HACLA RSS Feed

RAC/RMC Leadership Training

Fri, 26 Mar 2010 17:00:00 GMT

RAC/RMC Leadership Training
Start Date: 26-Mar-10 10:00 AM
End Time: 26-Mar-10 12:00 PM
Location: Independence Square

Independence Square

Educational Tour

Sat, 27 Mar 2010 20:00:00 GMT

Educational Tour
Start Date: 27-Mar-10 1:00 PM
End Time: 27-Mar-10 3:00 PM
Location: Nixon Museum

Nixon Museum

Owner Orientation Session

Tue, 30 Mar 2010 17:00:00 GMT

Owner Orientation Session
Start Date: 30-Mar-10 10:00 AM
End Time: 30-Mar-10 12:30 PM
Location: HACLA, Los Angeles, CA 90057
Event Details:

Location: 2600 Wilshire Blvd, 5th Floor Board Room

Time: 10:00 A.M. - 12:30 P.M.

Registration: All property owners & landlords interested in attending MUST pre-register

by calling (213) 252-1253 or via internet from the Caledar of Events listing.

Parking:           Saturday attendees can park in the building parking garage. This is for
                           Saturday sessions only. The attendees must use the public parking lots or
                           metered parking on the street for the weekday sessions.

HACLA

2600 Wilshire Blvd

Los Angeles, CA 90057

Spelling Bee Final

Tue, 30 Mar 2010 17:30:00 GMT

Spelling Bee Final
Start Date: 30-Mar-10 10:30 AM
End Time: 30-Mar-10 2:30 PM
Location: California Science Center

California Science Center

Memorial Day

Mon, 31 May 2010 15:30:00 GMT

Memorial Day
Start Date: 31-May-10 8:30 AM
End Time: 31-May-10 5:30 PM

Independence Day

Mon, 05 Jul 2010 15:30:00 GMT

Independence Day
Start Date: 5-Jul-10 8:30 AM
End Time: 5-Jul-10 5:30 PM

Labor Day

Mon, 06 Sep 2010 15:30:00 GMT

Labor Day
Start Date: 6-Sep-10 8:30 AM
End Time: 6-Sep-10 5:30 PM

Veteran''s Day

Thu, 11 Nov 2010 16:30:00 GMT

Veteran's Day
Start Date: 11-Nov-10 8:30 AM
End Time: 11-Nov-10 5:30 PM

Thanksgiving Day

Thu, 25 Nov 2010 16:30:00 GMT

Thanksgiving Day
Start Date: 25-Nov-10 8:30 AM
End Time: 25-Nov-10 5:30 PM

Day after Thanksgiving Day

Fri, 26 Nov 2010 16:30:00 GMT

Day after Thanksgiving Day
Start Date: 26-Nov-10 8:30 AM
End Time: 26-Nov-10 5:30 PM

Plan to Redevelop Jordan Downs Gains Traction in L.A.

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 19:00:00 GMT

Published in the California Real Estate Journal, on May 26, 2009
Click here for full article

2-Jul-09 12:00 PM

LA County offering free, anonymous STD test kits

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 19:00:00 GMT

The "DontThinkKnow.org" program will allow women to order free test kits.

To order a test kit call (800) 758-0880 or go to www.DontThinkKnow.org

2-Jul-09 12:00 PM

Scholarships for High School Seniors Living in Public or Assisted Housing

Thu, 06 Nov 2008 22:00:00 GMT

HACLA is pleased to announce that Public Housing Authorities Directors Association (PHADA) is accepting applications for scholarships for high school students living in public or assisted housing. HACLA encourages all students who qualify to apply for these scholarships. This is a great opportunity to relieve the financial burdens associated with college tuition, books and other activities related to college education.

To encourage academic excellence and community responsibility among high school students, Public Housing Authorities Directors Association (PHADA) has implemented a scholarship program for graduating seniors who are preparing to enter college. In 2009, PHADA will proudly award the following three scholarships to deserving high school seniors residing in public and assisted housing:

• Bollinger Scholarship - $7000.00
(Named for Stephen J. Bollinger, one of PHADA’s founding Members and former HUD Assistant Secretary in the early 1980’s.)
• HD Supply Scholarship - $5000.00
• Freedom Scholarship - $5000.00

The links to the application brochure and the form are below:
2009 Scholarship Application Information and Requirement Checklist

2009 Scholarship Application

For information on the scholarship and how to apply, visit the PHADA website.

HACLA looks forward to receiving your applications and wishes you success!

6-Nov-08 2:00 PM

Scheme to Sell Fraudulent Section 8 Vouchers Exposed: Police Arrest Three Suspects

Fri, 29 Aug 2008 07:00:00 GMT

Aug. 29, 2008

Los Angeles -- This morning, Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) Rampart Division detectives arrested three people for operating a confidence scheme to sell fraudulent Section 8 housing vouchers. The arrests were part of a joint operation involving LAPD and the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA).

The scam, which was advertised on the Internet at the Craigslist website, promised Section 8 vouchers to renters in exchange for a cash payment of $2,500. Victims were instructed to call a phone number and were then interviewed by someone posing as a HACLA official. Later, if the victim agreed, the “official” would arrange a meeting that was often staged at or near a HACLA facility.

During the meeting, the suspect(s) would show the victim an authentic-looking HACLA identification card and provide a document resembling a Section 8 receipt or voucher in exchange for $2,500. After the transaction, the suspect would vanish and change the listed telephone number. If the victim couldn’t provide the entire $2,500 in one payment, the scheme would continue until all partial payments were made, after which the phone number would be disconnected.

Potential victims may have been quite vulnerable to the scheme because genuine Section 8 vouchers are very much in demand and valuable, enabling those with low-incomes to rent housing for rates far below current market levels.

