2002 NAHRO AGENCY AWARD OF MERIT - CREATIVE LANDSCAPING CHALLENGE

Charleston 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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