June 2023 E-Newsletter
No Smoking Policy
The Housing Authority of Darlington (HAD) Buildings, rental units, community centers, play areas, and adjoining properties are Smoke-Free. Smoking includes inhaling, exhaling, burning, or carrying any lighted cigar, cigarette, pipe, or another lighted smoking device.
Important Dates for Residents
- June 1st Rent, Retro Rent, and Repayments are due
- June 6th - Late Notices Mailed
- June 12th - Evictions Filed for May Rent
- June 19th Office Closed in observation of Juneteenth
Absolutely no kiddie pools, swimming pools, or trampolines on the premises.
No one is allowed to sit on the caged equipment on the grounds.
Effective September 1, 2023, we will no longer mail monthly statements and newsletters unless you have an outstanding balance. After recertification, your rent will remain the same unless you provide information that requires it to change or have maintenance charges.
Reminders
Please do not flush wipes, even the ones that say they are flushable. They cause stop-ups and will result in you having a maintenance charge.
Please do not use Door Barricade Reinforcement on your doors. In case of a maintenance emergency or medical emergency, staff, city police, and emergency personnel must have access to your apartment.
Please remove your trash container from the curbside as promptly as possible. Leaving it beside the curb is a violation of the Darlington City Ordinance.
Domestic Violence Help Resources Help Resources: For help regarding an abusive relationship, you may call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1.800.799.7233 for persons with hearing impairments, 1.800.787.3224 (TTY).
Sexual Assault National HOTLINE: 1.800.656.HOPE (4673)
Darlington City Victim Advocate: 1.843.398.4026
Trafficking and Abduction (Kidnapping)
It is getting warm, and your child/children will be playing outside, please follow the following Safety Precautions and Tips on Human Trafficking and Abduction to make sure your child/children are safe. Talk to your children not to scare them but to make them aware of their surroundings.
- Stay away from strangers. Explain to children what makes a person a stranger. Note that even someone with a familiar face is a stranger if you do not know him or her well.
- If you fear someone, run to safety. Run and scream if someone tries to force you to go somewhere with them or tries to push you into a car.
- Teach your child their full name, address, and phone number.
- Memorize a secret code word. Tell your child not to go with anyone under any circumstances unless that person also knows this code word.
- Have a "Call List" of emergency contacts, and make sure your child knows the numbers for who to call if they can't reach you.
- Adults shouldn't ask children for help. For example, a child shouldn't trust grown-ups who ask kids for directions or for help finding a puppy or kitten. A child who is approached in this way should tell the person, "Wait here, and I'll check with my mom or dad," and then find his or her parents right away.
- Always ask for permission before going anywhere with anybody. Ask a parent or the grown-up in charge before leaving the yard or play area or before going into someone's home. Do not accept any unplanned offers for a ride from someone known or unknown.
- Always tell your parents where you are going, how you will get there, who is going with you, and when you will be back. Be home at the agreed-upon time, or else find a way to contact home directly.
- Avoid shortcuts when you are walking from one place to another. Avoid walking between parked vehicles.
- Work hard to establish trust and communication with your children from day one!
- Don't ever leave children unattended in a vehicle, whether it is running or not.
- Make sure you know how to always find or contact your children.
- Take an active role in your children's activities.
- As tired as you may be, take the time to listen intently to your children when they tell you they had a bad dream. There could be a reason. Trust your instincts.
- Talk to your children about inappropriate incidents you hear on the news and get their perspective.
- Question and monitor anyone who takes an unusual interest in your children.
- Teach your children that they can be rude to an adult if they feel threatened in any way. They need to hear it from you directly because this message often contradicts everything they have heard before.
- Teach children the difference between an "OK" secret and a "NOT OK" secret. Assure your child that you would never want him/her to feel like they had to keep a "NOT OK" secret from you.
- Have your children practice their most annoying scream. They may need to use it someday.
- Check websites for registered offenders in your neighborhood. Talk to your children about why these people should be avoided.
- Keep your family computer in a central location that is easily monitored, and avoid letting your children have internet access in unsupervised areas (i.e., computers in their bedrooms, etc.).
- Most importantly, practice, review and reinforce all these tips in a manner that will not scare your children. The goal is to make them smart and keep them safe.