To date, at least five of these crimes are known to have been committed, with one of the five occurring in Inglewood. Detectives believe the suspects could be responsible for many more similar crimes because their scheme was advertised on the Internet. Anyone who believes he/she has been a victim or has information about other potential victims, is asked to call LAPD Rampart Detective Division at 213-484-3450. After hours and on weekends, calls may be directed to a 24-hour, toll-free number at 1-877-LAW-FULL (529-3855).

29-Aug-08 0:00 AM

Council to Vote on Gang Prevention Contracts

Debru Petrov — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 15:30:00 GMT

Aug. 15, 2008 -- Six organizations that work to keep youths in high- crime areas out of gangs are expected to receive one-year contracts today as part of the reorganization of the city's anti-gang programs.

The recommendations for the one-year $500,000 contracts for each organization will be considered by the Los Angeles City Council. The contractors were selected by panels made up of law enforcement officers, gang experts and community members.

The recommended contractors are:

Community Build in the Baldwin Village area;
Childrens Hospital Los Angeles in Cypress Park;
Los Angeles Metropolitan Churches in the Florence-Graham area;
People Coordinated Services in the Newton area;
El Nido Family Centers in Pacoima; and
Violence Intervention Program in Ramona Gardens.

Community Build and Childrens Hospital Los Angeles were previously awarded contracts through L.A. Bridges, the anti-gang city initiative that will end at the end of the year. On July 1, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa assumed control of the city's anti-gang strategy.

City officials plan to award six additional contracts for prevention services and 12 contracts for intervention work later this fall.

The goals of the one-year programs are to prevent children ages 10 to 15 from joining gangs, and reducing the level of association with gang members.

Each program must work with at least 100 youths who are most at risk of joining a gang.

Providers are required to have a minimum of three face-to-face meetings with the children every week and at least one monthly visit with the parents.

The six risk factors that increase a child's chances of joining a gang are a lack of parental supervision; early childhood aggression; delinquent beliefs, including acceptance of antisocial behaviors; negative life events; having peers involved in deviant behavior; and a commitment to street-oriented peers.

15-Aug-08 8:30 AM

Racial harmony on display at Watts basketball tournament

John L. Mitchell — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 22:00:00 GMT

July 17, 2008

The gym in the Nickerson Gardens housing project can be an unfriendly place for anyone who dares to enter without a tough, competitive game of basketball.

Just ask the Latino players from East Wilmington who, in May, for the first time, drove 15 miles to Watts to join the project's Moonlight basketball league. When they walked on the court, they were greeted with a chorus of taunts, and someone in the crowd issued a blunt warning: "You better not bring any weak stuff in here!"

The 12 young men didn't flinch; they knew they would have to prove themselves if they wanted respect in a tournament dominated by African Americans.

They were shorter than the players on the other top teams, and not quite as fast. Still, they were every bit as tenacious, and at times a little cocky. They had grown up together, were confident in one another's games and knew that when all else failed, they could rely on their star player: Joey Saavedra, a 24-year-old sharpshooter and former Banning High School superstar who dropped out of sight four years ago after being convicted of attempted armed robbery.

Joey was back and ready to make a difference.

With the 6-footer leading the way, East Wilmington, one of four Latino teams participating in the 12-team tournament, began winning games and gaining the respect of the players and admiration of the fans.

"This is good for the community," said Donny Joubert, who runs the Moonlight league, an offshoot of midnight basketball programs established in the early '90s to reduce gang violence. "This is not just an African American gym."

From the first tip-off of the tournament, all eyes were on Saavedra.

"He is a one-man show," said Coach Manuel Panduro. "But he also makes everybody else on his team play better."

Those in the stands noted Saavedra's cross-over dribble, his moves and his shooting accuracy.

"He plays with a lot of soul," said Hank Henderson, a recreation assistant at Nickerson Gardens. "Joey is gifted. He can shake and bake, drop back and hit a three-pointer or make a move like Michael Jordan."

In one dramatic finish, Saavedra knocked a ball out of the hands of an opposing player, ran down the court to catch a pass and laid the ball in the basket as the buzzer went off ending the game.

The stands emptied and a celebration broke out on the court. But then the referees denied the basket, declaring that the shot came too late, just after the buzzer. Saavedra's team won in overtime.

It was that way at Banning High, where the young player rose to fame, averaging just under 32 points a game. Once, after a 44-point burst, including 10 three-pointers, an opposing coach compared Saavedra's offensive talents to Inglewood High School graduate Paul Pierce, who, as a professional this year, led the Boston Celtics to the NBA championship.

Sam Turks, a 32-year-old point guard on the Compton squad who played high school ball with Pierce, agreed. He said he was aware of Saavedra's reputation by the time he had to cover him.

"I was told he could shoot and not to leave him open," Turks said. "They didn't tell me that I could have two hands in his face and he could still knock it down."

At Los Angeles Harbor College, Coach Tony Carter-Loza had high expectations for Saavedra when he started playing for the team in 2003. The Seahawks were off to a better start than in previous seasons, but then Carter-Loza received a call during the winter break. Saavedra had been arrested in a car with two other men and charged with attempted robbery.

"He doesn't seem to want to leave the guys he grew up with," Carter-Loza said. "There's nothing wrong with that. But as time goes on everyone, sooner or later, moves in different directions."

Saavedra sees that chapter in his life as a big mistake. "It was a dumb thing to do," he said. "We didn't need the money."

At the California Correctional Institution in Tehachapi, where he finished his 18-month sentence, Saavedra recalls serving his time in a holding cell. "There was nothing to do," he recalled. "I keep it in my past. There was time to wash clothes, take baths and try to keep busy. It was all a sign from God. It opened my eyes."

In August 2005, to celebrate his release from prison -- and to keep him closer to home -- Saavedra's family paved over the backyard and built a basketball court. He returned to the sport he loved.

