By Monique Roth
L’Observateur

LAPLACE — The St. John the Baptist Parish Housing Authority recently completed enhanced security measures to some of its communities, executive director Trina Henderson said.

While security cameras are located on all SJBPHA properties, Henderson said the Authority worked in July to enhance security measures at its LaPlace and Reserve communities.

Henderson said Deputy Darlinta Cook, a liaison for the St. John Sheriff’s Office and the Housing Authority, monitors the developments in LaPlace, Reserve, Edgard and Garyville on a daily basis and works closely with the Authority’s staff and the Sheriff’s Office to ensure resident and community safety.

Cook and Henderson agreed there is “a more positive environment” around the communities because of the security cameras.

Henderson said she is seeing more kids utilizing the basketball courts and playing football and other games on the green spaces around the units, which she feels are positive developments from increased security measures.

Henderson gave her executive director’s report at the recent board of commissioners meeting, when she announced the Authority received its 2013 fiscal year Section Eight Management Assessment Program results.

SEMAP measures the performance of the public housing agencies that administer the Housing Choice Voucher program in 14 key areas. SEMAP helps HUD target monitoring and assistance to agencies and programs that need the most improvement.

Henderson said that in the fiscal report for 2011, the year she began working at the Authority, the Authority received a SEMAP score of 37 percent. Remarkably, Henderson said the Authority’s 2013 SEMAP review indicated a 93 percent score.

Henderson said she was extremely pleased with the progress the Authority has made.