February 3, 2025

The Voucher Voice

February 2025 Housing Choice Voucher Program Resident Newsletter

CEO Message

Listening and Leading

Dear Residents,

As we move into February, I want to take a moment to express my gratitude for your partnership and trust in County Housing. This month, we celebrate the season of connection and kindness, and I encourage everyone to find moments to uplift one another and build a sense of community.

At County Housing, we remain focused on enhancing the resources and support available to you. Whether it’s through improving services, maintaining safe and welcoming homes, or fostering partnerships with organizations that can help meet your needs, our goal is to ensure you feel supported every step of the way.

I also want to share my appreciation for your feedback. Your input plays a vital role in shaping the way we serve you. If you have ideas or concerns, please don’t hesitate to share them with us. Together, we can continue to build a community we are all proud to call home.

Wishing you a warm and wonderful February!

Sincerely,

Shannon Koenig
CEO, County Housing

Feature Story

2024 Customer Service Survey Results

Happy New Year! We hope you had a wonderful winter break and are entering 2025 refreshed and ready for new opportunities. As we kick off this exciting year, we are thrilled to share some great news with you!

County Housing has completed its third annual Customer Service Survey, collecting valuable feedback from our residents in the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program, public housing communities, and our landlords. This survey offers insights into how we’re doing and highlights areas where we can improve to better serve you.

The results show the progress we’ve made and guide us in enhancing our services. We’re already working on initiatives to improve response times, streamline processes, and strengthen our interactions with residents. These efforts are designed to address the key themes that emerged from your feedback.

As we move into 2025, one of our primary goals is to engage even more with residents and landlords. By expanding engagement and communication, we’ll gather a broader range of insights to help us serve our community even better.

Your feedback is essential – it helps us celebrate our successes, identify areas for improvement, and ensure we remain in tune with your needs. The results of the 2024 survey are now available on our website, and we encourage you to take a look.

Thank you for being an important part of our community and helping us make County Housing a place where everyone feels supported, valued, and empowered. Together, we’ll continue to deliver excellent service rooted in respect, compassion, and excellence.

Here’s to a successful and inspiring 2025!

Safe & Sound

Be Prepared: Severe Weather Awareness Week February 4-8

Severe Weather Awareness Week is February 4-8, and it’s the perfect time to ensure you and your family are prepared for unexpected weather events. Being prepared can make all the difference, whether it’s heavy rain, strong winds, or dangerous storms.

Here are a few tips to help you stay safe:

1. Know Your Alerts
Stay informed with weather updates by signing up for emergency alerts on your phone and regularly checking your local news channels.

2. Create an Emergency Plan
Make sure everyone in your home knows where to go in case of severe weather. Identify a safe spot, like a basement or an interior room without windows.

3. Prepare an Emergency Kit
Put together a kit with essentials such as:

Bottled water and non-perishable food
Flashlights and extra batteries
Medications and important documents
A first aid kit
Blankets and phone chargers

4. Secure Outdoor Items
If severe weather is in the forecast, bring in or secure outdoor furniture, trash bins, and anything that could blow away or cause damage.

5. Check in on Your Neighbors
During severe weather, check on elderly or vulnerable neighbors to ensure they’re safe and have what they need.

Severe weather can strike quickly, but being prepared will help keep you and your family safe. Take time this week to review your plans, gather supplies, and discuss what to do in an emergency.

For more safety tips, visit Ready.gov or follow updates from the National Weather Service.

Stay safe and prepared!

Winter Weather Preparedness

As snow and ice become more common, it’s crucial to be ready for winter conditions. Here are some additional tips to ensure you’re safe during winter storms:

Car Preparedness: Make sure your vehicle is ready for winter. Always keep a shovel and ice scraper in your car to clear off snow and ice. It’s also a good idea to keep blankets, a flashlight, and non-perishable snacks in your car, in case you get stuck.
Stay Safe When Driving: If you must travel, ensure your car is stocked with winter essentials. Drive cautiously on snow and ice, leave plenty of space between vehicles, and avoid sudden movements.
Layer Up: Dress in warm layers and wear appropriate footwear to stay dry and prevent frostbite or hypothermia in extreme cold.