At Nickerson Gardens, Joubert said he has heard similar stories.

"We have a lot of kids who get caught up in the life," he said. "The goal is to get them back on track, go to work, go back to school and do something positive in their lives."

East Wilmington wasn't an obvious entry in the Nickerson Gardens tournament. Some of the players were reluctant to face teams that bore some familiar names: the Compton All-Stars, Fremont, Imperial Courts, Nickerson Gardens.

"Are you serious?" Freddie Lopez, East Wilmington's 6-foot-3 center, asked his coach. "We're not going to play in Nickerson Gardens. That's in the middle of Watts."

But Joubert said the tournament established a "safe zone" around the recreation center, bringing in community members as a private security team -- the same force recently enlisted to provide help at the 109th Street Pool, which was shut down one Sunday last month after a band of young men took it over.

In addition, Joubert arranged to have an L.A. Police Department patrol car stationed outside the center.

After a few games, Joubert received a call from one of the coaches of the Latino teams.

"They felt so comfortable with the tournament that they wanted to know if it was OK to bring their families to the games," he recalled. "I said, 'Sure, bring them!' Then, suddenly, the mothers and the little kids were here."

Saavedra said the tournament helped his self-confidence.

"You have a lot of guys who say, 'If you can play here, you can play anywhere,' " Saavedra said. "To hear that can only make me better. I want to play against the best. I'm 24. I don't want to look back at my life and have any regrets. I want to say at least I gave it a shot."

The East Wilmington players made it to the semifinals but failed to make it to the finals of the tournament. They were beaten by Compton, which lost to Fremont.

But the men from East Wilmington made their mark. At tonight's awards banquet at the Nickerson Gardens recreation center they will all be recognized.

And Joey Saavedra will get the award for Most Valuable Player.

By John L. Mitchell, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer

john.mitchell@latimes.com

17-Jul-08 3:00 PM

A Struggle to Get Housing in Order -The L.A. agency's chief has discovered millions of dollars unaccounted for and thousands of residents unserved.

Jessica Garrison and Ted Rohrlich Los Angeles Times — Sun, 21 Oct 2007 07:00:00 GMT

Oct. 21, 2007 -- When Rudolf Montiel came from El Paso three years ago to clean up the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles, he didn't know enough to be daunted. It didn't take long, however, for him to get a sense of the challenges ahead. Precious vouchers for the poor and disabled seemed to be for sale on the black market, allowing hundreds of newly arrived immigrants to jump to the top of a 10-year waiting list for housing subsidies. A consultant looking into the problem found "a virtual feeding frenzy in which corruption, manipulation and fraud is strongly evident."

That was hardly the only disturbing discovery: Employees in one department appeared to be stealing, issuing themselves checks and then erasing the evidence. Millions of dollars set aside for rehabilitating a Watts housing project seemed to be missing. Parts of some housing projects had been commandeered by gangs to sell drugs, run brothels and hold dogfights.

Fresh from success building a nationally recognized housing authority in his hometown of El Paso, Montiel felt as though he'd entered a mysterious foreign culture, "like I was in the Kremlin, and I wasn't Russian."

Three years later, he still is struggling to bring order and ethics to an agency in which bad management and corruption have been endemic for at least 30 years. Yet, even as he has trumpeted his reform efforts, new controversies have emerged on his watch.

In interviews, Montiel, 46, laid bare details of many agency woes for the first time, at times wishing aloud for an exorcist and comparing his job to fighting a multiheaded hydra.

To date, Montiel said, he's spent $7 million on private eyes, auditors and lawyers -- mostly lawyers. He's referred some staff for prosecution, sued some for damages and outsourced the work of a whole department.

There have been setbacks. Earlier this year, a Times review of internal documents showed that a former manager had directed nearly $800,000 in contracts to his brothers and politically connected firms without competitive bidding or after rigged contests. He allegedly overpaid for the work as well, doling out nearly $2,500 apiece to install toilets in housing projects. The manager, who was fired, has denied wrongdoing and a criminal investigation is ongoing.

Not long afterward, Montiel fired his chief investigator, the very person he had appointed to get to the bottom of such misdeeds. In a lawsuit, his administration accused the sleuth of engaging in a delusional witch hunt. The agency has been racked by interpersonal and racial tension, absenteeism and resentment over Montiel's aggressive management style. Employees have complained of a jarring transition and a "rush to justice," saying that Montiel and his deputies "seem bent on getting rid of people," according to a 2007 consultant's report.

Given the troubles he inherited, some advocates for the poor, as well as city and federal officials, applaud Montiel for making remarkable strides. Donna White, a spokeswoman at the federal Housing and Urban Development department, said the director has put an agency that was on the brink of a federal takeover on solid ground.

Even so, the ongoing turmoil is a distraction from the agency's already formidable mission -- providing for the housing needs of more than 120,000 of Los Angeles' poor and disabled.

Because of funding limitations, five times as many people qualify for help as can be accommodated. Tens of thousands such as Eleanor Colon have been waiting years for subsidies to help them get off the streets or out of homeless shelters. "I don't see why they have to take so long to get people off the waiting list," said Colon, a 28-year-old single mother who applied nine years ago for subsidized housing. Now her "kids are half grown." "When I needed it most, why wasn't it there?"

Some officials said they find it appalling that this critical agency was allowed to fall into such disrepair. "It's horrifying," Councilwoman Janice Hahn said of the agency's troubles. "These [clients] are residents of the city of Los Angeles, and they deserve a lot better."

An orphan agency

For a bureaucracy of its size and reach, the Housing Authority in Los Angeles has historically received relatively little attention, from the public or the government.

It is the largest housing authority west of the Mississippi, with 8,000 public housing units extending from San Pedro to the San Fernando Valley. It also manages 44,500 Section 8 vouchers, federal subsidies paid to private landlords to cover rent for the poor.

