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Newport News Redevelopment & Housing Authority (NNRHA)
combined the
Section 8
and Public Housing programs into one department in July, 1992.
The Department of Public & Assisted Housing is responsible
for managing the functions of these two programs and the
Community Resources programs.
The Department of Public & Assisted Housing is also
responsible for providing management services to two privately
owned subsidized complexes for the elderly and handicapped:
Great Oak and
Phoenix Village.
Along with the provision of traditional management services, the
Department provides a variety of human services to Authority
housing residents in the form of social, cultural and educational
activities.
Resident Services:
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SCHOLARSHIPS:
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Adult Scholarship Assistance Program:
Youth Advocacy Counselors (YAC) administer scholarship
awards for deserving adults residing in public housing who
show leadership potential for education and career
advancement. All applicants must have graduated from an
accredited high school (or have a GED) and must be a
beginning or continuing student at an accredited
college/vocational/technical school with a cumulative GPA
of 2.0 or better in overall academic courses.
High School Scholarships Programs:
Youth Advocacy Counselors (YAC) administer scholarship awards
for eligible seniors. The awards are given to deserving residents
of public housing who show leadership potential for education and
career advancement. All applicants must graduate from an accredited
high school with a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or better in overall academic
courses. |
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BOYS & GIRLS CLUB ACTIVITIES
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The Boys & Girls Club of Greater
Hampton Roads and the Virginia Peninsula provides
on-site activities for youth living in public housing (i.e. Lassiter,
Aqueduct, Brighton, and Oyster Point). The after school programs
include mentorship, computer technology, sports, and other social
enhancement programs. |
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FAMILY INVESTMENT CENTER (FIC)
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The Family Investment Center (FIC) is a program
established to assist low income public housing residents
gain better access to job training, educational and
employment opportunities, and to promote independence and
self-sufficiency.
Classes offered at the Center include:
- GED Preparation
- Employability Skills Workshops
- Nursing Assistant Certification
- Basic Computer Skills
- Microsoft Office User Specialist (MOUS) Certification
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FIC also offers supportive services such as transportation to the
training facility and case management. Upon completion of the training
programs, FIC offers job placement assistance and resume preparation.
Once residents obtain employment, follow-up services are provided
by FIC Case Managers to increase employment retention.
The FIC program is free to all NNRHA Public Housing residents.
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Fic Building
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FIC Computer Lab (partial)
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For more information about the program
or the services provided at FIC, please
visit the center at 600-C Ridley Circle,
or call: (757) 928-3680. |
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VOLUNTEER TENANT PATROL (VTP)
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Volunteer Tenant Patrols are groups of
concerned residents dedicated to making their neighborhoods safe.
VTP members have been properly trained, working in a structured
and organized manner; never intervening in threatening situations
but calling for help immediately. They actively work together in
teams protecting their neighborhoods to rid conditions that allow
crime and related problems to flourish. NNRHA's Community Resources
Staff and Security Officer facilitate VTP activities.
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THE AUTOMATED STATE POLICE CRIMINAL CHECK SYSTEM
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NNRHA's Section 8 & Public Housing
Programs now have the capability to
obtain Virginia State Police Background
Checks in a matter of days as opposed
to the previous five-to-six week waiting
period. NNRHA was the first public
housing authority in the State to purchase
a software system necessary to interface
with the Computerized Criminal History
(CCH) files. |
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PUBLIC HOUSING FLAT RENTS |
NNRHA has established flat rents for all
of its current public housing units. The concept of flat rents is
to provide a maximum rent for higher income families. The intent
is to also attract and retain higher income families in order to
create a broad range of incomes and a more diverse tenant population
in our public housing communities. |
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SECTION 8 AND OCCUPANCY
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NNRHA's Section 8 Certificate Program (tenant
based) was established in 1974. In 1984, Congress authorized the
demonstration of the rental voucher program (tenant based). In the
Section 8 Tenant Based Program, the assistance stays with
the tenant, not the unit.
In October 1998, Congress passed a housing reform legislation, including
a full merger of the certificate and voucher programs. In May 1999,
the U.S. Department of
Housing & Urban Development (HUD) published an interim
rule providing for the complete merger of the certificate and voucher
programs into the Housing Choice Voucher Program (tenant
based) which phases out all certificates. The Housing Choice Voucher
Program requires families to pay at least 30% of income toward rent.
This program is now the largest assisted housing program administered
by HUD.
The purpose of the Housing Choice Voucher Program is to provide
opportunities for very-low income families to obtain rental assistance
in private housing and affordable housing in the City of Newport News or anywhere in the United
States based on HUD portability regulations. In the Housing
Choice Voucher Program, families are determined eligible using several
screening criteria including criminal history reports, household
income and family composition. Eligible families are issued a Section
8 voucher to begin their housing search and take advantage of expanded
housing opportunities.
Since the initiation of the NNRHA Section 8 Program, It has
expanded from 150 units allocated in the first contract to the current
total of 2,304 units. This includes Section 8 Vouchers and
the Moderate Rehabilitation Program (Warwick SRO).
NNRHA has the following allocation for the Section 8 Program:
To apply for Public Housing and Section 8,
please go to our Contact Page
In addition to the Section 8 Program, the Department of Public
& Assisted Housing provides occupancy services for 2,111
Public Housing units. These services include scheduling appointments
for persons who request to apply for public housing, process applications
for public housing applicants, determine applicant eligibility and
assign public housing units based on family size and unit availability.
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THE FAMILY SELF SUFFICIENCY PROGRAM (FSS)
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NNRHA operates a very successful
Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) Program.
This program provides “Homeownership”
opportunities for first time low to moderate-income
participants. Participants completing
the Virginia Housing Development Authority
(VHDA) Education Program understand
the responsibility of homeownership.
In developing a qualified homeowner, the
FSS program assists families in a self-help
approach using positive techniques to
resolve credit issues, and develops budgeting
programs to establish and maintain a savings
program for the future through an escrow
account.
FSS program participants have purchased homes in the price range
of $53,000 to $109,552. The average purchase price is $78,287. A
total of 70 families have realized their goal of homeownership and
have purchased their first home through the Family Self Sufficiency
Program.
Fifteen of the 70 families have purchased homes in the Madison Heights Community located
in the Southeast area of the City of Newport News. The Southeast
Community illustrates a collaborative commitment of the City
of Newport News and NNRHA to create affordable homeownership
opportunities while strengthening older fragile neighborhoods.
Currently, 962 families are enrolled in the NNRHA Housing Choice
Voucher and Public Housing FSS program as indicated below:
To further develop prospective homebuyers into qualified
home- buyers, the NNRHA encourages education and training
opportunities that promote self-sufficiency, resulting in increased
household income.
Efforts to encourage self-sufficiency have
resulted in the following accomplishments:
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