As we continue through the winter season, staying informed and prepared for potential severe weather is important. At County Housing, our top priority is the safety of our staff and residents. Please be aware that in the event of extreme weather, County Housing may close or alter hours of operation. Before heading into the office during bad weather, we encourage you to check our website for updates or call our main office number to confirm our status.

Taking a few minutes to verify whether the office is open can help ensure your safety and avoid unnecessary trips. Stay safe, and let’s all work together to stay prepared during Severe Weather Awareness Week and beyond.

Community Connect

Supporting Our Community Together.

Welcome to “Community Connect,” a section dedicated to supporting our County Housing community together. Here, you’ll find resources, events, and initiatives designed to strengthen our neighborhoods, foster connections, and provide you with the tools and information you need. Together, we can continue to build a thriving community where everyone has the opportunity to succeed.

Partner Spotlight: Rx Outreach – Making Medications Affordable for All

At County Housing, we’re proud to partner with Rx Outreach, a nonprofit online pharmacy dedicated to helping individuals access the medications they need at an affordable price. With a mission rooted in compassion, Rx Outreach believes that no one should have to choose between filling a prescription and meeting basic needs like feeding their family.

With a team of over 70 licensed pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, and patient care advocates, Rx Outreach ensures that every patient receives personalized care and support. Their strong partnerships with donors and pharmaceutical companies enable them to offer medications at a fraction of the cost you’d find at traditional pharmacies.

If you’re looking for an affordable and reliable way to get your medications, Rx Outreach is here to help. Learn more and get started at rxoutreach.org.

Fair Housing Fact:

Did You Know?

The Fair Housing Act, passed in 1968, protects individuals from housing discrimination based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status, or disability. This means landlords, property managers, and others involved in housing must provide equal access to housing opportunities for all individuals.

If you ever feel that your rights under the Fair Housing Act have been violated, it’s important to speak up. You can file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) or contact a local fair housing organization for assistance.

Fair housing is about creating communities where everyone has a chance to thrive. Let’s work together to uphold these principles and ensure that everyone has access to a place they can call home.

For more information, visit hud.gov/fairhousing or call 1-800-669-9777.

Updates & Announcements

How to Find Your Caseworker

At County Housing, we strive to make it easy for you to stay connected with your caseworker. To find out who your assigned caseworker is, simply log into your Resident RentCafe portal. Once logged in, select the “Contact Us” button. This will display the name of your caseworker along with their direct phone number and email address so you can easily reach out to them for any assistance or questions you may have.

We’re here to support you and want to ensure you have all the information you need to stay informed and connected!

Reminder: Understanding Small Area Fair Market Rents (SAFMRs)

At County Housing, we want to ensure you have all the information you need about Small Area Fair Market Rents (SAFMRs) and how they affect your Housing Choice Voucher (HCV).

SAFMRs allow us to set rental assistance amounts based on smaller geographic areas, such as ZIP codes, instead of larger regions. This helps us adjust rental assistance more accurately to reflect the varying housing costs in different neighborhoods.

How Does This Affect You?
If you live in a ZIP code with higher rent costs, your voucher may provide more assistance, giving you more housing options in neighborhoods with better amenities and opportunities.

If you live in a lower-cost area, your rental assistance might be adjusted accordingly. This helps make sure your voucher keeps pace with local rent prices while ensuring that you have access to safe, affordable housing that meets your needs.

For more information or questions about SAFMRs and how they may impact your voucher, please visit this webpage, where we’ve posted FAQs and helpful resources. As always, we’re here to assist you if you need personalized support.

Thank you for being a valued member of our community!

County Housing 2025 Holiday Office Closures

Please be aware that County Housing will be closed on the following holidays in 2025:

President’s Day – Monday, February 17
Memorial Day – Monday, May 26
Juneteenth – Thursday, June 19
Independence Day – Friday, July 4
Labor Day – Monday, September 1
Veterans Day – Tuesday, November 11
Thanksgiving Day – Thursday, November 27
Day After Thanksgiving – Friday, November 28

Additionally, County Housing will be closed for the holiday season from Thursday, December 25, 2025, Thursday, January 1, 2026, and will reopen on Friday, January 2, 2026.

Please plan accordingly, and we hope you enjoy your holidays!