Run by a commission appointed by Los Angeles' mayor, the agency receives the vast majority of its $850 million annual budget from the federal government.

But it is more or less an orphan: Most city officials have not involved themselves deeply in its operations, and U.S. officials have offered only sporadic scrutiny. Problems date back decades. Three of the last four executive directors left after inquiries involving alleged misappropriation of funds or improper contracting.

Montiel arrived after the top leader and his second in command departed in quick succession.

Director Don Smith took early retirement in 2004 after the agency gave out thousands more housing subsidies than it was authorized to provide. After HUD refused to cover the extra subsidies, the agency told 1,500 poor people they couldn't use their vouchers after all. An audit later found that the authority had $30 million on hand that would have been more than enough to cover the vouchers.

After Smith left, his second in command, Lucille Loyce, was fired. A federal audit had found that public-housing tenant organizations, which she oversaw, paid more than $2.1 million in no-bid contracts to a consultant, Duane Williams, who was her longtime friend. He performed ineffectually, the audit said.

In a pending lawsuit against the pair, the authority makes other startling allegations, including that Williams insisted that members of tenant boards undergo expensive dental work at agency expense, then he and Loyce blackmailed them into keeping quiet about other misconduct.

Loyce has said she did nothing wrong and that she was fired because of race and sex discrimination, according to court papers. Williams did not respond to repeated requests for comment.

HUD referred the matter to the U.S. attorney's office, which declined to prosecute after investigators found no evidence that Williams paid Loyce kickbacks.

Then-Mayor James K. Hahn's office brokered a deal with federal officials to hire Montiel, who had their confidence, averting the embarrassment of federal receivership.

Suspicions are raised

Although perennially late for appointments, Montiel has polished manners, reflecting an Old World courtliness and charm. He is a practicing Catholic who prays before meals, frequently refers to himself as "blessed" and ends conversations with the sign-off "Peace." He said he came to Los Angeles feeling "honored and humbled."

He also brought an unshakable confidence in his abilities and a national profile as a housing leader, carefully nurtured during frequent trips to Washington, D.C., and other cities.

Almost immediately, Montiel, who makes $225,000 a year, sensed trouble. Simple requests for information about, for example, the number of people receiving Section 8 vouchers, took days. And the answers he did get were incomplete.

His suspicions were heightened when he and federal officials noticed that a large group of newly arrived immigrants -- ineligible by U.S. law for housing subsidies -- had vaulted to the top of the Section 8 waiting list and had been issued vouchers in what appeared to be an organized scheme. The situation remains under investigation, he said.

Montiel said he began receiving anonymous letters, warning that he was looking into things he shouldn't and that he ought not go to housing projects alone. "You never know what might happen to you," he recalled one missive saying.

Montiel tends toward dark humor when describing the threats, but they clearly shook him. Even three years later, he won't say where he lives with his wife and son.

Nevertheless, he said, he was not deterred. Nor has he hesitated to cast himself as the public face of the agency: The lobby of its headquarters is decorated with 10 large photographs of Montiel with Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, other public officials and smiling children.

He has drawn praise from some quarters for his perseverance in trying to smoke out problems. What Montiel discovered "flabbergasted" and "appalled" the commissioners who oversee the agency, recalled Eleanor Williams, a former board president.

"I couldn't believe that this very important agency helping the neediest people in our city was having so many problems," she said.

Montiel, too, was initially taken aback by what he found.

In the agency's information technology department, some employees had been cutting themselves checks, but there was no way to tell how many. Evidence had been purged from office computers.

There were signs, however, that it was not a small problem: One high-level staffer resigned under pressure after allegedly cutting himself a check for $7,600. At the end of 2005, the post office returned hundreds of 1099 income tax forms as undeliverable, suggesting that hundreds of thousands of dollars may have been diverted to staffers using false names, Montiel said.

At the Jordan Downs housing project in Watts, paperwork was such a mess that it was impossible to say where millions in rehabilitation funds went, whether they were lost to incompetence or misappropriated.

In the Section 8 department, Montiel said he discovered that more than 50 employees had a potential conflict of interest: They owned dwellings approved for subsidies, and thus were collecting rent money from the program their department oversaw.

Meanwhile, the waiting list for Section 8 subsidies stood at about 90,000 families.

Implementing new rules

Montiel dug in, confident he could turn the agency around. As instructed by HUD, he halted the distribution of vouchers for two years until the legitimacy of the Section 8 waiting list could be verified. He pushed through new rules prohibiting employees from owning property in the Section 8 program or doing business with the authority. Private investigators were dispatched to follow suspect staffers. Forensic auditors were hired to pore over paperwork. Then, this summer, Montiel fired his own chief investigator, Abel Ruiz. Ruiz told reporters he was targeted because he was pushing too hard in the investigation of alleged bid-rigging that had been spotlighted by The Times. Not so, agency officials shot back in a lawsuit, which stated that Ruiz was fired because he had inappropriately started investigating Montiel's distant relatives and a sitting councilman.

In this charged atmosphere, some staffers say morale suffered. One employee, who spoke on condition of anonymity, saying he feared retaliation, dismissed Montiel as a bad leader who "came in like a whirlwind" and made people "scared for their jobs."

21-Oct-07 0:00 AM

File Your Taxes for Free

noemail@hacla.org — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 18:00:00 GMT

Many programs are available today to help taxpayers save money by letting them prepare and file their taxes for free. Free File is an IRS program that helps taxpayers file their federal taxes for free. Free File Alliance LLC is offering free assistance to taxpayers whose 2009 adjusted gross income is $57,000 or less. If your income is higher, you can still file for free using Free File Fillable forms. To learn more go to www.freefile.irs.gov. Taxpayers can also take advantage of the IRS Volunteer Tax Assistance Program (VITA) and the Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) Programs which offer free tax help. The VITA Program offers free tax help to low- to moderate-income (generally, $49,000 and below) people who cannot prepare their own tax returns. Certified volunteers sponsored by various organizations receive training to help prepare basic tax returns in communities across the country. VITA sites are generally located at community and neighborhood centers, libraries, schools,...

