Manhattan Housing Authority February 2013 P.O. Box 1024 * 300 N 5th Street *Manha an, KS 66505 * www.mhaks.com Inside This Issue: PAGE 2: MHA SAFETY SPOTLIGHT PAGE 3: WHAT S HAPPENING IN MANHATTAN & AT MHA PAGE 4: MONTHLY REMINDERS PAGE 5: KIDS CORNER PAGE 6: MHA FEBRUARY CALENDAR MHA Resident of the Year Award Each year the Manhattan Housing Authority recognizes a Resident of the Year at its Annual Board meeting. The Resident of the Year is chosen by all the residents of the Housing Authority s Public Housing communities. Fliers will be sent out soon to all MHA residents asking for nominations for the 2012 Resident of the Year. If you would like to nominate someone for this award, please fill out your nomination flier and return it to the Administrative Office by the deadline date. Your nominee must be someone who lives in one of the Housing Authority s communities (Apartment Towers, Carlson Plaza, Baehr Place, Pottawatomie Court, Hudson Circle, Flint Hills Place or The Gardens) who you think should be recognized for the good deeds and contributions they make to their community. As a resident you are able to see your neighbor s good deeds more often than staff is able to. If there is someone you think should be recognized, please let us know! Look for more information on an upcoming flier, or if you have questions, please call the Administrative Office at 776-8588. HAPPY VALENTINE S DAY! Hope everyone has a Happy Valentine s Day! Here are some fun Valentine s Day facts that you can share with your Valentine: 1. Each year, more than 36 million heart-shaped boxes of chocolates are sold for Valentine s Day 2. Over 50 million roses are given away worldwide on Valentine s Day 3. About 3% of pet owners will buy their pet a Valentine 4. Verona, Italy, where Shakespeare s Romeo & Juliet lived, receives about 1,000 letters each Valentine s Day addressed to Juliet 5. In the U.S. alone, about 1 BILLION Valentine s are exchanged each year. Now that s a lot of Valentine s!
MHA Safety Spotlight - February 2013 FIRE SAFETY More than 2,600 Americans die every year from home fires. Protect your family from fire by following the safety guidelines below: 1. Kitchen fires are the most common home fire. Be careful to turn off all burners when you are done using them. Stovetops are not storage areas; they should be free of any paper, plastic, towels/dishcloths or any other flammable material at all times. Your stovetop and oven should never be left on unattended, especially if you are leaving the unit. Residents may receive a lease violation if a stove or oven is found left on unattended, or if flammable items are stored on stovetops. This is to protect all residents from fire hazards. 2. Every home should have at least one working smoke detector. MHA s units generally have multiple smoke detectors, including in hallways and bedrooms. The Housing Authority checks smoke detectors at least once a year during Annual Inspections. If any smoke detector in your unit is not working properly, please place a work order immediately so that repairs can be made. Having a working smoke detector in your home can double the chances of surviving a home fire. 3. Know where the fire extinguisher is located in your home. Each of the Housing Authority s units have a fire extinguisher, usually located in the kitchen. Apartment Towers and Carlson Plaza residents do not have a fire extinguisher in their units, but one is located in the hallway of each floor. Please notify the office immediately if you use your fire extinguisher for any reason so that it can be replaced. 4. Never overload electrical circuits. Extension cords should not be used in your unit. Surge protectors may be used, but piggybacking (plugging one surge protector into another surge protector) is not allowed. This is a fire hazard and will result in a lease violation if seen by staff. Electrical appliances that spark, smoke or have a burnt smell should be unplugged immediately. 5. Use caution with portable heaters, such as electric space heaters. Be sure that there is enough clearance between the heater and any item that may catch fire, such as clothing or paper. Portable heaters should never be left on when you are not at home. It is best to unplug the heater when you are leaving. Portable heaters should also never be used near water, such as in bathrooms or kitchens, due to the risk of electrical shock. If you would like more information about fire safety, please go to the U.S. Fire Administration s website at www.usfa.fema.gov.
