= National Fair Housing Month
By Henry A. Alvarez, III
 President George W. Bush proclaimed April 2008 as National Fair Housing Month on April 1st. What a fitting time for SAHA to be listed in the prestigious AHF Top 50! During National Fair Housing Month, our Nation commemorates the 40th anniversary of the Fair Housing Act and reaffirms our dedication to maintaining equal access to housing for every American. As SAHA nears 71 years serving the housing needs of San Antonio, it is easy to see that we have been leaders in the affordable housing industry longer than Fair Housing was even a national issue. Let us continue in this tradition of innovation and leadership in the affordable housing arena. As we come to the end of Fair Housing month, we at SAHA make the commitment to serve the housing needs of San Antonio every day, not just once per year. Thank you to each and every one of you who work every day toward this goal.
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= SAHA Makes Affordable Housing Finance Magazine “Top 50”
Texas PHA Named #5 in the Nation for Affordable Housing Developers
The national affordable housing publication, Affordable Housing Finance, recently released its annual listing of the Top 50 Affordable Housing Developers, listing the San Antonio Housing Authority as number 5 with 1,255 units started, and 1,204 units completed. The list has SAHA ahead of such national organizations such as New York City based Domain Cos. and Colorado based Mercy Housing.
SAHA was the only PHA to have made the prestigious list, and the only organization serving a single metropolitan area.
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= Ways To Relieve Everyday Stress
Try these tips for relieving everyday stress
It’s tough dealing with the demands of everyday life – the dog, the kids, the money, the school, the job, even the dentist.
Try these tips for relieving everyday stress.
Recognize the signs
You know how you physically react to stress: you tense up, get an upset stomach, and more. The mental symptoms of stress can be even worse and include:
l Being irritated and frustrated
l Overreacting to minor disturbances
l Losing your temper more often
l Feeling jumpy or exhausted all the time
l Having difficulty concentrating or focusing on tasks
l Worrying too much about insignificant
Over time, chronic stress affects the cardiovascular system, nervous system, and immune system. It can lead to high blood pressure, make you susceptible to infection, and increase your risk of depression.
Develop coping strategies
When you face a difficult situation, these coping strategies may help:
l Deal with one thing at a time – don’t try to control every aspect of the situation
l Go easy on criticism – focus on solving the problem, not placing blame.
l Be flexible – deal with only the items you can change or control, and let go of what you can’t.
l Share your feelings – a strong system of social support can help; avoiding your feelings will not.
Manage your time and commitments
Shed the urge to “do it all” – especially during stressful times. If you have trouble coping with all the demands:
l Take your time – Stopping to think, plan and search for alternatives may actually save you time and reduce your stress level.
l Don’t over-promise – Say to yourself and then others, “If I have time, I will…if not, I’ll do my best.”
l Delegate – Lean on your family and friends, make expectations clear and then step away.
Take care of your body and mind
A healthy lifestyle can help you deal with and even avoid stress. Healthy habits include:
l Get plenty of sleep
l Avoid alcohol and smoking
l Eat a healthy, balanced diet
l Exercise or get other regular physical activity
l Listen to music
l Enjoy fresh air
l Meditate, get massages, and do breathing exercises
l Participate in things you enjoy, like hobbies
Bottom Line
Stress happens year-round. You can’t always control stressful situations, but coping strategies and healthy habits can minimize the impact of stress on your mental and physical health.
Source: humana.com |
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= Family Medical Leave Act
Know Your Rights
DO YOU KNOW YOUR RIGHTS UNDER THE
FAMILY MEDICAL LEAVE ACT?
FMLA requires covered employers to provide up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave to “eligible” employees for certain family and medical reasons. Employees are eligible if they have worked for a covered employer for at least one year and for 1,250 hours over the previous 12 months and if there are at least 50 employees within 75 miles.
REASONS FOR TAKING LEAVE
Unpaid leave must be granted for any of the following reasons:
To care for the child after birth, or placement for adoption or foster care;
To care for the employee’s spouse, son or daughter, or parent who has a serious health condition; or
For a serious health condition that makes the employee unable to perform the employee’s job.
