2010 NAHRO AGENCY AWARD OF MERIT - Good Housekeeping Program

Charleston-Kanawha Housing received a $10,000 grant from the Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation to implement a Good Housekeeping program to educate residents on the importance of keeping a clean home. Residents residing in Charleston-Kanawha Housing properties with poor housekeeping inspection reports in danger of losing their assistance were given the option of participating in the Good Housekeeping program to correct these issues.  Through this program, residents received cleaning supplies and literature during one-on-one sessions with a housekeeping coach.

2010 NAHRO AGENCY AWARD OF MERIT - New Administration Building 

Charleston-Kanawha Housing Authority purchased and renovated vacant buildings located in the 1500 block of West Washington Street, creating an office facility and relocating staff from four separate locations into one central location.  The newly renovated facility is located on the city bus line and is fully handicap accessible.  In addition to centralizing services for nearly 12,000 clients that visit these offices each year, the agency is investing in an area of the city much in need of revitalization.  These two vacant structures had been an eyesore for a number of years and now stand out with a beautiful new façade.

2010 SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AWARD -  New Administration Building

Charleston-Kanawha Housing received a Sustainable Development Award from the Charleston Areal Alliance on February 9, 2010.  The award was presented to the housing authority for the renovations to two vacant buildings on West Washington Street that were transformed into functional office space. The new facility consolidated CKHA's staff from three locations into one, making it more efficient to serve the public.

MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT OF THE YEAR AWARD

Charleston-Kanawha Housing received the "Mixed Use Development of the Year Award" from the Mayor of the City of Charleston on October 5, 2009.  A proclamation by the Mayor was read during the City Council Meeting that stated:

     Whereas: The Charleston-Kanawha Housing Authority purchased several blighted buildings in the most depressed area of the West Side Main Street district for rehabilitation and redevelopment; and

     Whereas: New construction connects the two rehabilitated structures with a reception center for community functions; and

     Whereas: The Charleston-Kanawha Housing Authority brought together the functions of client services and administrative offices which were being carried out in three different and separate locations; and

     Whereas: The exterior rehabilitations and new construction were thoughtfully designed to appropriately mesh with the historical nature of the old neighborhood and utilized the consulting services provided by the West Side Main Street in developing the new look; and

     Whereas: The Charleston-Kanawha Housing Authority developed several apartments on the second floor of the client services building, making it multi-functional and mixed-use and providing 24-hour eyes on West Washington Street.

     Now, therefore, I, Danny Jones, Mayor of The City of Charleston, do hereby recognize that Charleston-Kanawha Housing Authority, recipient of the Mixed Use Development of the Year Award, is a valuable asset to the community and urge all citizens to commend the CKHA and its partners for investing in the future of the City of Charleston.

2003 NAHRO AGENCY AWARD OF MERIT - Charleston-Kanawha Housing HIGHLIGHTS

Charleston-Kanawha Housing designed a monthly newsletter for communicating staff activities to the Board of Commissioners called Housing Highlights. The newsletter provides the Commissioners and residents with a “snapshot” of activities taking place throughout the agency in an effort to address any criticism of staff not participating in their communities. Highlights is a visual tool that is easy to comprehend and provides Commissioners with a quick update on events taking place throughout the agency. Several Commissioners have commented that it is the first thing they read when they receive their monthly board packet

2002 NAHRO AGENCY AWARD OF MERIT - CREATIVE LANDSCAPING CHALLENGE

Charleston-Kanawha Housing has ten public housing developments, six family & four high-rise communities. These sites have very creative and talented residents and staff. In an effort to improve curb appeal at each site and get staff and residents working together, Charleston-Kanawha Housing challenged them with a Creative Landscaping competition. Give a short time frame to complete the project, staff at each development had to submit a list of materials using their own creativity as to the types of flowers, trees, shrubs, mulch, etc. Each site was judged and scored by two judges in the following categories: visibility/curb appeal; variety; creativity; neatness; and difficulty. The winning designs were recognized with engraved plaques to display in the resident council office.

2001 NAHRO AGENCY AWARD OF MERIT - SAVINGS FOR TOMORROW

Charleston-Kanawha Housing reduced utility bills 35% in 2001 by installing new energy efficient furnaces, boilers, water closets, faucets, and lighting. The more efficient fixtures were part of a $1.5 million upgrade of public housing that yielded $367,000 in utility savings providing the agency and its contractor with $197,000 after costs. The project will save Charleston-Kanawha Housing, and ultimately taxpayers more than $4.5 million in energy costs over the next ten years. This innovative financing program has provided resources for capital improvements that will increase the comfort of residents, reduce operating costs, improve the environment, and enhance the property values.

2001 NAHRO AGENCY AWARD OF MERIT - JARRETT TERRACE DESIGN PARTNERSHIP

Charleston-Kanawha Housing took an innovative approach to marketing the vacant, hard to rent, efficiency apartments available at the elderly high-rise buildings. Through a partnership with the University of Charleston’s Interior Design Department, students from this curriculum were given a two-fold mission for a class project. They were to demonstrate creative use of the space available in studio style apartments while getting real-life experience. Students created two model apartments at Jarrett Terrace to show prospective tenants creative ways to utilize space. By seeing creative use of the small apartment space, tenants were attracted to rent them.

2000 NAHRO AGENCY AWARD OF MERIT - ELECTRIC! SATURDAYS

Electric Saturdays is a program that combines body, mind and soul initiatives. Youth enter through a gateway activity according to their age group. They can attend one or more intermediate programs: Ju Jitsu, Boxing or Gymnastics.

