Help Housing Authority improve community
By Mark Watson
(Editor's note: Mark Watson is the executive director of the Jesup
Housing Authority. This column is the second in a two-part series.)
There are many steps the Jesup Housing Authority takes to help
provide a positive living environment.
There is a very thorough screening process for our prospective
residents. Any felony convictions, extremely bad credit history, or
other negative background issues may make an applicant ineligible for
public housing.
Once the necessary paperwork has been processed and the application
is approved, the applicant is then placed on a waiting list for
placement in an apartment that is appropriately sized, according to
JHA policy.
Before moving into an apartment, the new resident must go through a
Resident Orientation Session, which familiarizes them with the
policies and rules of the Jesup Housing Authority.
The current waiting-list time is an average of 412 days, with 117
families currently on the waiting list.
Rent for the residents is determined by one of two methods: flat
rent, which is based on the apartment size and comparable market
studies, or income-based rent, which is 30 percent of the resident’s
total income after standard deductions, such as medical expenses for
elderly, other elderly/disabled deductions, child-care deductions,
and other deductions defined by JHA policy.
Once a resident is placed in an apartment, he or she is subject to
rules and regulations enforced by the JHA to ensure a positive living
environment for all residents. Any serious violation of the lease
will lead to eviction of the resident.
The Jesup Housing Authority employs a full-time investigator to
assist with security and lease-compliance issues at the JHA. Our
investigator, Donnie Ray, works under the jurisdiction of the Wayne
County Sheriff’s Department. Sheriff John Carter and the entire Wayne
County Sheriff’s Department work very closely with our organization
to ensure the safety of our residents and the residents of our
county. They have proven to be a strong ally in further improving the
security of our neighborhoods through their concerted efforts and
cooperation with our organization.
Demographically, the JHA currently houses 207 families, or 469 total
individuals. Of those 469 individuals, 227 are under the age of 18.
Of the 242 adults that are currently utilizing the services of the
JHA, 191 (or 79 percent) are actively employed, are retired, or
receive Social Security benefits. The notion that residents of public
housing authorities do not work or contribute to society is a myth in
our community, as shown by these statistics. Single mothers receiving
child support as their primary source of income make up 14 percent of
the other residents, leaving only 7 percent that are not employed or
retired.
The average gross income of employed families is $12,135.72 per year.
Keep in mind, an individual working a minimum-wage, full-time job
would earn an annual income of $15,080.
There are 46 households with one child, 36 households with two
children, 17 households with three children, and 13 households with
four or more children. There are 95 households that are composed of
only one person in the home.
The JHA also provides many resident support services to help make our
residents productive citizens of our community. These efforts are
greatly enhanced by partnerships with local community organizations,
such as the Department of Labor, the Department of Family and
Children Services, the Wayne County Library, and many other local
service organizations, groups and churches.
The JHA also has a strong partner in the Jesup Police Department,
under the leadership of Chief Glenn Takaki and all of the officers on
the force who assist the JHA with security issues.
Throughout the year, the JHA regularly organizes celebrations for our
residents, such as the Annual Christmas Party, the Easter Egg Hunt,
the Red Ribbon Festival, the Back to School Blast, and many others.
These events help to build positive relationships among our residents
and with the JHA staff.
The Jesup Housing Authority is also home to Tabitha’s Place, a local
meal-assistance program coordinated by Janice Phillips and
Caregivers, an assistance program coordinated by Lucille Brock-Thomas.
The JHA takes its mission statement seriously and works daily to make
affordable housing a reality in our community. Landscaping,
modernization and other initiatives are constantly ongoing to address
current deficiencies in our properties. Together, the JHA team is
working to make our properties a source of pride for our community.
You can help us achieve our goals. If you or someone you know is in
need of affordable housing, stop by our office on 327 Bay Acres Road
or call 427-2535 for additional information. We are here to serve our
community and to make it a better place for all of us to live, learn
and grow to be productive and responsible citizens.