THIS is Columbia Housing Vol. 6 - 2023
THIS is Columbia Housing
Catch up on the latest from Columbia Housing: Volume 2023 - 6
Resident Success Story: Isha Joyner
"I try to take advantage of all the training classes and other resources Columbia Housing brings our way. I want my children to see me setting and reaching my goals." - Isha Joyner
Isha Joyner is both a resident and an employee at Columbia Housing. She and her family live in the Arsenal Hill housing community. Isha also works as a Community Liaison Officer with the Columbia Housing Security Team. "I just love my job and my co-workers. I get to work with the public, help solve people's problems, and help keep my community safe."
As a mother, Isha lights up when she talks about her children - 4-year-old Nasir and 19-year-old Keilon. "I am so proud of each of them. Nasir loves using his imagination & creativity to tell stories. Keilon is aa hard-working young man. he works for Amazon in Texas where he lives with his dad. I couldn't be prouder to be their mother."
Columbia Housing is proud to salute Isha Joyner for her contributions and accomplishments as BOTH a resident and as an employee.
Today is your opportunity to build the tomorrow you want.
#THISisColumbiaHousing
#HousersAtWork
#EmpoweredResidents
#DedicatedStaff
Oaks at St. Anna's Park - UPDATE!
Contractors are making steady progress with the construction of our new development - Oaks at St. Anna's Park. Developers recently gave a guided tour to Board Chairman Ernest Cromartie III; Commissioners James Chatfield & George Green; as well as CEO Yvonda Bean and COO Barry Hall.
On August 2, 2023, the first applications for the new units at the site were taken from former residents of the Gonzalez Gardens community at the time the demolition was approved. The first units will be ready for occupancy in October with another wave of units being ready by the end of this year.
Additional openings for the newly redeveloped property will be taken soon and advertised on CH's website and social media platforms. Former Gonzalez Gardens residents (as of 12/15/2015) are not guaranteed a right to return but will receive a preference to go to the top of the waitlist when they apply. All applicants must meet background, income, and familial requirements to qualify for residency.
"We are thrilled to bring this new community to the people we serve," said CEO Yvonda Bean, "these homes are a major step in our repositioning and redevelopment strategy and represent the level of quality we will be able to offer our residents going forward."
The Oaks at St. Anna's Park will also feature a senior-only facility, market-rate townhomes, and Pickleball courts for everyone to enjoy. All construction on the site should be complete in 2024.
National Senior Citizen's Day at Columbia Housing
Aetna | The Power of Partnerships - We are better together
Monday, August 21, 2023, was National Senior Citizen's Day and CH Seniors were invited to a special Chicken & Waffles luncheon sponsored by Christopher Smith and Aetna. After the meal, everyone got to enjoy a few games of BINGO, and competition was fierce, those folks came to WIN!
CEO Yvonda Bean said, "We are extremely grateful for community partners that bring events to our residents. The seniors that participated n National Senior Citizen's Day truly enjoyed the chance to fellowship with their neighbors, meet new people, and take part in the day's acticvitis. Thank you to the residents that participated and for allowing us to celebrate you!"
Special thanks to CH team members Shonda Jordan and Gay Ferguson for all your hard work to coordinate the event!
#NationalSeniorsDay
#PowerofPartnerships
#EmpoweredResidents
New Chief Operating Officer Barry Hall Joins Columbia Housing
Barry Hall, Columbia Housing new Chief Operating Office, joined the agency earlier this summer and immediately immersed himself in the agency's day-to-day operations.
Before coming to Columbia, Hall served as executive director of two smaller agencies: Hall County Housing Authority in Grand Island, Nebraska, and Hastings Housing Authority in Hastings, Nebraska.
"Barry Hall is a welcome addition to our team," says CEO Yvonda Bean. "He has solid executive-level experience and I am excited to have his oversight in our day-to-day operations."
#HousersAtWork
#THISisColumbiaHousing
Congratulations to the 2023 Summer Youth Employment Program Participants!
Columbia Housing is wishing its 2023 Class of Summer Youth Employment Program a great and productive school year! The talent in this class is abundant. We are expecting future success for each of them. In this class, there are future engineers, business owners, a forensic scientist, health care professionals, and even an aspiring lawyer.
Please join CEO Yvonda Bean in Thanking the awesome staff of the Resident and Family Services Department for coordinating memorable work experiences for the youth!
