750 Pearl Nix Parkway, Gainesville, GA 30501 770-536-1294 www.gainesvillehousing.org

Summer 2019

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Mural completed at Melrose Apartments

ABOVE: Led by Jananne Waller (back, left), and assisted by Davion Moseley (at right, in green shirt) the ‘Melrose Mural Squad’ developed the mural idea.

The traffic barrier wall at Melrose Apartments morphed from grungy to beautiful: credit this beautification to a dozen public housing kids. These kids, ages 7 and up, have created colorful, uplifting imagery on the inside wall. Additionally, the city of Gainesville created a graphic mural on the entire traffic-facing side of the wall. So, inside and out, the wall is looking fanatstic. The children who designed and painted it – the “Melrose Mural Squad” (at right) met local artists, teachers and other volunteers during the project, which be-gan last fall. Some have already set their sights on a career in art or design. This mural is based upon the idea of a bee honeycomb with each compartment representing different aspects of commu-nity life at Melrose. Artist/teacher Jananne Waller helped the kids create the concept and craft it into the final design. She also led the painting effort, which took a Sat-urday and several evenings. The mural joins UNG art students and GHA kids mural, painted in 2017. Thanks to the Melrose Mural Team for a job well planned and well done!

UPDATE! renovation plans Melrose, Mill, Butler Apts. (Athens St.), Summit, Rainey and Tower Heights, on the next page...

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GHA Residents: Need daycare for your kids? Located at GHA’s Tower Heights Community Center, Little Steps Community Daycare provides free, temporary child care for families that are in transitional situations. Families are provided with free, quality child care, for up to 10 weeks, as they search for employment, apply for government childcare benefits, save mon-ey, and find permanent, affordable, childcare for their children. Lit-tle Steps Community Daycare is open Monday thru Friday, 6:30am until 6:00pm and accepts children ages 6 weeks to 5 years. To be eligible and stay eligible for Little Steps Community Daycare, parents are expected to be under the continued guid-ance of a caseworker. Residents of GHA are expected to remain in contact with the daycare coordinator, as well as, their caseworker, Maria Calkins, GHA Resident Services Coordinator, for the time that they are being assisted. When becoming eligible for Little Steps, parents will be provided with a food box, bi-weekly, as well as, diapers provided by the Diaper Bank of North Georgia. Avail-ability is limited.

For more information, contact the daycare co-ordinator, Danielle Latlippe, at (770) 535-0786 ext 209, or Maria Calkins, Gainesville Housing Authority, 404-358-3558 (call or text).

Parents are provided with a food box (bi-weekly), as well as diapers.

Come into the GHA office and sign up for e-notifications today! FREE!

Get text appointment

reminders and other important info!

NEW! Free! Get E-notifictions!

200 GHA apartments will be renovated – including units include Melrose, Rainey, Summit, Collins, Mill and Butler.

Renovations will begin mid October at Melrose. Renovations will include installation of:• Air conditioning• Plumbing• Flooring, kitchens• BathroomsAdditional upgrades will be included throughtout.Melrose will also be getting a new Community Center and Laundry Facility. Stay tuned for more information. Resident meetings will be scheduled in small groups over the next several months.

Renovation update

Meet some of our Staff and Board

Mike TerregrosaMaintenance Mechanic

Myrtle FiguerasGHA Board Commissioner

Alfredo EscadedoMaintenance Mechanic

Get text appointment

reminders and other important info!

