Hello, Franklin Redevelopment and Housing Authority residents and neighbors. Welcome to our first edition of the FRHA Corner — “news you can use.”

This monthly column, which will appear in the regular newspaper under a ‘FRHA Corner’ header from now on, will be used to regularly highlight important information we want to share with the community and residents. We hope you’ll find it interesting. We are looking for ideas and information residents may want to share with others in the community.

Department News

Housing Services would like to congratulate Trashawn Novell a resident of Berkley Courts who was hired through the FRHA Section 3 program as our Receptionist. She is a great addition to our team, and we are thankful for her.

Just a friendly reminder: Rents are due on the first day of every month. All rent not received by the close of business on the fifth day of the month will be accessed a late fee. This procedure is mandated per FRHA Administration and Continued Occupancy Policy. Housing services would like you to know that FRHA contracts security seven nights a week.

Security officers with Hampton Roads Security Corporation patrol through each development during their shift. Security is empowered to ban any person(s) to include guest who violate FRHA lease or Administration and Continued Occupancy Policy. Hampton Roads Security works closely with the Franklin City Police Department.

We would like to invite everyone to check out the bright new sign at Pretlow Gardens, one of the many changes planned for our sites.

There will be a new trash collection schedule that will be implemented at the sites to accommodate the heavily used Dumpsters.

The schedule will be Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

In somber news, the Housing Authority, along with the Public Housing Department, would like to send out our heartfelt condolences to the family of Mattie Garris, one of our senior residents who recently passed away.

Housing Choice Voucher Department (Section 8) would like to inform all of our residents and the community that there has been a change in command. Kisha. Saunders has accepted the position as Director of Housing Services and Ashanti Banks is the new HCV Manager. She will be the point of contact for HCV-related information. Currently, the HCV department is working on developing a Section 8 Homeownership Program that would allow a person to use their voucher toward their mortgage payment.

Resident Services is headed up by Gwen Blue, and she has many exciting and wonderful events and opportunities available for interested residents and community members wanting to make a difference and help build up our ever-changing community. A volunteer is priceless but the impact they have is timeless. To contact Gwen Blue call 569-7940 or stop by her office at 702 Cameron St.

We have a new cost-effective way to communicate with persons with hearing or speech disabilities that is free and does not require machines on either end.

This new number — “711” — allows the caller to immediately be patched to a relay system, and then the relay operator will assist you in communicating with us at the Housing Authority. FRHA switched to this number on Thursday.

Classes/ Meeting

A Making Right Choices class will be held each Tuesday from 5-7 p.m. at 702 Cameron St.

Resident Council meetings are held at 5 p.m. the second Tuesday of every month at 601 Banks St.

Want to submit an idea for this column? Just call Tina Jolley, FRHA Corner Editor at 562-0384. She will be happy to talk to you.