HACLA Announces Safety Camera Project at Public Housing Developments

noemail@hacla.org — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 01:00:00 GMT

February 10 - The Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles' Board of Commissioners approved the installation of Safety Cameras at participating public housing developments. Photo 1: from left to right: Steven Olivas, Homeland Security & Public Safety, Office of the Mayor; Chief Charlie Beck, Los Angeles Police Department; Rudolf C. Montiel, PE, HACLA President and CEO. Photo 2: HACLA President and CEO signs Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) that lays out the working arrangement of all parties involved in the project. It represents an intent between the parties to work together to implement the project. PRESS RELEASE: Housing Authority and LAPD Announce Installation of Safety Cameras in Public Housing Developments LOS ANGELES – The Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA) announced the installation of 126 new cameras at Jordan Downs, Nickerson Gardens, Imperial Courts and Ramona Gardens public housing developments. The cameras will be...

Resident Leaders Play a Key Role in Census 2010

noemail@hacla.org — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 22:00:00 GMT

Forty resident leaders from ten public housing developments participated in a census training session at Jordan Downs public housing on January 29. The training was led by Antonio Gallo and Shani Freeman from the Census Bureau.

“No information will be given to any other agency… they [federal government] need the numbers to find out, how much money we are going to send to neighborhoods,” said Gallo.

Through a PowerPoint presentation, the participants had an opportunity to learn the importance of an accurate count and how each person can help spread the message.

The 2010 Census will help communities receive more than $400 billion in federal funds each year for things like: Hospitals, Job training centers, Schools, senior centers, Bridges, tunnels and other-public works projects and Emergency services.

San Fernando Gardens resident Sandra Ibando helped with the census outreach ten years ago.

“We are committed to helping again this year,” said Ms. Ibando.

The census count takes place every ten year and is mandated by the Constitution.

The Housing Authority helped facilitate the meeting between the Resident leaders and the Census Bureau. Many of the housing developments are considered to be part of the hard-to-count areas; the HACLA is committed to helping our employees, residents and partners understand the importance of an accurate count.

Be Counted: Census 2010

noemail@hacla.org — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 20:00:00 GMT

The 2010 Census will help communities receive more than $400 billion in federal funds each year for things like: Hospitals Job training centers Schools Senior centers Bridges, tunnels and other-public works projects Emergency services Starting March 2010 the census forms will be mailed to every residence in the United States. We encourage you to fill out the 10 question form and mail it back in the postage-paid envelope. It’s easy. In just 10 minutes, you can make a difference. One of the shortest census forms in history, the 2010 Census form asks 10 questions and takes about 10 minutes to complete. It’s important. The 2010 Census is a historic event that will help shape our nation’s future for the next 10 years. With accurate census data, we can create a portrait of our nation’s growing population and determine what’s needed to better provide for everyone. It’s safe. By law, the Census Bureau cannot share your answers with...

Bridging the Digital Divide

noemail@hacla.org — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 20:00:00 GMT

Jordan Downs is the first public housing development in Southern California to be equipped with free wireless internet service. The Mayor, HACLA, AT&T, Non-profit group One Economy, and Councilwoman Janice Hahn’s Office formed a partnership to bridge the digital divide by providing the tools of the future to the youth and their families at Jordan Downs. Thanks to the work of the partners, Jordan Downs residents now have access to free wi-fi allowing residents to have internet access in the comfort of their home. One Economy is in the process of training and hiring IT helpers directly from Jordan Downs to provide onsite assistance. Councilwoman Hahn introduced a city council motion that allowed the city to donate 150 computer screens/ monitors to Jordan Downs residents. Opportunities Industrialized Centers of Los Angeles (OIC) donated 150 computer components: hard drives, mouse, keyboards, and the Microsoft Windows operating system. The computers will be distributed to...

Housing Authority Commissioners recognize residents' effort in redevelopment project

noemail@hacla.org — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 02:00:00 GMT

The Housing Authority's Board of Commissioners recognized The Jordan Downs Community Advisory Committee (JD CAC) during a Board meeting on January 26, 2010. The JD CAC has been a key partner in the Jordan Downs redevelopment project. The preferred Master Plan was shared with the residents and the community during a public meeting on November 7, 2009. The plan reflects the hard work and contribution of the residents who participated in coming up with a sustainable plan for their new home. The JD CAC is made up of JD residents and community activists. The group has been an integral part of the outreach process serving as the voice of the residents, making sure that everyone has an opportunity to participate in the planning phase. Several JD CAC members made public comments during the Board meeting. Jordan Downs resident Evelyn Warren spoke on behalf of the JDCAC and shared her vision of the new Jordan Downs. “Now that I’ve become a member of the JDCAC, I have a...

Jordan Downs Community Based Masterplan

noemail@hacla.org — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 19:00:00 GMT

Click here to view the Jordan Downs community based masterplan.

Housing Authority Receives Award for Performance Excellence

noemail@hacla.org — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 01:45:00 GMT

Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA) was recognized for its performance excellence by the California Awards for Performance Excellence (CAPE).

HACLA is one of 33 organizations to receive the award. The award program emulates the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Program and recognizes organizations that demonstrate superior performance in seven key business areas including leadership; strategic planning, customer and market focus, measurement and knowledge management, human resources, process management and business results.

Tracy Barron, Chair of the CAPE Council applauded this year’s winners. “The excellence journey is not easy. The commitment of these organizations to the Baldrige criteria is a testament to their dedication to their customers, students, patients, employees and communities. They are truly leaders in their industries.”

