BOARD OF COMISSIONERS2015

EDUARDO GONZALEZCHAIRMAN

ARMANDO BARRERAVICE-CHAIRMAN

JOE RODRIGUEZCOMMISSIONER

CRIS TORRESCOMMISSIONER

JUAN GUZMANRESIDENT COMMISSIONER

RODOLFO “RUDY” RAMIREZ

Executive Director

Main Office

Ciro TreviñoAdministration Building

910 S. Sugar Rd. Edinburg, Texas, 78539

REGULAR HOURSMon.—Thurs.

8 a.m.—5:30 p.m.

Friday8 a.m. - 12 p.m.

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July 2015

An active summer for the Youth Leadership Association

STUDENTS LEARN ABOUT TOBACCO PREVENTION- During a Youth Leadership Association meeting held July 7, 2015, the UNIDAD Tobacco Prevention & Control Coalition spoke to students about the dangers of tobacco and raising awareness.

This summer, members of the Youth Leadership Asso-ciation (YLA) took part in many engaging activities. From participating in McAllen’s Summer Out-door Adventures Camp to taking part in weekly dis-cussions based on the book 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens by Sean Covey, our students were encour-aged to continue learning throughout the summer. In addition to participat-ing in activities and volun-teering, the students were given a special presentation by the UNIDAD Tobacco Prevention & Control Co-

alition (UNIDAD TPCC) during a YLA meeting held Tuesday, July 7, 2015.

During the presentation, Volunteer Specialist Meli-sa Tejada, discussed the importance of preventing tobacco abuse and the or-

ganization’s goal of advo-cating for a tobacco-free environment. After sharing valuable information about tobacco and worldwide statistics, presenters in UNIDAD TPCC also gave prizes to members for an-swering questions. Although summer va-cation will soon come to an end, we look forward to seeing YLA members take part in many more great opportunities. We invite any student interested in joining to contact Diego Oros at 956-383-3839 for more information.

PRIZES FOR PARTICIPATION- Youth Leadership Association members re-ceived several prizes for answering questions.

Stay updated!Visit us today

This month’s highlights...* Father’s Day celebration, Page 2* Canned food drive, Page 3

* ECISD gives free meals to students, Page 2* Kids receive free mattresses, Page 3

July 2015Volume 2, Issue 4

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DOZENS ATTEND EVENT- Fathers enjoyed food, fun and music with their families at the celebration.

A FATHER FIGURE- Fathers learned about their role and im-pact they have on their families.

REUNITING DADS- During the event fathers bonded with their children and had a good time.

July 9, 2015 Thanks to our part-nership with Edinburg Parks and Recreation, our agency held a very special celebration in honor of Father’s Day. Fathers who attended enjoyed a nice meal with their loved ones and were treated to special musical performances by Rich-ard Ramos and Edinburg Parks & Rec. Folkloric dancers. During the event, Robert de Leon, our agen-cy’s Youth Coordinator

and the Bro Models Ex-ecutive Director, spoke about the importance of fatherhood and education to residents. We’d like to give special thanks to: Public Housing Supervisor Liz Hernan-dez; Joe Filoteo Director of Edinburg Parks & Rec. Dept.; Joe Silva the Dis-trict Manager for Golden Corral; and, our resident Xochitl Canales and her family for generously do-nating 5 gift baskets and everyone who helped make this event a great success.

EHA hosts Father’s Day celebration

Rick Ramos performsGift baskets

Delicious food Folkloric dance Family time

July 9, 2015 This summer, EHA stu-dents received free meals by the 2015 Summer Food Service Program. Thanks to our partnership with the Edinburg Consolidat-ed Independent School District (ECISD), students were provided break-fast and lunch meals at our Lantana Community Center. The program provid-ed residents, 18 years-old and younger, with free breakfast and lunch meals

from June 8 through July 31, 2015. The efforts were part of ECISD’s goal of making sure students con-tinue receiving healthy meals even when they ar-en’t at school. Last year, the pro-gram also helped students in our developments have meals throughout the summer months. Our agency would like to thank everyone who worked hard this summer to provide meals to our residents.