Program Participants and Assigned Departments
- Emanee Carson - Housing Choice Voucher
- Reonna Dungee - Property Management
- Breanna Durham - Human Resources
- Davone Hall - CH Cares
- Samoria Harley - Resident & Strategic Initiatives
- Asia Hayes - Housing Choice Voucher
- Zayden Hickman - Maintenance
- Wendell Holmes - Maintenance
- La'Vell Hopkins - Maintenance
- Michael Hopkins - IT
- DeShawn Isaiah - Maintenance
- DeAsia Jacobs - Executive Administration
- Antoinette Jeter - Maintenance
- Adreanne Jones - Finance
- Azyni Kirkland - Property Management
- Cameron McCormick - Community Safety
- Key'iara Mobley - Property Management
- RaShawn Scott - Fleet Management
- Zanobia Richardson - Property Management
- Makayla Thompson - Capital Assets
National Night Out Celebration - CH Style!
The Power of Partnerships | We are stronger together!
Columbia Housing celebrated the 40th Annual National Night Out event with its own neighborhood gathering on Tuesday, August 1, 2023, at the Resident & Family Services Building.
Community Safety Manager Damian White worked with community leaders to bring resources and entertainment to the Celia Saxon neighborhood and residents of Columbia Housing. The event began with a parade down Walker Solomon Way featuring local law enforcement, care clubs, the live remote van from HOT 103.9, and CH vehicles. Participants then had the opportunity meet new CH Chief Operating Officer (COO) Barry Hall, enjoy hotdogs and hamburgers hot off the grill, and browse information and resources from community partners.
National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie to make our neighborhoods safer, more caring places to live. National Night Out enhances the relationship between neighbors and law enforcement while bringing back a true sense of community.
August Advocacy
Advocacy is how we enact social change.
When we raise our collective voices, policymakers hear us.
During the month of August, the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO) encourages public housing authorities and their partners to advocate on behalf of affordable housing issues by participating in a letter-writing campaign that contacts the sender's elected officials in Washington, DC for them.
CEO Yvonda Bean is passionate about advocacy for affordable housing and also chairs Legislative Committee of the Southeastern Regional Council of NAHRO and said this about the importance of advocacy work, "We have a HUGE housing crisis in America. The need for housing that is affordable is greatly outpacing the supply. If something isn't done to address it - it will only get worse."
August Advocacy Month gives all of us an opportunity to use our voices to advocate for more affordable housing resources.
Kayana Davis is a mother of 4 and she wishes there were more housing options that match they money that she and others in her circle make.
That's why she wanted to participate in August Advocacy Month for affordable housing. Kayana liked the idea of writing to her representatives in Congress to ask them to support upcoming legislation that includes more resources for affordable housing. "I have a nice place, but I know so many others who don't Hopefully, this can help."
"I see how hard my Mom works to make sure we have a good home. I want everyone to have that. That's why I'm advocating for more housing for the people who need it most," says 17-year-old DeAsia Jacob.
Columbia Housing CEO Yvonda Bean is proud of DeAsia and other youth advocates she is recruiting and training. At her recent youth advocacy workshop- bean was moved by how eager the youth advocates are to make a difference. "Our youth advocates feel so empowered to have their voices heard. They are especially eager to engage and encourage their elected officials to support more affordable housing."
The goal is to bring even more advocates like 17-year-old DeAsia to the table to reach out to policymakers. "We all must be active participants on issues that impact our daily lives," concluded Yvonda Bean.
CH began its Advocacy Campaign in June of this year.
Canzater Memorial Golf Classic Supports Local Students
Congratulations to the 200-plus Scholarship Recipients from them James E. Clyburn Research & Scholarship Foundation!
During Classic Weekend Congressman James E. Clyburn brings in golfers from around the country with the Rudolph Canzater memorial Golf Classic. the monies raised support the Congressman's scholarship effort. Scholars receive a base award of $3K each and a laptop computer. Their corresponding Colleges/Universities provide a minimum 2-to-1 match.
Thank you to the James E. Clyburn Research & Scholarship Foundation for your ongoing support of young people and education! We also appreciate the Columbia Housing Board of Commissioners for participating in the tournament! Thanks to Chairman Ernest Cromartie, III, Commissioner James Chatfield, Commissioner George Green, and Commissioner Kevin Werner for representing CH!