The CAPE Award recipients will be honored at the 16th Annual Best Practices and Awards Conference, to be held on Friday, March 19, 2010, at Newport Beach Marriott.

Source: California Council for Excellence

Housing Authority Receives Four Star Performance Award

noemail@hacla.org — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 01:00:00 GMT

The Los Angeles Worksource Investment Board (WIB) announced the winners of this year’s Four Star Award. For the second year, HACLA is the recipient of this prestigious award. It is the highest award an agency can receive under the Workforce Investment Act (WIA).

For 20 years, the HACLA has provided job training to thousands of residents at 14 of its public housing developments, helping to lead the residents to a path of self-sufficiency. In the past, 93% percent of the residents who completed the program found either full-time or part-time employment, some as nursing assistants, truck drivers, warehouse workers and oil refinery technicians.

The program offers pre-employment, work maturity, job search and resume assistance, as well as supportive services such as child care and tuition payments; shoes and clothing are also provided for residents to help them look their best on their job interview day.

The HACLA is among 18 organizations to receive the recognition. The agencies are evaluated in four categories: satisfaction, outcomes, customer flow, and administrative capability.

Housing Authority’s Worksource portals are located in Jordan Downs, Imperial Courts and Nickerson Gardens public housing developments.

Congratulations to Housing Services Director Sanford Riggs and the Resident Services team for carrying out such a successful program!

Photo: Resident Services Unit accepts the award.

HACLA uses Stimulus Funds to Provide Job Training

noemail@hacla.org — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 18:00:00 GMT

HACLA Resident Services Unit in collaboration with EDNET Career Institute, Inc. is currently providing 10-day training for dislocated workers interested in employment in the security industry. The training will prepare participants for jobs such as security officers, security guards, and detention officers. The training is supported by federal funds under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009. The goal of the project is to place 45 trained participants in the security industry positions. To-date as a result of the training, 18 individuals have been placed in employment with pay ranging from $10 - $27 per hour. Twenty-seven individuals are enrolled in the program. Akelu Wioten Jr., a Jordan Downs resident and a young father said he wants training to be able to support his family. He [instructor] is already teaching us to strengthen our brains, to pay attention to our surroundings and people, how they dress, how they speak … to basically train...

Tile Layer

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 07:00:00 GMT

Title: Tile Layer Description: OPEN EXAMINATION SALARY RANGE: Hourly: $28.69 (Flat Rate) Monthly: $4,972.93 Annually: $59,675.20 Plus excellent benefits package, including 2.7% @ 55 PERS Retirement, employee contributes. FINAL FILING DATE: Applications will be accepted until 4:30 PM, Friday, April 23, 2010, NO POSTMARKS ACCEPTED. FAXED APPLICATIONS OR ELECTRONIC (EMAIL) SUBMISSION WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: Under direct supervision, cuts, sets, grouts, and polishes tile in newly constructed or reconstructed kitchens, bathrooms, and other related facilities. May install building paper and metal lath preparatory to tile setting. Rebuilds rainboards and installs sinks on trays as part of reconstruction. Maintains tools and equipment. Drives automotive equipment to and from worksite. Establishes and maintains effective working relationships with other employees and tenant body. Removes and replaces broken tile. Applies tile to walls...

Eligibility Interviewer

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 08:00:00 GMT

Title: Eligibility Interviewer Description: OPEN ANNUAL SALARY $36,171.24 - $49,670.40 plus excellent benefits package, including 2.7% @ 55 PERS Retirement, employee contributes. FINAL FILING DATE: Applications will be accepted until 4:30 PM, Friday, March 26, 2010, NO POSTMARKS ACCEPTED. FAXED APPLICATIONS OR ELECTRONIC (EMAIL) SUBMISSION WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: Under general supervision, conducts interviews with prospective applicants using Housing Authority manuals, handbooks, and HUD guidelines to determine eligibility for public housing. A significant part of the work involves interviewing low-income applicants and/or senior citizens, which requires knowledge and understanding of behavioral patterns of culturally and economically disadvantaged people. Receives and processes applications for admission to public housing. Interviews applicants to obtain required data regarding income, family composition, health, social...

Compliance Specialist

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 08:00:00 GMT

Title: Compliance Specialist Description: AT WILL ANNUAL SALARY: Salary is based on experience and qualification (TBD). Benefits include: medical and dental insurance, 401(k) retirement plan, 8 paid holidays, 4 floating holidays plus general leave, long term disability and life insurance. FINAL FILING DATE: Applications will be accepted until 4:30 PM, Friday, March 26, 2010. NO POSTMARKS ACCEPTED. FAXED APPLICATIONS OR ELECTRONIC (E-MAIL) SUBMISION WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. ABOUT LOS ANGELES LOMOD COPORATION: Los Angeles LOMOD Corporation operates under a performance-based Annual Contributions Contract (ACC) with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD); LOMOD currently provides administrative services to HUD to monitor performance of owners and management agents participating in project-based Housing Assistance Payments (HAP) Contracts under Section 8. Under the terms of the ACC, LOMOD provides administrative services for monitoring and evaluating...

Senior Human Resources Analyst

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 08:00:00 GMT

Title: Senior Human Resources Analyst Description: AT WILL ANNUAL SALARY $57,821.76 - $79,290.12 plus excellent benefits package, including 2.7% @ 55 PERS Retirement, employee contributes. FINAL FILING DATE: OPEN UNTIL FILLED. FAXED APPLICATIONS OR ELECTRONIC (EMAIL) SUBMISSION WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: The incumbent participates in the delivery of human resource management programs and services in assigned areas of responsibility. Provides professional advice and counsel to managers, supervisors and employees and carries out difficult and complex responsibilities requiring a high degree of professional, organizational and interpersonal knowledge, skill and sensitivity. Serves as human resources liaison to designated departments, providing or coordinating the provision of a wide range of human resources programs and services. Coordinates and provides agency-wide functional expertise and leadership in assigned areas of responsibility. Coordinates and monitors...

