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Upgrade Is a Hit With Young Tenants
Ricardina Cayllahua and son, Jose Luis Ramos, and a friend at Harvey Hall. Jose likes the after-school program and summer camp in the building.
(By Susan Straight For The Washington Post)
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The playground is "much, much better now," said Adolio Chacon, who brings his son Mario, 8, there. "There is a lot more equipment. It's bigger, and the fence around it is better for playing."
Harvey Hall apartments are available to people who meet qualifications, including income limits. The maximum income one person can make to qualify for an efficiency, which rents for just more than $1,000 a month, is $41,340. For a two-bedroom, which rents for about $1,300 a month, a family of four must make no more than $59,040. Applicants must supply photo identification, Social Security card, four pay stubs and bank statements from the previous three months.
This may be intimidating to some, but it's worth it to residents such as Patsharee Butthep. "This area is very good, good people," she said. She has a patio that opens onto the parking lot. "I just go through my patio to my parking spot," she said. "I like it. I love being on the ground floor," because it almost feels like having a house.
Mary Nabolus has lived at Harvey Hall for six years. When she saw the apartment "the first time, it was good. It was big," she said. She has been very happy there. "I like it. It is one bedroom, but it is big."
The neighborhood and the building itself have steadily improved over the past five years, said Ricardina Cayllahua, who lives in a two-bedroom apartment. "It changed a lot," she said.
She said that her son Jose Luis Ramos, 10, likes the after-school program and summer camp held in the community room on the ground floor.
For 10 years, Harvey Hall has offered resident services such as English classes, nutrition and child development classes, craft classes, after-school homework help, family workshops and a teen program. The services are provided by AHC, Arlington County Community Outreach, Arlington Education and Employment Program, Arlington County Libraries, Capital Area Food Bank, Project Family and Virginia Extension Services.
The services are open to residents and neighbors, too. Harvey Hall is next to two other affordable apartment buildings.
"There's a lot of activities," Hilewna Gebru, 16, said. Through the teen program, middle- and high-schoolers from the building and neighborhood host a winter wonderland for younger kids, participate in a homework club, and work on writing and test preparation. They also learn social skills and how to deal with the emotions of others and of themselves.
"We talk about our feelings. Everybody feels comfortable because what gets talked about here, stays here," said Selam Wubante, 16. She also liked the two-day trip the group took to Williamsburg to learn history and participate in a writing workshop.
The after-school program provides stability and a social outlet for youngsters in the hours before parents return from work. Danait Habtemariam, 16, came with a friend the first time and was hooked. "I thought it was fun to have a place to go after school," she said.
"My favorite part is on Tuesdays when we get help from our tutors," said Martha Gebru, 14. "I have a hard time with math, but now I'm passing math. Here they don't let you give up."
