NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS LDCHA RESIDENT SERVICES

J A N U A R Y / F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 6 Winter is here! Some of us dread it, and others love the beautiful change of seasons. Either way, the best thing to do during a winter storm warning is to stay home if pos-sible. If you must leave the house extra precaution must be used. This is especially true when driving. It is always good to have a winter emergency kit in your car. This kit should include: a windshield scraper, flashlight, water, snacks/energy bars, cell phone adapter to plug into lighter, flares or fluorescent flag, blanket, tow rope, matches/small candles and a first aid kit. You also want to have your medications. You also want to keep your car winter ready. Keep the tank at least half full, keep your kit inside the passenger compartment and let friends know your estimated time of arrival if traveling. If you do not drive and need to walk or catch the bus, here are things to consider for your safety. The Snow and Ice Management Association advise to follow these three golden rules: Always wear proper footwear, don’t jump or slide and stop and scan for hazards. Give yourself extra time and be alert. Walk carefully, being cautious when you shift your weight, step off the curb or enter a car. Be cautious when walking un-der eves or awnings, watching for falling objects such as icicles. Be careful upon en-tering a building during inclement weather because floors can be wet and slick Another safety issue in the winter can be fire safety. In 2013, it was reported that there were 2200 deaths caused by fires in the US. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), half of home fire deaths are between the hours of 11:00 pm and 7:00 am. Always maintain smoke detectors by replacing batteries and testing. NFPA recommends that there be one in every bedroom, outside bedrooms and on every level of your home. If you are concerned, speak with your landlord or local fire house as to recommendations. They may also give recommendations on using a carbon monoxide detector. During a power outage, always use flashlights in-stead of candles. Never use the oven or other heat source to heat your home if the furnace is not running. If you have a generator and plan to use it, run the generator outside of your home to avoid harmful exhaust. Of course, always dress properly for our great Kansas weather. Dress in layers, with extremities covered to prevent heat from escaping the body. Check children for wet gloves and socks as they run in and out to prevent frost bite. Limit exposure if the temperatures are bitter cold. And don’t forget...enjoy and relax, it will be over soon.

Employment pg. 2

Homeownership pg. 3

Current Calendar pg. 4-5

Youth Program pg. 6

Early Childhood pg. 7

Special Events pg. 8

IN THIS EDITION

2 NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS • JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2016

EMPLOYMENT PROGRAMS

Upcoming Employment Workshop: Job Interviewing 101

To be held Wednesday, January 27, 2016 10:00 – 11:00 a.m.

Join Steven to learn about what different businesses and industries want

in an applicant and what skills you need to interview successfully. Steven will cover how you can best present your skills in an articulate manner,

what types of things to avoid doing in an interview, and he will conduct actual mock interviews during the second half of the workshop. Sign up

by calling Steven at 842-1533.

Interested in learning the Microsoft Office Suite and Quickbooks to

prepare for an office job? We have tools to help with that!

Resident Services offers computer training software on all the programs

in the Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher, Access) as well as Quickbooks. This software will help you pass any computer

tutorials the local temporary agencies will throw at you. Call Steven to learn more about how to use this software to get a better paying job!

Steven Mutz Employment Specialist

Resident Services Office 1600 Haskell Ave. #187 Lawrence, KS 66044 (785)842-1533 smutz@ldcha.org

Need to work this week? Contact the local temporary agencies!

(785) 842-1515 (785) 749-7550 (785) 749-2800 (785) 842-6200

Spring Semester Starts Soon!

Where do you see yourself in three years? Is that where you want to be?

If not, call Steven and ask him about classes that start soon at JCCC,

KU, Haskell, and Neosho CC. Classes are held online and right here in Lawrence! School is cheaper and easier than you think and you can

finish in three years. Three years is not long—three years ago, Obama ran for re-election and the Royals were still losers. Call Steven ASAP!

NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS 3

Self Sufficiency / HOMEOWNERSHIP

The Car Repair Program will be available starting January 4, 2016. The goal of this program is to reduce a barrier to employment/school for residents by providing financial assistance for vehicle repair. There will be a maximum of $500 available for each household in a lifetime. An application must be completed within 30 days from original submission to have funding guaranteed. Contact Ashley Woolsey for more information and to apply. 785-842-1533 ext. 2216 awoolsey@ldcha.org For clients to utilize this program, they must: be in the MTW Rent Structure be employed, actively seeking employment through the Resident Services Office or be in at-

tendance at a post-secondary school have current tags, insurance and driver’s license

I want to congratulate the 10, yes TEN!!, families on their home purchases in 2015. There were purchases in 5 cities: Lawrence, Eudora, Baldwin City, Berryton and Tonganoxie. Every family that purchased a home also saved their money to receive the matching grant savings fund. In 2015, the Homeownership Program gave over $26,000 in matching grant checks!

Seasonal Utility Assistance Information

The Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP) is a federally funded program that helps eligible households pay a portion of their home energy costs by providing a one-time per year benefit. The 2016 application period is from Tuesday, January 19, 2016 through Thursday, March 31, 2016. Applications must be received prior to 5:00PM on Thursday, March 31. Feel free to use the Resident Services Office computer lab, #187, to fill out the online application. Please contact Ashley Woolsey (MTW) or Laurie Hooker (elderly/disabled) for assistance. Resident Services Office 1600 Haskell Ave. #187 785-842-1533 Additional information may be obtained by calling 1-800-432-0043, 1-913-279-7000 or KSLIEAP@dcf.kc.gov

Warm Hearts will begin on Monday, January 11, 2016. It is for natural gas primarily, but some exceptions are made.