RESIDENCE CLEANER

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 08:00:00 GMT

Title: RESIDENCE CLEANER Description: SALARY RANGE: Hourly $15.67 (Flat Rate) Monthly $2,716.13 Annually $32,593.60 Plus excellent benefits package, including 2.7% @ 55 PERS Retirement, employee contributes. FINAL FILING DATE: Applications will be accepted until 4:30 PM, Friday, April 16, 2010, NO POSTMARKS ACCEPTED. FAXED APPLICATIONS OR ELECTRONIC (EMAIL) SUBMISSION WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: Under direct supervision, sweeps, mops, strips, and waxes floors; washes walls, ceilings, woodwork, windows, and screens; cleans appliances and other housing fixtures and furniture; fumigates and exterminates dwelling units and offices. Performs other job-related essential functions as assigned. QUALIFICATIONS: High school diploma or GED AND 1 year of custodial experience. Valid California Class C Driver’s License required. As a condition of new and continued employment, employees in this classification must participate in...

GARDENER CARETAKER

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 08:00:00 GMT

Title: GARDENER CARETAKER Description: SALARY RANGE: Hourly $18.92 (Flat Rate) Monthly $3,279.47 Annually $39,353.60 Plus excellent benefits package, including 2.7% @ 55 PERS Retirement, employee contributes. FINAL FILING DATE: Applications will be accepted until 4:30 PM, Friday, April 16, 2010, NO POSTMARKS ACCEPTED. FAXED APPLICATIONS OR ELECTRONIC (EMAIL) SUBMISSION WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: Under direct supervision, performs routine grounds maintenance duties in maintaining lawns and other ground areas, including gardening and general labor. Mows, waters, edges, fertilizes, renovates, and seeds lawns; cultivates, trims and stakes trees and shrubs; sweeps and removes litter from grounds; sprays planted areas; constructs, repairs and removes temporary fences around new planted areas. Performs other general labor duties as assigned. QUALIFICATIONS: High school diploma or GED AND six (6) months of...

SENIOR GARDENER

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 08:00:00 GMT

Title: SENIOR GARDENER Description: SALARY RANGE: Hourly $20.53(Flat Rate) Monthly $3,558.53 Annually $42,702.40 Plus excellent benefits package, including 2.7% @ 55 PERS Retirement, employee contributes. FINAL FILING DATE: Applications will be accepted until 4:30 PM, Friday, April 16, 2010, NO POSTMARKS ACCEPTED. FAXED APPLICATIONS OR ELECTRONIC (EMAIL) SUBMISSION WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: Under general supervision, performs high-level grounds maintenance functions requiring skill and knowledge in areas of planting, propagation, pruning and general care of the grounds areas. Performs both skilled gardening and routine grounds maintenance duties; waters and mows lawns using large power mowers and other power gardening equipment; instructs subordinates in the operation of equipment and other routine gardening functions; plants, cultivates, trims, sprays, fertilizes, and prunes trees, shrubs, and lawns; prepares soil mixtures and makes...

Manager III

Sat, 06 Mar 2010 08:00:00 GMT

Title: Manager III Description: SALARY RANGE: $5,143.53 - $7,058.10 per month, plus excellent benefits package, including 2.7% @ 55 PERS Retirement, employee contributes. FINAL FILING DATE: Applications and Supplemental Questionnaire will be accepted until 4:30 PM, Friday, March 26, 2010, NO POSTMARKS ACCEPTED. FAXED APPLICATIONS OR ELECTRONIC (EMAIL) SUBMISSION WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: Responsible for the operation and management of an assigned housing development, housing program or property management function. Plans, organizes, coordinates and supervises the activities of a housing development, housing program or property management function. Manages a staff that may consist of maintenance, clerical, custodial, professional, paraprofessional or technical personnel based upon assignment. Trains, supervises and evaluates staff. Promotes safety in operations and services. Represents the Authority with public and private agencies. Participates...

Business Systems Specialist

Thu, 04 Mar 2010 08:00:00 GMT

Title: Business Systems Specialist Description: AT WILL ANNUAL SALARY: Salary is based on experience and qualification (TBD). Benefits include: medical and dental insurance, 401(k) retirement plan, 8 paid holidays, 4 floating holidays plus general leave, long term disability and life insurance. FINAL FILING DATE: Applications will be accepted until 4:30 PM, Friday, March 26, 2010. NO POSTMARKS ACCEPTED. FAXED APPLICATIONS OR ELECTRONIC (E-MAIL) SUBMISION WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. ABOUT LOS ANGELES LOMOD COPORATION: Los Angeles LOMOD Corporation operates under a performance-based Annual Contributions Contract (ACC) with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD); LOMOD currently provides administrative services to HUD to monitor performance of owners and management agents participating in project-based Housing Assistance Payments (HAP) Contracts under Section 8. Under the terms of the ACC, LOMOD provides...

Grant Writer

Thu, 04 Mar 2010 08:00:00 GMT

Title: Grant Writer Description: AT WILL ANNUAL SALARY: $56,785.44 - $78,029.16 plus excellent benefits package, including 2.7% @ 55 PERS Retirement, employee contributes. FINAL FILING DATE: Applications will be accepted until 4:30 PM, Friday, March 26, 2010. NO POSTMARKS ACCEPTED. FAXED APPLICATIONS OR ELECTRONIC (EMAIL) SUBMISSION WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: Under general supervision, the Grant Writer researches and identifies grant opportunities; makes recommendations regarding feasibility; writes, submits and tracks grant applications and proposals to secure funds for new grant opportunities and/or grant renewals. Prepares reports related to grant activities and award notices. Monitors expenditures to ensure compliance with grants contractual/reporting eligibility requirements. Works constructively to establish and maintain effective relationships with a wide range of people and position levels as well as public and private...

