SMHA Resident Association

Resident Leaders meet with Executive Director on 5 Year and 1 Year Plans

From left to right, Amanda Fletcher, SMHA Executive Director, Mark Stevenson, Resident Association President, and William Riley, SMHA Modernization & Asset Manager

On Tuesday, November 9, four officers from the SMHA Resident Association met with Executive Director, Amanda Fletcher, Operations Director, Charlie Moorhouse, and Modernization & Asset Manager, William Riley. The meeting was in regard to the Five Year and One Year Plans that the housing authority sends to HUD for approval. The Five Year Plan is re-evaluated every five years and adjusted as necessary, as well as the One Year Plan is also re-evaluated and adjusted annually. The mission, purpose, operations, policies, and expenditures of the Housing Authority are all in these plans.

There is a Public Hearing on both plans scheduled for Thursday, December 16, 2004, at 11:00am, to be held at the Main Office Building of SMHA downtown. This meeting is open to any and all residents, so please plan on attending!

In 1998, Congress passed the Quality Housing and Work Responsibility Act (QHWRA). This legislation initiated change in the way local housing authorities operate. Accountability was legislated so as to keep housing authorities and their staff true to their mission, which was to provide safe, decent, affordable housing to qualified residents. But along with that comes serving the customers (maintaining housing for residents) fairly, with dignity and respect.

Before Congress passed the QHWRA, residents had a minimal amount of influence and clout with staff from housing authorities. Often times, there would be reports of management treating tenants with condescension. Of course, this was not standard practice across the board, only with some.

From left to right, Amanda Fletcher, SMHA Executive Director, Carolyn Sue Brown, Resident Association Secretary, Janet Foster, Resident Association Treasurer, Betty Jackson, Resident Association Vice-President, and Mark Stevenson, Resident Association President

When Congress passed QHWRA in 1998, it brought residents and tenants "to the table" by mandating that housing authorities had to include them in the process of providing input in the development of these plans. Finally, there was a HUD-mandated mechanism for residents to be "included". After all, they are the clientele. Who better to speak about the policies of the housing authority than the clients? If there are budget cuts in such items as maintenance, security, community services, etc., shouldn't the residents know such things? The better that residents know their own housing program, the more effective advocates we can be. Resident credibility will be enhanced if we are confident in our knowledge of our program's existing facilities, how they are managed, the authority's budget, and every line item in it.

As leaders of the SMHA Resident Association, we are working to equip the resident population with knowledge about how the housing authority works and what residents can do to stand up for their rights and responsibilities. If you want to know more about the Five-Year and One-Year Plan, please visit our Library.

One thing we have found is true. If you participate, your issues get attention. Nothing more louder than a sqeaky wheel....In the Resident Association, you are a wheel of production. Come on and get involved and join in with us. You will be welcome to all our meetings!