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Mentors coach reading skills with GHA kids

Since February, Gainesville High School’s new Red Reader program has partnered with Melrose’s Boys and Girls Club for reading and friendship! Camille Calkin (in photo at bottom of page) a GHS junior, started the program after volunteering at Melrose and talking with staff there about how high school students could become more involved with the afterschool program at the community center. Both BGC and Gainesville Housing Authori-ty identified reading one-on-one with children as a need, but they required more people to help make this happen. Since many GHS clubs require their members to complete community service hours, Calkins reached out and recruited volunteers for Melrose. On three days a week during the school year, 3-5 teenagers visit with our Melrose students, kin-dergarten through 5th grade, taking time to work on reading skills – and forming new friendships. Calkins says that her peers enjoy the volun-teer work because, “they realize that even though it’s only 30 minutes, this amount of time reading one-one with a child each day makes a difference in their reading skills and gives them confidence.” Mason Borders, Melrose Site Coordinator for BGC, says, “It started out with a few kids reading with the Red Readers, but now everyone reads for 30 minutes three days a week – and the GHS students make it fun. Our kids look forward to the high school students being there and are always asking who’s coming to see them each day. It’s been a great success and has helped Boys and Girls Club reach its goal of providing more reading support and resources for Melrose students.”

Red Readers scheduleThe Red Readers group follows the academic school calendar. There are no summer sessions, but the group will resume when school begins in the fall and continue through the year.

For more info on teen reading mentors, contact us at:During the summer, please contact Maria Calkins, GHA Resident Services Coordinator, 404-358-3558.

“Now every-one reads for 30 minutes, three days a

week”Mason Borders,

Boys & Girls Club

All programs are free to residents

VOLUNTEER EXTRADIONAIRE>>Camille Calkins (at right) founder of the Red Readers progarm, works on other projects for GHA. In the photo at right, Camille helps Melrose Apartments kids paint a 60-foot mural that they de-signed. The mural was completed in May 2019.Thanks to Camille for her leadership and heart for our kids!

Gainesville High School’s ‘Red Readers’ partner with Boys and Girls Club at Melrose

BedbugsIf you see one of these bugs, call us immediately at 770-536-1295 for free treatment and eradication.

www.gainesvillehousing.org

Calling in for RepairsAll work orders must be called in at 770 536-1295. Non-emergency work orders will be completed within 5 days. Emergency work orders will be completed within 24 hours.

GHA Summer Office Hours

The Pearl Nix Parkway main office at Melrose Apartments is open:MONDAY (Lunes): 8am-5pm; closed 1pm-2pm for lunchTUESDAY (Martes): 8am-5pm, closed 1pm-2pm for lunchWEDNESDAY (Miercoles) : 8am until 12 noonTHURSDAY (Jueves): 8am-5pm; closed 1pm-2pm for lunch• Harrison Square OfficeOpen by appointment only. Closed Fridays.

Site inspectionsWe visit our campus for random site inspections during the week – and on weekends.Remember, parking on the grass is not allowed, and neither is the installation of tents, or leaving trash in yards. Fines will be applied for all lease violations and rent will not be accepted until fines are paid. Lease terminations are final.

Avoid these common fines:• Parking on grass, other non-designated areas: $80• Tent on installed on grass: $80• Trash/Junk left in yard: $50For more information or if you have questions, please contact your property manager.

If you smell gas, call the gas company immediately!Please call 1-855-216-6306 before you call the GainesvilleHousing Authority regarding gas.

Very important resident reminders

No smoking!Smoking can lead to eviction• No smoking in apartments, on porches or within 25 feet of any GHA buildingIf you or your guest are observed smoking at your apart-ment, you will be warned. Repeated warnings can lead to eviction, so please observe our smoking policy to avoid eviction. For more information or if you have questions, please contact your property manager.

Pet permit?

Please update your pet info at the office and get your 2019 pet per-mit to display at your apartment. Having a pet without a current permit is a lease violation.

$50 Fine for

trash in yard!!

Smoking can get

you evicted from

your apartment!

Bedbugs bite!

Watch for GHA lettersPlease watch for important letters coming to you this summer. With upcoming inspections, pest control treat-ments and property renovations, it is vital that you work with inspectors, construction folks and others to stay on schedule as we coordinate numerous events. Please do your part and read and review letters as you receive them. For more information or if you have questions, please contact your property manager.