Issue 19 January 2009 Nellie Reynolds Garden - movin’ on up “I feel like a member of the TV show The building is the first of its kind for ‘The Jeffersons.’ I’m moving on up!” PHA, not only because of its architecture, That’s how Yvonne Williams, one of the but also for its environmental features, first new residents at Nellie Reynolds most notably a “green” roof. The roof Gardens, described how she feels about is carpeted by hundreds of plants that her new home and PHA’s newest seniors absorb rainfall and prevent water from apartment building. running off into the sewer system. The plants also insulate the building, keeping The building, named in honor of PHA’s warm air inside in winter and out in long-time resident leader, features 64 summer. That means energy savings apartments, and an Adult Daily Living year-round. The carpeting in the building, Center, scheduled to open in the early as well as the paints and primers used, part of this year. NRG will eventually are all eco-friendly, meaning they give contain an assisted living facility once off less indoor air pollution. PHA gets needed licensing from the state. PHA Executive Director Carl Greene Another new resident, Earline Pankey, hosted the grand opening, saying calls her new home “a dream of mine that completion of the building sends come true.” Like Williams, Pankey PHA Commissioner Nellie Reynolds is joined by HUD Secretary Steve Preston two strong messages. “This facility moved from Johnson Homes, right (left), PHA Executive Director Carl Greene, and Holly Glauser-Abel of the PA exemplifies PHA’s commitment to across the street. “I like it, I like it, I Housing Finance agency at the ribbon cutting for the new senior development. help our senior residents live with the Pride in Obama like it,” she said, as she and hundreds kind of dignity they’ve earned. It also Page 05 of other guests sat under the sparkling “The grand opening was beautiful but liked where I lived at Johnson Homes, underscores how seriously we take glass atrium for November’s grand what makes the environment great but this is exceptional,” Pankey said. opening ceremonies. are your neighbors and the serenity. I continued on page 14 Resident leaders cheer Katrina survivors celebrate Holiday Photos new MTW agreement Christmas in new home Pages 08 & 09 Resident leaders saw reason to cheer For Richard Washington, his wife, on October 16 when PHA and HUD Annie, and their kids, the 2008 holiday reached agreement on a new ten-year season was very special. They became Moving to Work Plan. homeowners again, three years after arriving in Philadelphia in the wake of The signing of the agreement ended a Hurricane Katrina. battle that lasted almost two years, sparked a lawsuit by PHA against its parent Katrina destroyed their home in New agency and prompted the resignation of Orleans’ 7th ward. The city bulldozed it Yes to Opportunity HUD secretary Alphonso Jackson. and other homes in the neighborhood. Page 11 “I was extremely happy that [PHA Richard Washington remembers the Executive Director] Carl Greene and day Katrina hit the city. his staff and TSSI stood up to HUD,” INDEX said Rose Bryant, resident leader at “When I woke up at one o’clock in the Liddonfield Homes. morning, I was stepping in water,” he Digital TV . 03 said. “I walked in water chest high, and “We will not lose the programs that my daughter was on my shoulders and they fought so much to get to help the Rose Bryant, resident leader at I had my two step-kids (in tow). And I “By the help of the Good Lord we Executive Director residents become more self-sufficient.” Liddonfield Homes. had a four by four walking through the made it,” says Richard Washington, Message . 05 now the proud owner of a home in Choice Voucher funds to create new water so nobody would fall; they had West Philadelphia. Moving to Work allows PHA to break public housing or to provide job training something to hold on to.” Resident is a poet. 07 away from one-size-fits-all public housing for clients, something not permitted under rules from Washington to create programs standard public housing procedures. The Washington family ended up what we we’re going to eat,” he said. that work best for Philadelphia. For in Jefferson Parish, sleeping on the New Year’s example, PHA is able to use Housing continued on page 15 sidewalk for six days. “We didn’t know continued on page 14 resolutions. 