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MMAM: HUD Property Contract Administrators

By on August 6, 2013 in Public Services, Resources

fair housingI have a helpful resource to share regarding HUD policy.  Michigan Multi-family Asset  Mangers (MMAM) has Resident Coordinators.  They are a mediator agency;  a contract administrator for some HUD properties.   (MSHDA also does this for other properties.)  They are investigators and mediators to make sure HUD rules are being followed by management.     They can open an investigation, for example, when there are discrepancies between members, who did not recertify on time, and management.   They cannot investigate while a member has an attorney.  They can investigate after a member has signed a repayment plan.   They are a great a great source of information about HUD policy.    For instance, they may find rules were not followed with management’s  delivery of letters to members…some letters  have to be mailed by certified mail and given to the person, sometimes putting them under the door is fine.  If CSI makes an exception for a member, with no history of doing the same for all members in the past, this is not allowed.  (“What we do for one we do for all.”) Here is the contact information:

 

Michigan Multi-family Asset  Mangers (MMAM)

2395 Jolly Road, Suite 180

Okemos, MI 48864

Phone: (517) 267-9277

Fax: (517) 267-9894

Tenant Inquiries Phone: (517) 267-9905

(517) 267-9905

Tenant Inquiries Fax: (517) 267-9894

Tenant Inquiries Email: residentcomplaints@mamhousing.com

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Ask a DHS worker

By on August 5, 2013 in Educational Workshops, OTHER Educational Workshop Topics

client
Washington Square will have Juan Ortiz, Volunteer Services from the Kalamazoo County DHS office give an educational presentation to answer common questions and clear up confusion. A list of questions was gathered from the members and sent to Mr. Ortiz.  He may take the questions and create a True or False handout. There will be free hot dogs and beverages, and hopefully a lot of participants! I’m having a little trouble attaching the flyer, so just  trust me that it’s an eye catcher!

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Request to end or adjust child support payments

By on June 24, 2013 in Credit & Financial Services / Counseling, Financial, Resources

www.mfia.state.mi.us/ChildSupport/policy/resources/DHS-681.gov

DHS-681 Request to Discharge State-owed Debt

Our members have very low incomes!  This form could  assist seniors who are paying child support payments because their now adult children were the recipients of public assistance and the State is recouping their funds.  Their children do not receive the money that the State has FOC deduct from the Social Security payments.  The Social Security Administration (SSA) just follows the court orders.   Once completed, the member submits the form to the Friend of the Court office where their court order is located…in one case, a member had 2 court orders, each in a different county.  Both FOC’s needed to receive a form.  So I made a couple copies of the completed form, and had him sign each one.  He took them from there.  Maybe he will not have half of his Social Security payments deducted, now!

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Affordable Care Act “Marketplace”

By on June 19, 2013 in Health and Medical, Medicaid, Resources

This website re: Medicaid is easy to navigate!  It is the Health Insurance Marketplace from the Department of Health and Human Services.

healthcare.gov

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Uncover “Hidden” Veterans Benefits, at Washington Square

By on May 14, 2013 in Educational Workshops, OTHER Educational Workshop Topics

The new director of Kalamazoo Co. Veterans Affairs will give a power point presentation about the many services available to qualified veterans.  James Tucker is a dynamic speaker who is familiar with the complexities of determining which services are available for each category for the veteran particular status.  Sounds  complicated!  This will be a great presentation for members, and right before Memorial Day, too!

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Age in Place with PACE presentation

By on February 25, 2013 in Educational Workshops, Health Screenings/Topics

PACE will open their doors in Kalamazoo Co. in March!  A presentation to introduce members and their family  to the program will be given by PACE.  It will describe the benefits of the program, eligibility requirements, and all the modalities designed to assist frail members to  to get the help they need to keep them in their homes.   This resource is amazing… From hot meals to in home nurses, to medication to social activities, and usually it’s free of charge!

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SC Conference Notes from Jan. 31

By on February 13, 2013 in Conference call notes, Reference Information

Here are the conference call notes from 1/31/2013.

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New Year’s Resolution Solution

By on January 30, 2013 in Educational Workshops, OTHER Educational Workshop Topics

Washington Square had a presentation explaining different types of plans to use when setting self – improvement goals, or resolutions. We did things differently with this one; I gave the first half of this presentation about achieving healthy goals, and the guest presenter spoke specifically about smoking cessation. Members learned about making goals that are important to them, achievable, time limited, measurable, with action steps. Members learned how to track progress, plan for obstacles that sabotage the efforts made. Members were given a handout with a list of self- improvement ideas, and directions to write the components of achieving their chosen goal. Then, the guest speaker, Angela Anderson from Kalamazoo Health and Community Services, gave a presentation about cigarettes and smoking cessation. She explained how they are made and the toxic ingredients that also make them very addictive and hard to quit. They are even more addictive than years ago. Ms. Anderson explained the harmful effects to member’s health. She gave ways to quit smoking; many could be applied to achieve other goals. Please feel free to borrow the attached worksheets, handouts and presenter’s talking points references, if you have a similar topic to present.

 

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Recording 3 new AASC resources annually

By on January 18, 2013 in Resources

Last Fall, while I was working on the HUD reports  I read that SC’s have a requirement  to add at least three new resources to AASC each year.   So, whenever I add a new resource on AASC, I am  typing in the notes section the date that I entered it.  Then I print off my copies for the resource directories.  One copy of the new resource goes in my “HUD reporting  folder” where I compile anything I may need for the next HUD report.  Hope this was helpful!

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Coping with the Holidays

By on December 18, 2012 in Company News, Hannan News

Washington Square will have an educational presentation by Hospice of Southwest Michigan.  The presenter, Layla Jaboori, will inform about the grieving process, especially when faced with holidays, throughout the year.  For instance, if they visited every 4th of July,then that holiday may be a trigger, and not the December holidays.   Many members are grieving and missing someone special.  They may find the holidays especially difficult to enjoy.   There will be open discussion about member’s traditions, and they may make and take a memory keepsake.

 

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