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Subject: Cortez Housing Authority of El Paso Committee
Dear Professor Arrieta,
Housing Authority of the City of El Paso is an association from the government that
provides low- income families, the elderly, and people with disabilities a home with
low rental assistance. There is numerous buildings and apartment complexes across
el El Paso dedicated for this organization. Within every section, or building and
apartment complex, there is a specific committee to run the individual sector. In
Cortez street, in a vast building, hundreds of elders reside. The reason why they
reside in separate apartments where families are not around, is simply because as
older people they prefer more silence while maintaining an independent life in a
short size apartment.
The chapter who runs the Cortez's building activities consists of a President, VicePresident, Secretary, Treasurer, Historian, and Public Relations. The board is made
up of exclusive residents of the HACEP building who attend weekly meetings every
Monday and Wednesday at 1:30 P.M. for the sole purpose of organizing diverse and
very kind activities to all residents. Some examples of their plans put into motion
include bringing in priests to hold mass for those who can't leave the building due
to physical disabilities, holding dances (hang outs), distribution of food, and
organization of personal assistants. Most of the times in order to relay these
messages, the chapter puts flyers into every single door of the building, however,
many citizens are not capable of even going out to their door to grab the flyers, so
there is an intercom where messages are spoken in English and Spanish. In order to
bring life to the building, members of the chapter buy and construct decorations
according to the seasons and holidays and take the time to put them through the
main floor. Many times to encourage the participation of the residents, the chapter
holds competitions in every floor and give prizes to avoid a mundane appearance
across the halls.
The private chapter is made up of senior citizens themselves, so their audience
includes their peer members because they know their needs and how to take care
of them. Additionally they have to communicate with the local authorities of housing
to give reports of how well the residents are doing and if the rules of ethics are
being followed. The committee must always keep their values up high such as
patience, friendship, courtesy, realism, and understanding. Residents must feel
comfortable around them in order to confide their problems. To the chapter, it must
feel like a great weight on their shoulders having to keep up creativity and thrive,
but they find it worth it to see 80 year olds smiling and acting like 18 years olds.
Sincerely,
Karla J. Madriles- Ortiz