2000 NAHRO AGENCY AWARD OF MERIT - REDESIGNING FOR TODAY’S MARKET

Redesigning for today’s market was a pilot project to convert an entire floor of the Carroll Terrace high-rise from efficiency apartments that were difficult to rent into spacious one-bedroom market quality apartments to meet a need for this type of affordable rental property.

2000 NAHRO AGENCY AWARD OF MERIT - A PRO FOR KIDS

A Pro for Kids was an innovative program that helped youth develop skills toward their athletic goals and encouraged them to excel in academics. A former pro-football player conducted the camps and brought in positive role models from college and professional sports teams to work with youth and encourage them to set goals in order to reach their athletic and educational dreams.

1999 NAHRO AGENCY AWARD OF MERIT - FUTURE DOORS COMMITTEE

Charleston-Kanawha Housing staff and resident leaders formed the Future Doors Committee to give residents more direct input on issues in their particular areas of interest. Future Doors is made up of Interest Committees in five areas: security, facilities, management, program operations, and leased housing. This committee creates a continuous link between board, staff and residents - a continuous circle of information. These committees meet monthly to report on new projects and results. The Interest Committees meet quarterly and report to the whole Future Doors Committee and a consolidated report is given to the Board of Commissioners by the Future Doors President.

1998 NAHRO AGENCY AWARD OF MERIT - SENIOR CITIZENS MINI PARKS

Senior Citizens need to be encouraged to maintain a healthy lifestyle through exercise. They need a sturdy, level are for walking to reduce the risk of falling and a secure area to increase their level of security. In order to get senior citizens out of their apartments, there must be a secure, well-lit area with plenty of seating as well as a visually appealing environment. The Senior Citizens Mini Parks at Lee and Jarrett Terrace have created such an area where residents picnic, socialize, and exercise on the loop sidewalks. The mini parks are well lit with fountains that feature night lighting, brick planters with seating around the perimeter and gazebos with electrical outlets and picnic tables.

1997 NAHRO AGENCY AWARD OF MERIT - NEIGHBORHOOD FENCING CONTROL

Unwanted visitors passing through Charleston-Kanawha Housing properties included drug dealers, those who loitered in a menacing manner and those who vandalized personal and Authority property. Police reported that their efforts to disperse or apprehend offenders were hindered by the many directions they were able to flee. Fencing was installed at Orchard Manor and three elderly high-rise developments. The purpose of fencing at Orchard Manor is to funnel all pedestrian traffic through a single entrance with video surveillance. The design prohibits loitering and “fence sitting.” This program has assisted the police in the investigations of crime in the development by compelling all to pass through a videoed area where crime can be monitored. Fencing at the elderly high-rise developments produces an immediate decrease in negative activity.

1996 NAHRO AGENCY AWARD OF MERIT - CHANDLER SCHOOL THIRD BASE PROGRAM

Chandler Elementary School is the site of a cooperative after school program for K-6 children. This is an intensive, academically oriented program which integrates the work of the classroom with an after school program on-site. Staff for this program includes two of the school’s teachers and two aides. There is homework assistance that is coordinated with each child’s classroom situation. The program also includes computer-aided learning experiences, field trips, afternoon snacks, and recreation. All the interaction takes place in the secure environment of the school setting. Parents are supportive and children find the program attractive as evidenced by the 100% increase in attendance over the previous program participation. There is an average attendance of 35 children with surges to fifty and sixty.

1996 NAHRO AGENCY AWARD OF MERIT - ORANGE HAT RESIDENT PATROL

Loitering that appeared to be drug-related plagued the family developments in Charleston-Kanawha Housing. Residents were fearful of taking a direct role in patrolling their neighborhood until “Orange Hat Patrol” training was provided through a HUD Technical Assistance Grant. This is a non-confrontational model of volunteer resident patrolling. The theory of the model is that residents avoid confrontation and even greet the loiterers and drug dealers. Residents in Washington Manor don their orange caps weekly and have had an impact on safety, drug sales, and the livability of families and elderly living in the 304 units. This program is resident driven and occasionally management or police patrol with the residents.

1995 NAHRO AGENCY AWARD OF MERIT - WASHINGTON MANOR FAMILY LITERACY PROGRAM

The Washington Manor Family Literacy Program is designed to meet the multiple education and enrichment needs of development residents. This program offers basic literacy and educational classes leading to completion of the GED test and other life goals. A certified Adult Basic Education Instructor teaches the program, three hours a day, three days a week. In addition to Adult Basic Education, computer-assisted instruction is provided to enhance skills, and prepare participants for employment, further training and family and parenting roles. Since the program began in 1993, thirteen residents have participated.

1993 NAHRO AGENCY AWARD OF MERIT - CONGREGATE CARE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM

The congregate Care Management Program is a program of “In-Home Services Down the Hall” for the very frail and disabled residents of Carroll Terrace. Run by Charleston-Kanawha Housing, it was developed to assist management to respond to the elderly and disabled who were experiencing increased problems with performing the normal activities of daily living but did not wish to live with relatives or be institutionalized. Essential to the program is the monitoring of medication, daily visits and exercise and meals.

1993 NAHRO AGENCY AWARD OF MERIT - K THROUGH 6 AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM

The K Through 6 After-School Program is the centerpiece of activity of the Charleston-Kanawha Housing Drug and Crime Elimination Program. Supervised recreational and educational activities with an anti-drug stance were needed to nurture and support healthy development and growth among the young children. Youth Activity Centers were established in six family developments to accomplish this purpose. Five days a week nearly 127 youth are involved in positive activities at the six