1.Can you give me the demographics HAP used to as the source of the info for the Addendum?
HAP tracks primary language in its residence records so the source is what the tenants reported
2. I also don't understand the blank spaces under Public Housing and Affordable Housing on the Addendum.
Sorry- looks like we sent you one of our "in process" Addendums. PH emailed me the completed Addendum which they had in their records.
3. What is the list of "forms" that are translated?
In Rent Assistance, translated forms include the application, the "statement of family obligations", the voucher, etc. Also any letter that requires action has a language statement on the bottom.
In Public Housing, due to the recent transition to a site based management model, HAP is in the process of updating all of their forms. The new Public Housing Lease has been translated into Spanish, Vietnamese, and Russian. Vital documents that list program rules and instructions will be translated into the identified major language groups, other important notices will include a language statement on the bottom.
4. Does HAP track how many applicants request interpreter/translation services and what languages?
In Rent Assistance, this is reported on their residency forms. If they need an interpreter that we don't have, then it's tracked through our contract with the company that does the interpreting. We track in RA how many people ask for a special exception due to language. We do not track, for example, how many people call the CT and speak Russian to the Russian staff person, Spanish to the Spanish speaker, etc.
In Public Housing, we capture applicant and resident need for interpreter/translation on the "PH Application" and "Statement of Eligibility". This information is then entered and tracked through HAP's management software.
5. Will all of the site-based managers have "I speak" cards?
Rent Assistance and Public Housing site staff have "I speak" cards.
6. And I am assuming that they will all be trained on the LEP policy?
Rent Assistance staff have been trained and Rose says that that she would very strongly emphasize the LEP policy is nothing new and she considers it to be part of the organizational culture here at HAP.
Public Housing staff have not been formally trained but have had an interpretation policy procedure in place and will be training on the new LEP in the near future.
Rachael Duke
Policy and Planning Manager
Housing Authority of Portland
(503) 802-8515