page 5 Building Neighborhoods, Growing Dreams 516 Burt Street Syracuse, NY 13202 Phone: (315-475-6181 Fax: 315-470-4203 www.syracusehousing.org Meet the SHA Vinette Site Office Management Staff: The Property Management Office at Vinette Towers includes three staff with 47 years combined work experience for Syracuse Housing Authority. Vinette Towers, built in 1973 and currently under construction for renovations, houses 152 units for the elderly and disabled. Working with tenants, the Property Management Team works hard to balance Public Housing regulations with high quality living for the tenants at Vinette Towers. Nick Napolitano, Property Manager, has been with SHA since 1998. During his 14 years he has worn several hats including positions as a Tenant Selector, a Family Self-Sufficiency Coordinator with Section 8, and the Supervisor of Collections. Nick’s varied background has helped him understand Joann Smith, Nick Napolitano, Deb Kinsey both the business side of Public Housing as well as the Tenant Advocacy side. Working with Nick as part of the Vinette Team are Joann Smith and Deb Kinsey. Joann Smith, Housing Specialist at Vinette, has been with SHA for almost 21 years. She too has worked in various capacities including work in Grants Management, Youth Services, Tenant Organization and as a Tenant Selector. Deb Kinsey, Clerk in the Vinette Towers Management Office, has been with SHA for 13 years. She has worked in Security and Occupancy. Staff at Vinette Towers work as a close-knit team to respond to tenants needs and to manage the units in accordance with HUD guidelines. In this tough economic time the staff wanted residents to know that “we really are on the tenants’ side.”