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March 2025 Newsletter

Community News. Van Buren Housing Authority March 2025.
March with clovers

March Reminders:

  • Office hours are Monday - Thursday
    • 7:30 AM - 6:00 PM
  • For AFTER-HOURS EMERGENCIES call 479.474.6901 (follow the prompts)
  • Don't forget to Spring Forward! Daylight Savings Time Begins March 9, 2025
  • Young Innovators STEM Camp March 24-27, 2025 9:00 AM - Noon Call 479.474.4407 to register
  • First Day of Spring - March 20, 2025
  • Like us on Facebook and keep updated on current VBHA events!
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Letter from the Director

We are so excited that it's finally Spring again! It feels like it has been a very long winter, and I am so ready to see green.

As you know, we are going into a HUD inspection year and this means that we will be doing additional work items and more frequent inspections than usual. In the initial inspections, we have found a lot of Housekeeping issues that we really need to address. Please make sure that you are keeping your unit to the standard outlined in your lease agreement with VBHA.

We also need you to make sure that you are calling in work items when you notice them. Per your lease, you are required to make us aware of any defect within 24 business hours. When you call our office to report a repair, this serves as your entry notice as you have invited us into your unit to complete repairs. We are working hard to serve our families in the best way possible, but this requires you to make sure you stay on top of any defects inside your unit.

It is also that time of year when most of us want to be out in our yards. If you have any questions about what you can and cannot plant, please call the office and we will help you with that. As with every summer, you are responsible for the upkeep of your lawn. Our Groundskeeper will inspect lawn weekly as we must follow our City Code. We want to have beautiful neighborhoods that we are proud of, and we know you want that, too!

Sincerely,

Dayna Cochran
Executive Director

Spring Fun: Trivia

Spring Trivia

  1. What is the first official day of spring called?
    1. Spring Awakening
    2. Vernal Equinox
    3. Sun Bloom
    4. March Solstice
  2. Which flower is commonly associated with the start of spring?
    1. Rose
    2. Sunflower
    3. Daffodil
    4. Orchid
  3. What natural event causes the length of day and night to be nearly equal on the first day of spring?
    1. Solar Eclipse
    2. Full Moon
    3. Equinox
    4. Tidal Shift

(Answers: 1.b, 2.c, 3.c)

Spring Cleaning Tips: Refresh Your Home and Community

Spring is the perfect time to declutter, organize, and freshen up your living space. Whether you're tackling a full deep-clean or just sprucing things up, here are some tips to make the process easier and more rewarding:

  1. Declutter First
    • Sort items into Keep, Donate, or Toss piles.
    • Consider donating gently used clothes and household items to local shelters or thrift stores.
  2. Deep Clean High-Traffic Areas
    • Wipe down frequently touched surfaces like doorknobs, light switches, and countertops.
    • Vacuum and mop floors, especially in entryways and kitchens.
    • Wash windows to let in that fresh spring sunshine!
  3. Refresh Your Living Space
    • Rotate seasonal clothes and store winter gear properly.
    • Bring in some greenery-houseplants can improve air quality and add a lively touch.
    • Open windows for natural ventilation and let fresh air circulate.
  4. Go Green with Cleaning
    • Use natural cleaners like vinegar, baking soda, and lemon juice.
    • Reduce waste by repurposing old t-shirts as cleaning rags instead of disposable wipes.
  5. Community Clean-Up
    • Join or organize a neighborhood clean-up day to keep shared spaces tidy.
    • Report any maintenance issues in communal areas to property management.

A cleaner home and community create a healthier, happier environment for everyone! What are your favorite spring-cleaning tips? Let us know!

Love Your Lease: Notifying PHA of Need for Repairs

Lease Agreement-Section I Tenant Obligations-Tenant shall be obligated:

40. "To keep his/her dwelling unit in such condition as to ensure proper health and sanitation standards. Tenant shall notify the PHA promptly of need for repairs to his/her dwelling unit, and of known unsafe or unsanitary conditions in the dwelling unit or in common areas and grounds of the development. Tenant's failure to report the need for repairs in a timely manner shall be considered as contributing to any damage that occurs."

Tenants must keep their home clean and safe to maintain good health and sanitation. They should report any needed repairs or unsafe conditions in their unit or shared areas to the housing authority as soon as possible. If a tenant does not report issues on time, they may be held responsible for any resulting damage.