Edinburg school district provides breakfast and lunch for students

FREE MEALS IN THE SUMMER- Thanks to ECISD, students were able to receive healthy breakfasts and lunch during the summer.

ENERGIZED FOR THE SUMMER- Kids 18 years and younger enjoyed the free breakfast and lunch meals at the Lantana Community Center.

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Canned food drive

Gardening together

Thanks to EHA’s partnership with the University of Texas Pan-American’s Social Work Department, social work in-terns, Laura Pequeño and Danielle Vasquez, organized a Canned Food Drive at La Posada development.

Our residents continue to work together with Ricardo Carranza, the Tex-as A&M Community Garden Program Assistant and Valerie Reyes, to maintain the Lantana Community Garden.

July 24, 2015 Thanks to Ashley Furniture Homestore’s A Hope to Dream initiative, 18 kids in our develop-ments have been selected to receive new mattress sets. First founded in 2010, A Hope to Dream initia-tive works to help less for-tunate children get a good night’s sleep by providing them with new mattress-es. Aware that several of our families lack the means for new mattress-es, the Edinburg Housing Authority was happy to submit referrals on behalf of our residents earlier

this summer. About half of the mat-tress sets were delivered to our residents Friday, July 24, 2015 and the rest will be delivered by the end of August. According to Hilda Hernandez, a mother of one of the recipients, her son is finally getting a good night’s sleep in his own bedroom. “We’re very happy for the new mattress,” Her-nandez said. “My son now sleeps on his own bed in his room.” Besides donating the mattress sets, Ashley Fur-niture Homestore also do-nated bed frames, sheets,

pillows and comforters to recipients.

Due to the gener-ous donations, residents expressed their gratitude towards the A Hope to Dream initiative and EHA staff for the referrals.

“We didn’t ex-pect the pillows and comforters,” shared Ernes-tina Torres a resident of the Lantana Apartments. “We’re very thankful to everyone who helped, es-pecially Liz Hernandez and Claudia Lemus.” Our agency would like to give a big thanks to Ashley Furniture Home-store for its great efforts and helping our families.

Kids receive free mattresses from Ashley Furniture Homestore

A GOOD NIGHT’S SLEEP- Gael Valles, 10, was happy to receive his new mattress, pil-lows and bedding on Friday.

SWEET DREAMS- Kids se-lected, received mattresses, pillows, sheets and comforters.

Due monthly by the 1st, but EHA gives you until the 5th to pay in full. There is a $15 fee for late payments.

Rent deadline

Residents 18+ years old who are not em-ployed 30 hours or more a week or are not full-time students, must comply with the 8 hour HUD’s community service requirement.

IMPORTANT REMINDERS

Interested in finding out what’s happening at EHA or your development? Come find out at our next Res-ident Council Meeting. Meetings are led by the Exec-utive Director Rodolfo “Rudy” Ramirez and residents. Our next meeting will be:

Resident Council Meeting

September 10, 2015 @10 a.m at El JardinContact your property managers for the complete

schedule of days and locations of our next meetings.

Community service

4Stay updated!

Visit us todayn

EHA welcomes any housing students 13 to 19-years-old to join the Youth Leadership Association! If you have a child that would like to be a part of the Youth Leadership Association or learn more, he/she can

contact Diego Oros at doros@edinburgha.org or call 956-383-3839.

Join YLA!

Along with redesigning our website, we have created the EHA Achievers Blog to highlight the outstanding efforts of students pursuing a higher education, outstanding residents and interns that come gain valuable work experience at our agency. To view the EHA Achievers Blog please visit www.ehaachievers.blogspot.com. If you know any EHA students that have attended or are currently attending college as well as any residents that have ac-complished outstanding things, please contact us so that we can feature them in the blog. To let us know you may call the Juan Garcia at 956-383-3839.

Do you know an Achiever?

Hiring Tutors Our agency is looking for passionate and highly-driven EHA high school or college students interested in being Tutors for the 2015-2016 EHA Tutoring Program. If you are interested or someone you know is interested in this opportunity to become a part of our team, please come by the Ciro Treviño Administration Building to pick up an application. For more information contact your managers at (956)383-3839. The deadline to apply is August 14, 2015 at 5 p.m.