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December 2021

Dickson Housing Authority Resident Edition

DIHATN SHARE

December 2021

Inside This Issue

From the Director

Maintenance

Resident Services

DHA News

Calendar

Did you know...

And more...


Dear Residents,

The end of the year is fast approaching. We would like to say Happy Holidays. Stay safe, exercise social distancing, and good hand washing, but love the ones you're with.

Some of you may have already been contacted about a program through THDA called Covid Rent Relief. This is a program that we are hoping to qualify all of our residents for in order to receive some help on rent. Tracy will be around to have everyone sign the paper. Your email address and phone number are required. If you have not been contacted in the next couple of weeks, please ask about it in the office.

We are happy to announce that we have our website up and running. Please go check it out DicksonHousing.org. The website features a newsfeed to receive information, forms, household tips, and resources. In the near future, residents will be able to make payments online or set up automatic payments from your checking accounts. We will also have an option for the community to apply online. Your opinion is greatly appreciated. If you have anything you would like to add to the newsfeed, suggestions, or corrections please let us know.

We would like to give a BIG THANK YOU to everyone who participated in our canned-food drive. We were able to deliver about 100 food items to the Help Center. Because we had such a good turnout, this will be an event we will host at least twice a year.

Recertification is coming up for some of our residents. It is important to meet your appointed time. If you cannot keep this appointment, contact Tosha as soon as possible to make arrangements.

Sincerely,

Sherry Lynch, Executive Director


Our Office Will be CLOSED

December 23, 24, and 31st.

Also, be mindful that office hours may be interrupted on various days.


Maintenance Department (Dutch, Todd & James)

If you have an emergency and it's during office hours please call the office before calling maintenance.

Maintenance Emergency: 615.417.0813

Maintenance Emergency: 615.351.5173

Maintenance Emergency: 615.428.7924

Emergency Number Only: 615.604.3395


Maintenace

  • Call in Work Orders early if something is not working properly-especially a leak, a soft floor, plumbing-be sure to report that immediately before a minor repair becomes a major repair.
  • Work Orders: Right now, we are requesting emergency work orders only. Call the office to request a work order. Please do not call maintenance directly with work order inquires-unless it is an emergency.
  • Trash Collection Trash Day is on Thursday. All trash must be in trash bags before placing it in the big cans. Do not pour food scraps and loose trash into the can. Put it in a trash bag! All trash must be in the can in order for it to be picked up. Do not set trash on the ground. The trash cans must be placed in the designated area assigned to your apartment. If your can is knocked or blown over, it is still your trash and your responsibility to clean up.
  • Cold Weather: Keep all windows and screens closed. When temperatures reach freezing, please remember to leave your faucets dripping and cabinet doors open. No one wants frozen/busted pipes. Also, change your filters monthly. You can get these at the office, inside the front door.

- Dutch, Todd, and James


RESIDENTS ONLY FACEBOOK PAGE

We have created a Facebook Group for DHA Residents only.
All you have to do is search "DHA Resident Services" and press "Join Group".
You will be prompted to answer questions and read the rules of the page.
We will use the page to stay in contact with residents during the COVID-19 pandemic. You should expect to see virtual events such as storytime, tutorials, and virtual games. We will have special guests and speakers, community announcements and so much more.

If you need help or have questions, please contact Tracy Grigsby at the Community Center.

