HEAR is almost here

HEAR, Houston Employee Assessment and Review, is a new system that will provide a clear, two-way channel of communication between employees and supervisors. Work plans will be aligned with department goals and the Mayor's five pillars. And employees will be able to track and monitor job performance, giving them a clear roadmap for success.

Mandatory training for all managers and supervisors will start in October. Look for updates posted here regarding the HEAR implementation.

Log on to: http://www.houstontx.gov/hr/hear.html for more information. You can also log on the LMS system to see a brief video from HR Director Omar Reid.

To access LMS:1. Go to http://lms.coh.gov2. Enter your username – e123456 (six-digit employee number with the “e” – use leading zeros if needed)3. Enter your password – if this is your first-time logging in, your password is password (all lowercase)

Look for more information about training soon.

Thanks,

Laurie

Houston Housing Authority

Housing Choice Voucher Program Wait List Closure

A record 83,743 families and Houstonians applied for the Housing Choice Voucher Program wait list during the week of August 20-26. Houston Housing Authority had an additional 4,047 families apply for the Moderate Rehabilitation program wait list. Houston Housing Authority thanks all of their partners, especially Houston Public Library, Harris County Public Library and Houston Center for Independent Living, for their help in making the wait list opening a huge success.

Houston Housing Authority will conduct a lottery on September 3 to randomly determine applicants to be added to our current wait list. They will add 20,000 families to the wait list. Applicants can check their wait list status starting September 10 at https://www.waitlistcheck.com/ or by calling 1-800-376-5058. Applicants are encouraged to call the Wait List Call Center at 1-855-702-9130 to have questions answered. The Wait List Call Center will be open every day from 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. until Friday, August 31st.

Thank you for assisting customers with accessing the website and answering questions! If you have anything to share about successes or challenges, please reply to this posting.

Thanks!

Mary Wagoner

Coin Copiers Phone Number

Yolanda sent this information today, but I thought that I would post it here too:

Coin Copiers has moved locations and they have a new contact phone number: 281-565-0805. Yolanda checked with IT and Coin Copiers technicians will be providing new labels with the current phone number soon. They said the old phone number will be rolling over to the new one for a couple of weeks

Thanks,

Laurie

Houston Housing Authority

Hi!
Houston Housing Authority requests your feedback about any triumphs; or challenges in customers accessing the housing voucher program applications today.

Houston Housing Authority reports receiving 13,000 applications by 10 a.m. Many of these may have been customers who saw information posted on our website: http://www.houstonlibrary.org/hha-housing-choice-voucher.

Most of our locations did not open until 11 a.m., therefore we anticipate that the number of applicants will quickly climb. Once again, please share your feedback either on the NL blog or by directly emailing me.

Thanks!
Mary Wagoner
mary.wagoner@houstontx.gov

Statistics Update

Hello,

We have now completed our first month with the new stats form. You should have received an email from Steve Hill with a few issues.

1. Be sure to enter your Monthly circulation and computer use numbers that you receive from Jason on the totals line of the monthly workbook.



2. Make sure that the program totals by Audience Type equal the totals under Service Priority.



3. Steve also suggests that you enter data on a weekly basis so that you can see any issues as you go along rather than waiting until the month is over.

If you haven't already, please go back to the G Drive and make sure that your totals match and the circulation and computer use numbers have been entered.

Let your Team Leader/Coordinator know if you have any issues or questons or leave a comment here.

Thanks,

Laurie

Reference - Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals

Hi!
Your staff may receive a lot of questions about the process for consideration of deferred action for childhood arrivals. The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services website details the process below and has FAQs.

Filing Process
How do I request consideration of deferred action for childhood arrivals?To request consideration of deferred action for childhood arrivals from USCIS, you must submit Form I-821D, Consideration of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals to USCIS. This form must be completed, properly signed and accompanied by a Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, and a Form I-765WS, Worksheet, establishing your economic need for employment. If you fail to submit a completed Form I-765 (along with the accompanying filing fees for that form, totaling $465), USCIS will not consider your request for deferred action. Please read the form instructions to ensure that you submit all the required documentation to support your request. You must file your request for consideration of deferred action for childhood arrivals at the USCIS Lockbox. You can find the mailing address and instructions on www.uscis.gov/i-821d. After your Form I-821D, Form I-765, and Form I-765 Worksheet have been received, USCIS will review them for completeness, including submission of the required fee, initial evidence and supporting documents. If it is determined that the request is complete, USCIS will send you a receipt notice. USCIS will then send you an appointment notice to visit an Application Support Center (ASC) for biometric services. Please make sure you read and follow the directions in the notice. Failure to attend your biometrics appointment may delay processing of your request for consideration of deferred action, or may result in a denial of your request. You may also choose to receive an email and/or text message notifying you that your form has been accepted by completing a Form G-1145, E-Notification of Application/Petition Acceptance.
Each request for consideration of deferred action for childhood arrivals will be reviewed on an individual, case-by-case basis. USCIS may request more information or evidence from you, or request that you appear at a USCIS office. USCIS will notify you of its determination in writing.
Note: All individuals who believe they meet the guidelines, including those in removal proceedings, with a final removal order, or with a voluntary departure order (and not in immigration detention), may affirmatively request consideration of deferred action for childhood arrivals from USCIS through this process. Individuals who are currently in immigration detention and believe they meet the guidelines may not request consideration of deferred action from USCIS but may identify themselves to their detention officer or to the ICE Office of the Public Advocate through the Office’s hotline at 1-888-351-4024 (staffed 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday – Friday) or by email at EROPublicAdvocate@ice.dhs.gov.
http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.eb1d4c2a3e5b9ac89243c6a7543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=f2ef2f19470f7310VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCRD&vgnextchannel=f2ef2f19470f7310VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCRD

Thanks!
Mary

Share the Love - Edmonton Public Library

Hi,
Edmonton Public Library has a place on their webpage where they ask customers to share why they love their public library. I enjoyed what their customers had to say. I hope you do as well. Your comments and other links are always appreciated on this blog!

Thanks!
Mary