Barry Farm: Updates

Ward 8 Works Criminal Background Session Recap

On October 13th NCI and our Ward 8 Works partners sponsored an information session on “Overcoming Criminal Background Challenges” to jobs in construction.  Participants heard from the following:

Did you know there is no record expungement in the District, only record sealing?  Did you know that, because of DC’s “Ban the Box” law employers cannot ask you about your criminal background until after they have made you a conditional offer of employment?  Did you know that the Mayor’s Office on Returning Citizen Affairs works with returning citizens not just on jobs, but housing and other issues, and you don’t have to be a recent returnee?

The panel discussed all of these and more during the session, and they have great resources to offer DC residents who think their arrest, charge and/or conviction record is a barrier to successful employment.  Check out some of the materials from the October 13th session, and use them or the links above to contact our partners.

Agenda | Ban the Box Overview | PDSDC Prisoner & Reentry Legal Services |

 

DMPED Presents on Subsidy Needs for NCI

On June 28th DMPED presented to the DCHA Board of Commissioners about the subsidies – both capital and operating – needed to support NCI’s development pipeline.  In 2015, NCI began working to project its full pipeline – all of the onsite and offsite development needed to complete the NCI neighborhoods adhering as closely as possible to the four core NCI principles – along with timeline and cost projections.  A 2014 policy report recommended that NCI do this work, which had not been done to date.  Specifically, the report recommended exploring using different operating subsidies instead of ACC (Annual Contributions Contract), the typical public housing subsidy.  DMPED’s presentation to the board provides an overview of the work done to date to fully project NCI’s pipeline, and the impact to the project of using Project-Based Vouchers rather than ACC.  The presentation can be viewed HERE.

Barry Farm Resident Design Workshop

On June 20th residents of Barry Farm participated in a planning and design workshop facilitated by DMPED, DCHA, and members of the master development team. Residents provided feedback on a number of elements, including the development site plan, green space, amenities, housing units, floor plan layouts, and design features. The meeting presentation can be viewed HERE.

New Communities: Right to Return

CLARIFYING RIGHT TO RETURN TO NCI DEVELOPMENTS

In March 2016 the DC Housing Authority Board passed Resolution 16-06 to set a relocation and right to return policy for properties redeveloped under NCI.  The policy sought to clarify questions about who has a right to return, and establish guidance ensuring that residents who are eligible to live in public housing will also be eligible for units in the new developments without additional barriers to entry.

WHO HAS A RIGHT TO RETURN?

  • You have a have right to return to a new NCI unit:
    • At Barry Farm if you lived at Barry Farm at any time on or after October 12, 2012.
    • At Park Morton if you lived at Park Morton at any time on or after November 1, 2014.
    • At Northwest One if you lived at Temple Courts or Golden Rule when they were demolished.
    • (The right to return date has yet to be determined for Lincoln Heights/Richardson Dwellings since the master developer has not been selected and no portion of the onsite has been demolished.)
  • You have a right to return to a unit that fits your family size, which will be determined by who is on your lease at the time of return.
  • Residents and other community stakeholders will decide through community processes in each neighborhood which households will be offered units first, second, and so on in the new developments.

HOW LONG DOES YOUR RIGHT TO RETURN LAST?

  • Your right to return lasts until you move into a new NCI unit. After that, any moves would be treated like any other transfer within public housing and subject to availability.
  • All projects will be redeveloped in phases, and you do not lose your right to return if you are offered a unit in an early phase and you do not take it.
  • You keep your right to return until all units in all phases are built.

WHAT IS THE CRITERIA FOR RETURNING?

Criteria to return to a new unit has to be the same or less than DCHA’s current rules for the following:

  • Work Requirements – DCHA has no work requirements.
  • Service Requirements – DCHA requires 8 hours per month of community service or 8 hours participation in an economic self-sufficiency program. Residents who are elderly, disabled, caretaker of an elderly/disabled resident, or working are exempt.
  • Criminal Background – DCHA does not accept applicants with 1) a felony conviction within the last 5 years; 2) a conviction for manufacturing methamphetamines; and/or 3) current requirement to register on the National Sex Offender Registry. DCHA may make exceptions for felony convictions on a case by case basis.
  • Credit Screening – DCHA has no minimum credit score to meet, but does review applicants’ past rental history.
  • Drug Screening – DCHA has no drug screening requirements.

The new property manager of the redeveloped units must also follow these guidelines.

WHEN WILL DCHA NOTIFY ME ABOUT MOVING?

DCHA will provide proper notices for any temporary and permanent moves, including but not limited to:

  • A General Information Notice (GIN) to inform you when the redevelopment will require you to move from your unit.
  • A Notice of Relocation Eligibility, which will inform you what relocation assistance you will receive; and
  • A 90-Day Notice to Move, which will tell you the earliest date you have to move from your current unit.

Although households may be offered the opportunity to move to “Build First” units coming online in their neighborhood, no one will be required to move (as a result of a redevelopment effort) until their property receives official HUD approvals for redevelopment.

DCHA Resolution 16-06

Ward 8 Works

On April 8, 2017 NCI partnered with 30+ government, service provider and development partners to launch WARD 8 WORKS with the goal of better connecting Ward 8 residents to construction jobs on Ward 8 development projects that will begin hiring in the next 9 – 18 months. Some 110 residents participated in the event, where they learned about:

  • The development projects that are part of W8W, their hiring timelines and the types of jobs that will be available
  • The partners who are prepared to support participants in becoming job ready
  • What opportunities exist to begin a career in construction, and what it takes to get on that career path
  • The opportunity to join the “W8W Cohort” – who will be prioritized in hiring on W8W development projects

Attendees also had an opportunity to connect with 12 agencies and service providers during the event expo, and use the DOES van, which was stationed outside the event. Event materials are below:

Are you a Ward 8 resident interested in construction work on Ward 8 development projects? Fill out the participant profile. Download and return the completed form to: darnetta.tyus@dc.gov •or• Click HERE to complete the form online.

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