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December 2022
Dickson Housing Authority - Resident Edition - Vol. 1 | Edition 12
November 2022
Special Points of Interest:
- DHA Calendar of Events
- Maintenance and Resident Service
- Did you know......
A Word From Our Executive Director
Hello Residents,
I hope that everyone had a great Thanksgiving. It's hard to believe Christmas is only weeks away. While spending this time with loved ones, please remember to stay healthy; practice good hygiene and social distancing. Also, take into consideration who is coming into your home, your vehicle, and in your immediate area.
We have a busy month coming up. Stay tuned for our holiday programs and events happening this month. We have commodities, a craft day with the Women's Club, a card-making class, Shopping With The Elves, a DHA youth craft day, Bingo, and a movie day all happening this month.
If you haven't done so already, please join the DHA Resident Services Facebook page for upcoming information, last-minute changes, and community events.
And as always... Let's Get Involved!!
Sincerely,
Sherry Lynch, Executive Director
Maintenance Emergency
If you have an emergency and it's during office hours, please call the office before calling maintenance.
Inside This Issue:
- Letter from the Director
- DHA News
- Maintenance
- Resident Services
- Calendar
- Event Photos
- Did You Know...
- What We Learned...
DHA News
- Rent: We encourage all residents to use the online rent portal for rent payments. To access the portal, visit our website 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.
- There is to be NO parking in the yard whatsoever.
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.
- Heaters!! If you have not already, turn on your heat and make sure it is working correctly. NOTE: When you first turn it on, it is normal for you to smell a burnt smell. It is the dust and lint that has settled over the summer burning from the furnace.
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:
- Plastic Tablecloths for crafts and events
- Disposable Plates - any kind, paper or Styrofoam
- Colored Printing Paper
December 1
GFWC Youth Christmas Crafts - 6-7:30 pm
December 7
Commodities
December 8
Adult Christmas Card Making - 1 pm
December 10
Shopping with the Elves - 10 am
December 15
Bingo - 1 pm
December 16
DHA Kid's Crafts - 1 pm
1/2 Day of School
December 17
Soup For Souls
Cricket-Pics w/Santa & Turkey Give Away
December 19 - January 2
Winter Break - NO SCHOOL
Return to School on January 4th
December 20
Christmas Movie - 2 pm
December 23
CLOSED
December 24
Christmas Eve
December 25
Christmas Day
December 26
CLOSED
December 27
Resident Association Meeting - 1 pm
Resident Services
- I want to wish everyone Happy Holidays!! As we enjoy this time with friends, family, and loved ones, remember to stay healthy. Protect your health.
- Store Days will continue to be every Thursday 8-11 AM. Rides must be requested, no later than 24 hours in advance.
- 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. I will post there if I need to. We do have a few events happening this month-stay in the loop and updated.
- 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
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 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.
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.
Did You Know...
- Santa has a postal code in Canada. If you want to become pen pals with Santa, send a letter to Santa Claus, North Pole, HOH OHO, Canada.
- In Ukraine, spiders are considered a symbol of good luck at Christmas. When we think of Christmas, we think of reindeer and polar bears. In Ukraine, families add spider webs to their decorations from an old story of how spiders used their silky webs to decorate the tree for a poor widow and her children.
- The largest Christmas snowflake ornament was over 10 feet tall, according to the Guinness Book of World Records. The ornament was made in Japan by Universal Studios in 2019. It stood at 10.5 feet and was placed on an award-winning tree, as well. The Guinness Book recorded this tree to be the artificial tree to hold the greatest amount of lights-591,840 bulbs.
- The largest gingerbread house is actually as big as a real house. In 2013, a group from Bryan, Texas, built a gingerbread house that was 160 ft. long, 42 ft. wide, and 10.1 feet tall. The base was made of wood and reportedly took 1,800 lbs of butter, 7,200 eggs, 3,000 lbs of sugar, 7,200 lbs of flour, and over 22,000 pieces of candy used to cover the structure.
Annnnd Did You Knoooow...
- In Spain, tradition is to eat 12 grapes to bring you good luck-one for each month.
- In Denmark, Danes save plates all year and throw them at the doors of family and friends for good luck. They also stand on chairs until the stroke of midnight, then they "jump into a new year."