11 A Community Newspaper For And About Residents 3 Digital TV is finally coming in February – be ready to convert! Mark February 17, 2009 on you can buy a converter box that will Get more channels enable you to see digital programs on your calendar! your old TV. These boxes are available at Digital, explains Kravetz, is a more stores like Wal Mart and Target – almost efficient way to broadcast. Using the At the stroke of midnight on that day, any store that also sells televisions. same channel space, stations can your analog television set will not self- broadcast on five stations instead destruct, but it will stop bringing you of one. Once the converter box is your favorite programs and start bringing Get your coupons here! installed, viewers will find they have you static. Unless channels they didn’t have before. For you prepare now. Until March 31, example, in addition to Channel 10, you can receive $ there may be 10.2 and 10.3, broadcasting The U.S. DIGITAL DATA a 40 coupon different types of programs, such as government is To receive your $40 coupon to from the U.S. weather programs or vintage television requiring all government to shows. The picture will also be sharper major television buy a converter box: buy a converter Dave Dombrowski of the FCC demonstrates the proper way to hook up a digital converter at a DTV event at Germantown House. than the old analog one, but it will not stations to begin box. A household be a high definition picture unless you Call 1-888-388-2009 can receive up broadcasting about the upcoming digital rollout, is printed on the coupon, which purchase a High Definition TV. to two coupons. digital rather than Order online at: points out: “if you call, you will get a looks like a credit card. Coupons can be analog signals confirmation number that will enable The converter box is simple to install, www.dtv2009.gov ordered from effective Feb. 17. you to track the coupon.” Online, you Converters run between $39 and $70, says Krazvetz.. It attaches to both the www.dtv2009.gov, a Which means will receive a receipt. says Kravetz, and she admits she TV and the antenna. People may need For more information: web site created by that unless you doesn’t see any difference between to purchase a better pair of rabbit ears the FCC to guide have cable or Go to www.dvt2009.gov The coupons take three to six weeks the cheaper and more expensive to get a better picture, says Kravetz, people through satellite TV or have to arrive, so it is smart to apply models. She recommends that but any television, no matter how old, Call 1-888-225-5322 this transition. purchased a digital now. They have a 90-day expiration whichever converter you buy should can be converted. TV in the past Or you can call Note: Check your television’s owner’s date – and they start ticking from feature “analog pass through” so you four years, your 1-888-388-2009. Since all new televisions are now manual. If you purchased your set within the time they’re mailed. Once you can still capture any analog signals TV will not work receive the coupon, don’t wait too sent by small stations like Channel digital, eventually the converters will the last four years, it probably has a Lauren Kravetz, an without a digital long to make your purchase – you 65. These stations are not required be as obsolete as analog TVs, Kravetz digital tuner and requires no conversion. FCC representative converter box. can’t get another one or renew an to go digital, although Kravetz adds points out. So the prices will not go who educates expired coupon. The expiration date that many will. down if you wait to purchase them. For less than $70, consumers Pre-Apprenticeship program to celebrate 10th anniversary What a difference a decade makes! Unlike previous PHA efforts to “Once we started placing people in “The training center you see today “Eighty percent of our clients have train residents for the construction the trades, residents began asking reflects the evolution of PHA,” gone on to be successful,” Johnson said. Ten years ago, Carl Greene had a vision industry, the Pre-Apprenticeship about other unions as they entered Greene said. “We have evolved into a “The program takes people from zero for PHA residents: a program that program benefited from an agreement the Pre-Apprenticeship program,” company dependent on technology. income to middle class income.” would give them the opportunity to between the agency and four trade Johnson said. “It gave us the We train students for 21st century have careers in the building trades. unions – electricians, painters, glaziers, opportunity to explore other areas. jobs in a 21st century facility. That’s For Greene, the Pre-Apprenticeship carpenters and plumbers – that brought The residents are the foundation of the way it has to be for PHA and Program is the agency’s jewel.