WORK IS UP, TRAINING IS UP, MARKETING IS UP.

July 2021

Riviera Beach Housing Authority

He Has Retired.

From the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office (PBSO), that is. Authority Board Chairman Jeffery B. Jackson joined the public law enforcement agency as a Deputy in 1986 and, as of June 30, 2021, retired as a Captain. We thank him for those 35 years of commitment to his community--which will continue. Here. At the Riviera Beach Housing Authority. We know him.

And Congratulations, Chairman Jackson

Toward the end of the July 13 regular monthly Board meeting, Executive Director John W. Hurt read into the record a Resolution recognizing Board Chairman Jackson's retirement. From the PBSO. But, of course, The Chairman's service to the community continues. As always. And to read a copy of the Resolution, click here.

Visit the RBHA

We Continue Building Heron Estates Family.

And Housing Programs.

The 79 units of workforce-style family housing is 49 percent complete and is scheduled to finish in November 2021. And as we build the new affordable housing, we're also working to create a first-time homebuyer program and several homeless housing initiatives with community partners. We held a Development Workshop last month where we discussed plans to move forward, including partnerships with the City and the Riviera Beach Community Redevelopment Agency. We'll keep you updated.

Hard Hat Tour

That was the name of the walk-through project created and hosted on June 30 by Commissioners Alexis Lockhart and Horace Towns. On that day, the two Commissioners did a literal walk through the Heron Estates Family development, our workforce housing project currently being constructed, and used social media to connect with those in the public who may have wanted to know more about the project. And there were many: more than 200 people tuned in and some of them asked questions. To learn more about the project, click here to watch the video.

The Marketing Sub-Committee Chairwoman

She is the most-recent Board appointee and the youngest, but Commissioner Alexis Lockhart is already hard at work. She is the launching head of the Authority's new Marketing Committee and has worked to help tell the Authority’s story. It makes sense: Commissioner Lockhart graduated from Florida A & M University with a degree in, well, Marketing. In the years since, she's worked all over the world, pitching her client's stories. Currently, she is the Communications Director for Faith's Place Center for Arts Education in West Palm Beach and was recently named by the Palm Beach North Chamber of Commerce as its new Communications Coordinator. At the RBHA, to which she was appointed by Mayor Ronnie L. Felder in June of last year, she has focused on, again, telling the Authority's story—especially on social media. Since the Committee launched, she has seen a 200 percent increase in community engagement, according to her most-recent Committee report, primarily through social media. She also created the Resident of the Month initiative and has also been doing video interviews after Board meetings and posting them on social media. She also did a virtual tour of Heron Estates Family. Learn more about that above.

Free Board Training

That's thanks to the southeast chapter of the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), which is hosting a series of live-virtual training sessions about service on public Authority Boards. Our team will attend some of the sessions, which are open to other public housing authorities in the region. The series will discuss budgets and finance, strategic planning, procurement and risk management. Among other things. The sessions began on June 29 and continue through October 26. We'll be attending the one on August 17. Topic? Roles and responsibilities.

For Heron Estates Senior Residents

News, Events and Useful Information from the City of Riviera Beach

ST. A.R.S. PROGRAM

More than 20 years ago, the City’s Department of Parks & Recreation created the ST.A.R.S. program—for the City’s Stimulating And Remarkable Seniors. The program is located within the Lindsey Davis Sr. Community Center in the Datura Park neighborhood and, on its grounds, for the Seniors, there are also two garden sites. The program is open to all those aged 55 and older in Palm Beach County and, indeed, has members from cities across the County. “That’s because they like our program and they come here every day,” said Gwen Oats, the program’s director. “And every year, they get something different.” Those services are provided by the City, yes, but also by lots of partnerships, including with the PBC Sports Commission and FAU, for example, which provides sports-related field trips. The Department Director Richard Blankenship thinks the program is great. And supports it. Hugely.

The ST.A.R.S. Program is located at 1550 W. 28^th Street. To learn more, visit! Or call 561-840-3170 or send an email here.

Need Help With Rent?

Or electric bills? And water payments? Palm Beach County's Department of Community Services is providing financial support to County residents--including those at Heron Estates Senior. Indeed, according to the Department, households that have not lost income due to COVID-19 can now apply for help with electric and utility bills, while rental assistance is only available for households that have been impacted by the pandemic, either directly or indirectly. The Department has a host of support services. Click here to visit its support webpage.

About the RBHA

The RBHA was founded in 1968 and is a special district of the City of Riviera Beach. It is also an agency of the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), as are six other housing authorities in Palm Beach County. The five-member Board of Commissioners meets on the second Tuesday of each month at the Authority offices. The meetings are open to the public and nearly all information is available to the public by request. Click here for more Board information, including meeting dates, agendas and minutes.

Administration

John W. Hurt

Executive Director

Matthew C. Russell

Board Attorney

2001 Broadway, suite 101

Riviera Beach, FL 33404

561-845-7450 office

800-431-8738 fax

Visit the RBHA

Did You Know...

...that we also already own four single-family houses that are affordable? Yes. The houses were all purchased, together, as part of HUD's Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP), which provides funding assistance to stabilize housing in a given community. All four are currently rented. In different neighborhoods around the City.