- In Latin America, they carefully select the color of their holiday underwear . Yellow enhances their chances of money and abundance. Red means you'll find love. Sparkling, clean, and pearly white undies means peace was priority for you.
- In Turkey, it is good luck to sprinkle salt on your doorstep to promote peace and prosperity.
- In Ireland, single women sleep with a mistletoe under their pillows to help find future husbands.
- In Columbia, people run around the block with empty suitcases to guarantee a year of travels.
- In Chile, families spend the night in cemeteries in the company of their deceased loved ones.
- In Bolivia, coins are baked into desserts and candies for good luck to the ones who find them.
- In Scotland and Greece, the tradition is that the first person in your home will bring either good luck or bad luck. Therefore, be careful of who you allow in your home.
- In many areas, it is very well known to open all of your windows and doors to let the old year out and to allow the new year to come in freely.
- It is also believed in many areas that you should surround yourself with as many family and loved ones as possible as the new year comes.
- In Mexico, the tradition is that the ora of the first person you come in contact with will set the tone for the next year. If you come upon a negative person, your year will be filled with negativity. If you come upon a spiritual person, your year will be filled with love, grace, and spirituality.
- Kissing someone at midnight comes from the idea that doing so will prevent loneliness and evil spirits in the next year.
Cold Weather Precautions
When temperatures are below freezing for an extended period of time or extremely cold for short periods, water lines could freeze. In an effort to prevent frozen water lines, please take the following precautions:
- Open your kitchen cabinet doors below the sink. This allows warm air to enter and helps keep pipes from freezing.
- Allow a small stream of water to run through your kitchen faucet at night. A constant flow of water will help prevent freezing.
- Do not open your faucet all the way. A small stream is all that is needed.
- Make sure water hoses are not connected to the outside spickets. If outside faucets freeze because a water hose has been left connected, you could be charged for re-pairs.
Winter Energy Saving Tips
- Change or clean heating and air-conditioning filters every month. Dirty filters put an unnecessary strain on the unit and can increase operating costs.
- During winter months, open your shades and let in the warm sunshine.
- Check air handler and ductwork for leaks and weather-strip or caulk around windows, doors, plumbing and other gaps so that heat won't es-cape.
- In the winter, set your thermostat at 68 degrees and wear warm clothing. When you leave, turn it down a few degrees to save a little on your gas bill.
- Make sure your electronic gadgets don't suck your wallet dry! Many TVs, DVD players, cell phone chargers, power adapters, computers, and other electronics use vampire power or standby power, even when they're turned off. Although individually, these devices typically draw only a very small amount of power, together, it adds up, especially when left plugged in 24 hours a day, seven days a week. To combat these energy vampires and reduce your consumption, unplug the appliances when not in use. Using a surge protector with multiple sockets will allow you to turn off multiple devices with one switch.
Holiday Oreo Cookie Balls
Ingredients: 14oz package of Oreos, 8oz package of cream cheese softened, a pinch of kosher salt, 12 oz package of chocolate chips melted.
- Use a food processor to crush cookies into fine crumbs.
- Add all but 2 tablespoons crushed cookies to a medium bowl. Add cream cheese and salt and stir until evenly combined.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Using a small cookie scoop, form mixture into small balls and transfer to prepared baking sheet.
- Freeze until slightly hardened, about 30 min.
- Dip frozen balls in melted chocolate until coated and return to baking sheet. Sprinkle with remaining cookie crumbs. Freeze until chocolate hardens, about 15 min.
Shopping With The Elves
December 10, 2022 | At The Community Center
This is an opportunity for your children to shop for you!!
Please be prepared to allow your child(ren) to go into the Meeting Room without you. There will be plenty of Santa's elves that will help them wander through Santa's Gift Shop.
Enjoy!!
Parent's Night Out
Parents need a little extra time before the holidays? Drug Free Dickson, YMCA, and the Dickson County Health Department will be hosting a Parent's Night Out on December 14th. Drop off your kids (ages 5-12) at the YMCA from 5:30 pm - 8:00 pm for programs and fun holiday activities.
Registration is required.
For more information or to sign up contact Karrie Thompson:
Christmas Card Making With Jennifer Cochrane
December 8th at 1 pm
Mrs. Jennifer will be hosting a card-making class using Cardstock, stamping, stickers, and embellishments. If you signed up for this class, we can't wait to see you there. If not, see what we've learned later and make plans to join us for the next class.
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