What s Happening in Manhattan & at MHA - February 2013 MHA Staff Changes We would like to recognize two employees who have recently left the Housing Authority, and one new addition. Eve Moore, Custodian for Carlson Plaza, and Duane Sells, Maintenance Worker II, have left to pursue other opportunities. We wish them all the best in their future endeavors. We also want to welcome James Tiny Thornhill, who has taken over as Custodian for Carlson Plaza. Tiny started work on February 4, 2013, and we are excited to have him. Please be sure to say hello and welcome him if you see him around Carlson Plaza. Scholarship Opportunity! If you are a high school student who will be graduating this year or if you are a current college student, this is a great opportunity for you. The Kansas chapter of the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO) is now accepting applications for one (1) $500 scholarship and two (2) $300 scholarships. These scholarships will be awarded only to Public Housing residents or Section 8 rental assistance participants. If you would like to receive more information about the scholarship requirements, or if you would like to receive a scholarship application packet, please contact the Administrative Office at 785 776-8588 and ask for a Dru Thomas scholarship application. Zoofari Tails at Manhattan Public Library Slither into reading with the Sunset Zoo and the Manhattan Public Library. On the last Friday of every month at 10 a.m., Sunset Zoo will bring to life an animal-themed children s story. Story times include unique animal artifacts and book giveaways from Claflin Books & Copies. Attend at least six Zoofari Tails throughout the year and receive a free children s book; you ll also have a chance to win a free Friends of Sunset Zoo family membership, given away in December. Registration is not required for this program. For more information go to www.ci.manhattan.ks.us/sunsetzoo/
Monthly Reminders - February 2013 Utility Allowance Revisions On February 20, 2013, the Manhattan Housing Authority will consider a resolution to approve changes to the Utility Allowances and Ceiling Rent amounts for public housing units that are responsible for paying utilities (Baehr Place, Pottawatomie Court, Hudson Circle, Flint Hills Place). A copy of the proposed changes was sent to all residents on January 18, 2013. Below is a description of the proposed changes and how they may affect your rent. Utility Allowances Each year, the Manhattan Housing Authority must review the Utility Allowance for all units that are required to pay any portion of their electric, gas, water and/or sewer utilities. This review is contracted out to a third party contractor, who reviews the current utility rates, surcharges and average consumption based on an engineering method. The Utility Allowance for all units has increased; this means that the amount of rent you pay out of pocket will most likely decrease by approximately the amount of the change in the Utility Allowance (if you receive a utility allowance re-imbursement check, that amount would increase). Please be advised that if you are currently paying Flat Rent or Ceiling Rent, or reside at a site that is not responsible for paying gas/electric utilities (i.e. Carlson Plaza, Apartment Towers), this revision will have no effect on your rent amount. Ceiling Rents When Utility Allowances increase or decrease, the Ceiling Rents must also be revised to reflect the new utility allowances; please be advised that the amount of Ceiling Rent that the tenant pays will not change. Section 21 of your Lease Agreement states that a 30 day comment period will be provided for residents and the public to make comments regarding the proposed changes; this comment period began with the January 18, 2013 notice. Please review the information you have received and provide any comments, in writing, no later than February 19, 2013. Comments should be addressed to: Executive Director, Manhattan Housing Authority, PO Box 1024 (or hand delivered to 300 No. 5 th Street), Manhattan, KS, 66505-1024. Any and all comments received will be reviewed and considered. Should you have questions regarding this matter, please do not hesitate to contact the office at your convenience.
Kid s Corner Just for Laughs! Q: What did the stamp say to the envelope on Valentine s Day? A: I m stuck on you! Q: What did the elephant say to his girlfriend? A: I love you a ton! Q: What did the boy octopus say to the girl octopus? A: Can I hold your hand, and hand, and hand, and hand, and hand, and hand, and hand, and hand? Q: If your aunt ran off to get married, what would you call her? A: Your Ant-elope!
FEBRUARY 2013 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 MHA Offices Closed President s Day 19 Pest Control - Hudson Cr., Baehr Place, The Gardens & FHI 20 MHA Board Meeting - 5:30 p.m. at Apartment Towers 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 If you have questions or concerns about the MHA Newsletter or calendar events, please call the Administrative Office at 776-8588.