615.446.9766


Resident Services

  • Transportation is open. All riders will be required to wear masks the entire ride and temperatures will be taken before entering the van.
  • Appointments must be made before 11 am. Let me know at least 24 hours in advance about appointments. I may not be able to take you if you call me on the day of an appointment.
  • Store days are on Thursdays. Please let me know by Wednesday if you need to go out.
  • Commodities will be available at the fairgrounds on December 15th. They are still doing "drive-thru style" which means you never have to leave your car. If I deliver to you, please make arrangements with me if you will not be home that day.
  • Lots of things going on this month, please visit all sections of the newsletter for information.
  • 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


DHA NEWS

  • Administrative Business: All administrative business in our office will remain the same-All business will be handled through the service window, as much as possible. Rent should continue to be paid with a check or money order and placed in dropbox. Do Not Put Cash In The Dropbox!! If you are sick, please call our office instead of making a visit.
  • Website: DHA has a new website. Please go to DicksonHousing.org and check it out. There will be more things added later-like the ability to pay your rent online. Please, please, please go check it out and give us your honest opinion.
  • Community Center: Rental fees and deposits for the meeting room have gone up to $75.
  • Shopping With The Elves will be on December 11, 2021. Please return all registration forms by December 3rd. You must fill these out and return them to the office or to Tracy in order for the elves to know where to go.
  • Christmas Crafts: We will be hosting a Christmas Craft day on December 17th at 2 pm. We have a couple of volunteers that are excited to help with this event, so please allow your children to participate.
  • Pets: All residents MUST pay a pet deposit, show proof of shots, and have approval BEFORE a pet is allowed in the home. "Pet sitting" is not allowed. All pets are required to be on a leash when outside. Leashes attached to clotheslines, railing, etc., will be discarded. Pets are not to be tethered and left outside unattended.
  • Pet Waste: Pick up your cat/dog's poop. We do not want to step in it, track it into your apartment, our vehicles, or office. If this continues to be a problem, we will add additional charges.
  • Facebook: We have two Facebook pages Dickson Housing Authority- a page for the public to provide general information about DHA and things happening in the community. DHA Resident Services is a private page dedicated to our public housing residents only. We urge all adult residents to join these pages. It is hard for us to get important information out quickly and this is one of the best resources we can use. If you need help joining, just give Tracy a call at 615.446.9766.

December 2021 Calendar

1/2 Day of School Dec. 17

Dec. 20 - Jan. 4 is Winter Break


December 11

Shopping with Elves

December 15

Commodities

December 17

Christmas Crafts - 2 PM

December 18

Soup For Souls

December 23

Office Closed

December 24

Christmas Eve

Office Closed

December 25

Christmas

December 26

National Candy Cane Day

December 31

Office Closed

December 2021 Calendar


Dickson County Schools Kindergarten Registration

Early Bird Registration

December 1, 2021 - January 7, 2022

Register early to receive a free Scholastic School Readiness Kit and Parent Coaching Sessions.

Offered January-May at each school led by certified teachers.
Contact your child's zoned school for more information.
Opportunity provided by Esser Funds

Use this code to register.
Visit DCSTN.org to learn more.

Regular Kindergarten Registration - April 25-29, 2022

Kindergarten Registration Flyer


December's Recipe

Slow-Cooker Apple-Cinnamon Cobbler

Ingredients:

6 c sliced peeled apples

1/2 c sugar

3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 box yellow cake mix

1/2 c cold butter, cubed

Whipped cream-if desired

Directions:

  1. Spray slow cooker with cooking spray. Add apples, sugar, and 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon and toss together.
  2. In a large bowl, mix cake mix, and remaining cinnamon. Cut in butter with a pastry blender until cut into small pea sizes. Dump on top of the apple mixture.
  3. Cover; cook on high for 2 1/2 to 3 hours or until fruit is bubbling and cobbler topping is light golden brown.
  4. Serve immediately with whipped cream.

Apple Cobbler on a plate Cookbook, measuring cup and wooden spoon


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 web 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.

World's Largest Gingerbread House


Did you know...

  • ... Monopoly is the most played board game in the world?
  • ... The opposite sides of a die always add up to 7?
  • ... Minus 40 C is the exact same temperature as minus 40 F?

DICKSON HOUSING AUTHORITY

Sherry Lynch - Executive Director

Phone:615-446-9371 & 615-446-4708

Fax: 615-441-1391

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.


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)


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 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
    • Rate After Hours $40.00 Hr