Professional Services

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 20:16:54 GMT

Request For Proposals - RFP 7526 LEGAL SERVICES RFP No. 7526 Legal Services RFP No. 7526 Sign In Sheet The Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles invites proposals from qualified law firms to provide legal services. The purpose of this RFP is to identify law firms to render legal advice on an as-needed basis to the Authority on vaious legal matters, including, but not limited to: labor and employment law, real estate law, asset management, governmental regulations, and other related legal matters. The Authority intends to contract with one or more law firms for an initial (1) one year period with three (3), one (1) year options to renew at the sole discretion of the Authority. Proposals will be accepted at 2600 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 3100, Los Angeles, CA 90057 until 2:00pm (local time) March 5, 2010. Offers received after this date and time may, at the discretion of the Authority, be rejected without consideration. A pre-proposal conference to discuss the RFP...

HACLA CEO joins Panel of Real Estate Experts to Talk about Future of L.A

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 18:49:48 GMT

Jordan Downs Public Housing Redevelopment receives wide-attention at Real Estate Conference. HACLA President and CEO, Rudolf C. Montiel, joined a three person panel of Real Estate experts to talk about the state of the current marketplace and the future of real estate development in Los Angeles at the 10th Annual Urban Land Institute Marketplace conference. The panel took questions and talked about the need for smarter and more innovative development projects to create sustainable communities. Mr. Montiel discussed HACLA’s Jordan Downs Redevelopment project and the opportunity for change through this effort to transform this 700 unit public housing site into a vibrant urban village. Question: (Katherine Perez, Executive Director ULI Los Angeles) What keeps you up at night, knowing it's going to take some time? Answer: (Rudolf Montiel) I think getting JD off the ground and doing it right. What does that mean? Doing it in a way that we attract a cadre of very talented...

*****home: HACLA Highlights

Thu, 18 Mar 2010 23:43:37 GMT

Bridging the Digital Divide learn more Housing Authority Receives Regional Energy Star Award learn more Commissioners Commend HACLA Staff for Achieving High Performance Eligibility learn more / watch video

Doing Business with HACLA

Tue, 16 Mar 2010 18:25:00 GMT

Purchasing and Contracting Thank you for your interest in doing business with the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA). The HACLA procures a wide variety of materials, supplies, equipment, construction and consultant services. Procurement Opportunities are divided into three categories: construction goods and services, professional services, and non-construction goods. All procurement procedures are conducted in full compliance with the Federal standards stated in the 24 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 85.36, and the HACLA procurement policy. To become a HACLA vendor, vendors must complete a Vendor Application. Being added to the vendor database triggers automatic notification by mail of any procurement over $100,000 within the vendor's specified commodities. The HACLA also actively outreaches to Minority Business Enterprises (MBEs) and Women Business Enterprises (WBEs) in fulfillment of its policy of promoting contracting opportunities for such businesses. ...

File Your Taxes for Free

Tue, 16 Mar 2010 18:16:23 GMT

Many programs are available today to help taxpayers save money by letting them prepare and file their taxes for free.

Free File is an IRS program that helps taxpayers file their federal taxes for free. Free File Alliance LLC is offering free assistance to taxpayers whose 2009 adjusted gross income is $57,000 or less. If your income is higher, you can still file for free using Free File Fillable forms. To learn more go to www.freefile.irs.gov.

Taxpayers can also take advantage of the IRS Volunteer Tax Assistance Program (VITA) and the Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) Programs which offer free tax help. The VITA Program offers free tax help to low- to moderate-income (generally, $49,000 and below) people who cannot prepare their own tax returns. Certified volunteers sponsored by various organizations receive training to help prepare basic tax returns in communities across the country. VITA sites are generally located at community and neighborhood centers, libraries, schools, shopping malls, and other easy to access locations. To locate the nearest VITA site, call 1-800-829-1040 or check this VITA site list.

The TCE program provides free tax help to people aged 60 and older. Trained volunteers from non-profit organizations provide free tax counseling and basic income tax return preparation for senior citizens. For more information on TCE, call 1-800-829-1040. As part of the IRS-sponsored TCE Program, AARP offers the Tax-Aide counseling program at more than 7,000 sites nationwide during the filing season. Trained and certified AARP Tax-Aide volunteer counselors help people of low-to-middle income with special attention to those age 60 and older. To locate the nearest AARP Tax-Aide site, call 1-888-227-7669 or visit AARP's Internet site.

IFB 1692 Referenced Plans

Sat, 13 Mar 2010 02:22:35 GMT

PARTIAL RENOV 3RD FLOOR 30 X 42

IFB 1692 Reference Plans - Plumb 30 x 48

Sat, 13 Mar 2010 02:17:23 GMT

Plumb 30 x 48

IFB 1692 Referenced Plans - NR 1 30 x 48

Sat, 13 Mar 2010 02:13:57 GMT

NR 1 30 x 48

IFB 1692 Referenced Plans - MECH 30 x 42

Sat, 13 Mar 2010 02:10:44 GMT

MECH 30 x 42

IFB 1692 Reference Plans - ELECT 30 x 48

Sat, 13 Mar 2010 02:06:50 GMT

ELECT 30 X 48

Lorem ipsum survey

noemail@hacla.org — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 23:54:35 GMT

Objectives:

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Ut wisis enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci

Release Date: 8-Aug-07 4:54 PM
Expiration Date: 8-Nov-07 4:54 PM

Ut wisis enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci

Lorem ipsum

2007-08-08T23:54:35Z

Instructor: Instructor

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