At the employee or employer’s option, certain kinds of paid leave may be substituted for unpaid leave.
ADVANCE NOTICE AND MEDICAL CERTIFICATION:
The employee may be required to provide advance leave notice and medical certification. Taking of leave may be denied if requirements are not met.
Then employee ordinarily must provide 30 days notice when the leave is “foreseeable”.
An employer may require medical certification to support a request for leave because of a serious health condition, and may require second or third opinions (at the employer’s expense) and a fitness for duty report (Return to Work Certificate) to return to work.
JOB BENEFITS AND PROTECTION:
For the duration of FMLA leave, the employer must maintain the employee’s health coverage under any “group health plan”.
Upon return from FMLA leave, most employees must be restored to their original or equivalent positions with equivalent pay, benefits, and other employment terms.
The use of FMLA leave cannot result in the loss of any employment benefit that accrued prior to the start of an employee’s leave.
UNLAWFUL ACTS BY EMPLOYERS:
FMLA makes it unlawful for any employer to:
Interfere with, restrain, or deny the exercise of any right provided under FMLA:
Discharge or discriminate against any person for opposing any practice made unlawful by FMLA or for involvement in any proceeding under or relating to FMLA.
ENFORCEMENT:
The U.S. Department of Labor is authorized to investigate and resolve complaints of violations.
An eligible employee may bring a civil action against an employer for violations.
FMLA does not affect any Federal or State Law prohibiting discrimination, or supersede any State or local law or collective bargaining agreement, which provides greater family or medical leave rights.
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Contact the nearest office of the Wage and Hour Division, listed in most telephone directories under U.S. Government, Department of Labor.!
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= Green Spring Cleaning Tips
Just a few changes can make your home into a green home!
The last thing you want to do is dump toxic chemicals into the environment in the name of cleaning, right? These days you don’t have to make a special trip to the natural foods store to seek out environmentally-sensitive cleaning products. Seventh Generation, Method and Biokleen are three companies that make full lines of household cleaners, and you can find them in just about every store. Or you can stock your natural cleaning kit with homemade cleaners-making them yourself is super easy.
The basic supplies you’ll need to make your own green cleaners include:
l Distilled white vinegar
l Baking soda
l Olive oil
l Borax (sold in a box in the laundry aisle)
l Liquid castile soap
l Essential oils (super concentrated natural plant oils found in natural food stores, usually in the cosmetics section)
l Microfiber cleaning cloths
l Newspaper
Here are a few basic “recipes” and techniques to get you started:
Glass: Mix ¼ cup vinegar with 1 quart water in a spray bottle. Spray on glass and wipe clean with old newspapers or a lint-free cloth.
Countertops & bathroom tile: Mix 2 parts vinegar and 1 part baking soda with 4 parts water. Apply with a sponge, scour, and wipe away.
Floors: Mix 4 cups of white distilled vinegar with about a gallon of hot water. If desired, add a few drops of pure peppermint or lemon oil or a pleasant scent. After damp mopping the floors, the smell of vinegar will dissipate quickly, leaving behind only the scent of the oil.
Toilet Bowl Cleaner: Sprinkle a toilet brush with baking soda and scrub away! Occasionally disinfect your toilet by scrubbing with borax instead. Wipe the outside of the toilet clean with straight vinegar.
Disinfectant: Mix 2 teaspoons borax, 4 tablespoons vinegar, 3 cups hot water, and ¼ teaspoon liquid castile soap. Wipe on with dampened cloth or use a spray bottle. Wipe clean.
Mold & Mildew: Wipe with straight vinegar.
Air freshener: Sprinkle essential oil on a cotton ball, and stash it in a corner of the room. If you have kids, make sure it is out of their reach as essential oils are very strong and could irritate their skin. Lavender is a relaxing scent that is great for bedrooms and cinnamon, clove and citrus oils are great for the rest of the house. You can stash a few in the car too. Try peppermint, which may help you to stay alert.
Mothballs: Replace those stinky mothballs with a natural and better smelling version. Stuff a lonely unpaired sock with cinnamon sticks, bay leaves, and whole cloves and tie it at the end.
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