Programs >> Housing Services
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The Office of Human Affairs has participated in the City of Newport News’ Community Development Block Grant program since 1975, and has monitored Labor Standards Compliance since 1976. These efforts have assisted the City and the Redevelopment & Housing Authority in meeting required program compliance goals and have allowed the Agency to fulfill its mandate from the City Council to seek resources to eliminate poverty or the causes of poverty.
The Labor Standards Compliance Component offers training to small/minority contractors and busi-nesses, reviews all construction contracts, monitors payrolls, maintains a job bank, conducts seminars to enhance job readiness and preparedness, and publishes a monthly newsletter - "The Contractor’s Corner". [Top]
The MBE sector seeks to crate entrepreneurial opportunities by maintaining an updated listing of small/minority businesses and holding workshops for contractors and small business owners to enhance their knowledge and business skills. We provide unemployment related counseling and locate suitable training and employment opportunities for area residents. We assist in qualifying more area residents to employment to various construction sites and businesses. [Top]
The Comprehensive Housing Counseling Program provides a comprehensive array of housing counseling services, including outreach, to potential first-time home buyers, and to persons eligible for assistance under home buying, home ownership or rental housing programs, regardless of the program funding source. This program enables persons to make prudent and responsible use of available programs by helping eligible renters, including public housing and Section 8 participants, locate and qualify for assisted rental units; by helping eligible home buyers obtain affordable housing and by aiding existing home-owners in avoiding foreclosures or evictions.
The program also offers intensive, individual counseling and group training under seven topic categories: credit counseling; money and budget management; pre- and post-purchase home ownership counseling; homeowners’ rights and responsibilities; tenancy counseling; mortgage default counseling and Home Equity Conversion/Reverse Mortgage Counseling. The program offers comprehensive assistance in all loan products, whether federal, state, local or private. Our services are free and open to anyone, providing unbiased information to the consumer.
Two sessions are offered monthly, and include a six-hour Virginia Housing Development Authority certified Home Ownership Educational Seminar designed to assist first-time home buyers in becoming informed and successful homeowners. OHA is a HUD approved Housing Counseling Agency and, is certified by the VHDA as a home-ownership trainer. The Housing Counselor is a certified Comprehensive Housing Counselor with both the National Association of Housing Counselors and Agencies/National Federation of Housing Counselors and the Housing Services, Inc. [Top]
OHA serves as the administering Agency to receive, examine and inquire into alleged violations of the City’s Fair Housing Ordinance. We serve the community with information, referral and training. Funding comes from the City of Newport News and the Newport News Redevelopment & Housing Authority. [Top]
The purpose of the HRC is to safeguard all individuals within the City from unlawful discrimination due to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status or disability occurring in places of public accommodation, including educational institutions. The program also oversees matters pertaining to real estate transactions and employment. Considerable emphasis is placed on preserving the public’s safety, health and general welfare, and also on investigating any unfounded charges of unlawful discrimination. [Top]