Winter 2020 Tenant Newsletter
This PDF document may not meet current accessibility standards (WCAG 2.1 AA) and may not be fully usable with assistive technologies.
If you require access to the information in a more accessible format, please e-mail webstaff@johnstonnc.gov and we will provide an alternative version as soon as possible. A machine-generated text version is also available below.
We apologize for any inconvenience and appreciate your understanding as we work toward full accessibility compliance.
If the document does not display above, download the PDF.
Text version (machine-generated from the PDF)
10 76th Tenant Fall Edition - 2020 HAPP - Y Notes Welcome to the current edition of HAPP - y Notes , a quarterly newsletter produced for Section 8 tenants in Johnston County , NC Our staff welcomes your question and comments If there are topics or personal stories you would like to share with us or to be featured in upcoming issues , please email allisondunn @ johnstonnccom NEW PHONE SYSTEM Please be patient with our new phone set - up Listen to ENTIRE message to press appro - priate extension # for person you are trying to reach If you’re unsure with whom you need to speak , press 7 and leave your name , num - ber and a brief message and someone will return your call shortly COVID TESTING FREE COVID - 19 Drive - thru Testing Dates & Sites Smithfield - Selma High School 700 Booker Dairy Rd Smithfield , NC 27577 December 1 December 8 December 15 Call Johnston County COVID - 19 Helpline with questions 919 - 209 - 8310 Free Pets for Vets Johnston County Animal Shelter now waives all ani - mal adoption fees for all MILITARY VETERANS Bring your DD214 , DoD ID card , or Johnston County “ Thank a Vet ” card For more information , contact the Johnston County Animal Shelter at 919 - 934 - 8474 HAPP Winter Closings Christmas Holidays December 24 - 28 , 2021 New Year ’ s Day January 1 , 2021 Martin Luther King , Jr Day January 18 , 2021 Did you know Live - ins NOT listed on your lease is FRAUD HUD is a federally funded program and having someone in your household who isn ’ t listed on your lease is a VIOLATION of your lease and is prosecutable in a court of law for fraud , for federal funds being abused HUD PROSECUTES FOR FRAUD Does anything need to be repaired in your home TELL THE LANDLORD first before you call our office to report You must first give the landlord a chance to make repairs PageWant Lower Utility Bills ? Set your thermostat unit to 68 degrees while you ’ re sleeping ? Turn off all lights when not in use ? Unplug appliances when not in use ? Take advantage of heat from the sun by opening curtains of sun - facing windows during the day and closing them at night ? Use kitchen and bathroom fans to reduce moisture in home ? Lower your water heating costs by turning down the wa - ter heater temperature to 120 degrees Fahrenheit ? Dress warmer in cold weather and use heavier blankets while sleeping JOHNSTON COUNTY HAPP PO Box 1515 107 E Johnston St Smithfield , NC 27577 919 - 989 - 5070 Don ’ t forget to recycle your Christmas trees at the Johnston County landfill 680 County Home Rd Smithfield , NC 27577 Safety Reminders for the Christmas Season ? For outside lights , please use heavy extension cords designed for outdoor use and always check for wear and tear ? Do not put holes in the siding when hanging outdoor lights ? Do not run cords under doors , across doorways or under carpets ? Unplug all Christmas lights when not at home ? If using a ‘ live ’ tree , be sure to wa - ter it every day ? When removing your ‘ live ’ tree , please drag to the curb for pickup or take to landfill to recycle Reminder about changes in income Please remember to report any type of changes in income or family composition within 10 days Also , we can ’ t lower your rent until we have proper documentation of changes , such as paystubs , letters from Social Security , and such FYI we use the Government EIV System to verify income This information tells us when and where you have worked If we find that you have been working without reporting it to us , you will be re - quired to pay us back and it could result in termina - tion of your assistance WE DON ’ T WANT THIS TO HAPPEN TO YOU Give Kindness this Christmas Christmas is a wonderful time to spread kindness You can make someone ’ s holidays special without spending lots of money Perhaps you can take food to a shut - in or send a card to an elderly person or call to check on someone Though this year is different than any other year because of COVID - 19 , there are ways to share kind - ness without being social Acts of kindness go a long ways We all wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy , Healthy and Prosperous New Year Randy , Myrtle , Dawna , Denise , Barbara and AllisonPage