Resident Participation
The PHA values the participation and voices of residents in its planning activity and as such involves resident representatives in the following three formal ways.
Resident Members of the Board of Commissioners
The PHA is governed by an eleven-member Board of Commissioners that is responsible for guiding the mission and vision of the organization as well as enhancing and expanding opportunities for all residents. The Board acts as a decision-making body in regard to policies, plans, and the agency’s budget to advance the mission, vision, and work of the PHA. The composition of the PHA Board of Commissioners includes three (3) residents from the PHA who are appointed by the Mayor from a list of nominees chosen by residents. The Mayor also directly appoints six (6) additional members. All mayoral appointees serve five-year staggered terms. Two (2) Board members are elected by the Providence City Council from among its members. If you would like more information about becoming a PHA Resident Commissioner, contact Priscilla Cintron, PHA Resident Liaison, at pcintron@provhousing.org
Resident Associations or Councils
The PHA currently recognizes two Resident Associations: the Hartford Park Resident Association serving tenants of the Hartford Park Apartments (including Hartford Park Tower) and the Carroll Tower Resident Association serving tenants of Carroll Tower Apartments.
Hartford Park Resident Association President: Vivian Medina, hpra205@aol.com
Carroll Tower Resident Association President: Larry D’Alfonso, larrydalfonso@gmail.com
The role of a resident association or council is to improve the quality of life and resident satisfaction and participate in self-help initiatives to enable residents to create a positive living environment for individuals and families living in public housing. According to HUD regulations, a resident council shall consist of persons residing in public housing and must meet each of the following requirements in order to receive official recognition from the PHA/HUD, and be eligible to receive funds for resident council activities, and stipends for officers for their related costs for volunteer work in public housing:
a. It may represent residents residing: (1) in scattered site buildings;(2) in areas of contiguous row houses; or (3) in one or more contiguous buildings; (4) in a development; or(5) In a combination of these buildings or developments;
b. It must adopt written procedures such as by-laws, or a constitution which provides for the election of residents to the governing board by the voting membership of the residents residing in public housing on a regular basis but at least once every three (3) years. The written procedures must provide for the recall of the resident board by the voting membership. These provisions shall allow for a petition or other expression of the voting membership’s desire for a recall election and set the number of percentage of voting membership (“threshold”) who must agree in order to hold a recall election. This threshold shall not be less than 10 percent of the voting membership.
c. It must have a democratically elected governing board that is elected by the voting membership. At a minimum, the governing board should consist of five (5) elected board members. The voting membership must consist of heads of households (any age) and other residents at least 18 years of age or older and whose name appears on a lease for the unit in the public housing that the resident council represents.
If you would like more information about establishing a resident association or council in your development, contact Priscilla Cintron, PHA Resident Liaison, at pcintron@provhousing.org.
Resident Advisory Board
The Resident Advisory Board (RAB) provides the PHA and its residents with a forum for sharing information about the PHA’s Five Year and Annual Plans. Section 511 of the United States Housing Act and related regulations in 24 CFR part 903 require that PHAs establish one or more Resident Advisory Board(s) or RAB as part of the PHA Plan process. The PHA has established one Resident Advisory Board comprised of up to three representatives from each of its 13 developments. Additionally, the PHA’s RAB has three seats reserved for representatives of households participating in the Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) Program. Although the primary role of the RAB is to assist the PHA in developing the PHA’s Five Year and Annual Plans and in making any significant amendment or modification to those Plans, other roles of the RAB include:
- Promoting and to striving for the improvement and betterment of all public facilities and services;
- Maintaining the quality of life and promoting a safe and healthy environment;
- Promoting and encouraging increased community and civic spirit;
- Providing a forum for discussion of matters of concern to residents;
- Serving as a liaison between the PHA and its residents; and
- Functioning as a leader for the PHA residents.
The RAB meets on a monthly basis September through June. RAB members receive a small monthly stipend to compensate them for their time and travel expenses related to attending meetings. If you would like more information about becoming a RAB member, contact Priscilla Cintron, PHA Resident Liaison, at pcintron@provhousing.org