Agencies involved are: Penn House 785-842-0440 Salvation Army 785-843-4188 ECKAN 785-841-3357

Please contact these agencies for more information.

Thursday, January 21, 2016 Taxes 101: Do It Yourself 6:00 PM — 7:30 PM Huppee Community Facility (#149) Presented by Paul Baker

Thursday, February 18, 2016 Predatory Lending & ID Theft 6:00 PM — 7:30 PM Huppee Community Facility (#149) Presented by Ashley Woolsey

Ashley Woolsey Self Sufficiency Specialist & Homeownership Facilitator

Resident Services Office 1600 Haskell Ave. #187 Lawrence, KS 66044 (785)842-1533 awoolsey@ldcha.org

UPCOMING HOMEOWNERSHIP PROGRAM WORKSHOPS

4 NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS • JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2016

January 2016 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1

RSO Closed

2

3 4

Car Repair Program Available

5

6 7

8

RSO Closed

9

10 11

Warm Hearts starts

12 13 14

15

RSO Closed

16

17 18

RSO Closed

19

LIEAP Applications starts

MLK Chili Feed @ New

York Elementary 5-7pm

20 21

6:00-7:30 p.m. (HCF)

Homeownership

Workshop:

Taxes 101: Do It Yourself

22

RSO Closed

23

24 25 26 27

10:00-11:00 a.m. (RSO)

Job Interviewing 101

Workshop

28 29

RSO Closed

30

31

Martin Luther King Jr. Day

NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS 5

January 2016 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1

RSO Closed

2

3 4

Car Repair Program Available

5

6 7

8

RSO Closed

9

10 11

Warm Hearts starts

12 13 14

15

RSO Closed

16

17 18

RSO Closed

19

LIEAP Applications starts

MLK Chili Feed @ New

York Elementary 5-7pm

20 21

6:00-7:30 p.m. (HCF)

Homeownership

Workshop:

Taxes 101: Do It Yourself

22

RSO Closed

23

24 25 26 27

10:00-11:00 a.m. (RSO)

Job Interviewing 101

Workshop

28 29

RSO Closed

30

31

New Years Day

6 NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS • JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2016

Tutoring Available

When: Monday—Thursday

Time: 3:00—6:00

Who: Youth ages 7-17

Both small group and individual tutoring sessions are available. Please call or

email Chris (842-1533 / clempa@ldcha.org) for more information.

Get Active with ZOMBIE Club!

Youth participating in the Full Circle Youth Program can join the ZOMBIE Club and earn prizes for being active. Each month in 2016 all active

members of the ZOMBIE Club will be invited to celebrate with food and

activities. To participate, youth need to be active 60 minutes a day and

three days a week, complete 20 laps on the ZOMBIE Trail or participate in

a physical extracurricular activity.

For more information, contact

Chris Lempa at 842-1533 or clempa@ldcha.org.

FULL CIRCLE YOUTH PROGRAM

The Full Circle Youth Program will be partnering with Lawrence

Unchained to host a Bike Rodeo on Tuesday, March 15th.

Participating youth will earn their own bicycle, helmet, lock and

lights by completing a safety course provided by League of

American Bicyclist Certified Instructors and Full Circle staff. We will

also be taking practice rides either around the Edgewood neighborhood or to

Central Middle School depending on the age of the youth. Lunch will be

provided at the Huppee Community Facility and parents are invited to attend

and share in what their youth has learned!

Tuesday, March 15th at Huppee Community Facility, #150

To reserve your spot, contact Chris Lempa at 842-1533 or clempa@ldcha.org

7 NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS • JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2016

Little ZOMBIEs story time is back! Join us Tuesdays in

February from 11am-12pm for story time, activities and lunch with Connie from K-State! Lesa West will provide sensory and developmental activities and lunch will be

provided for children and parents/guardians. Children ages 0-5 are welcome! For more information or to RSVP, contact Mary Orem at 785-842-1533 or morem@ldcha.org.

Tuesdays, February 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd 11am-12pm

Huppee Community Facility, #150

What To Do When Your Child Gets Sick

This must have resource guide covers the management of more than 50 common childhood illnesses, injuries and health problems. Written in easy-to-read language. Most useful for children from birth to 8 years of age. Also available in Spanish.

For each condition, the following questions are answered: What is it? What do I see? What can I do at home? When do I call the doctor or nurse? What else should I know about it?

Available for free from the Early Childhood Welcome Wagon.

Contact Mary Orem at 785-842-1533 or morem@ldcha.org.

EARLY CHILDHOOD

Needing diapers? Can’t make it to the store?

Emergency diapers are available at the Resident Services Office! Contact Early Childhood and Youth Specialist, Mary Orem, at 842-1533, morem@ldcha.org or stop by the Resident Services Office, #187!!

LDCHA Resident Services 1600 Haskell Ave. #187 Lawrence, KS 66044 Phone: (785) 842-1533 Fax: (785) 841-8541 We’re on the web! www.ldcha.org

Volunteer Income Tax Assistance

The VITA program prepares tax returns for taxpayers with an income level of

$53,000 or below. VITA volunteers will be available on a first come first serve

basis at various locations through Lawrence. They will be at the Resident

Services Office on Thursdays from 5:00 –6:30 pm beginning February 18th. A

full schedule will be available February 1st.

For more information, please contact the Resident Services Office.

What: Volunteer Income Tax Assistance

When: Thursdays from 5:00-6:30 pm from February 18th—April 14th

Where: Resident Services Office, #187