Big Honor for KCHA Senior Resident Services Manager
(Above) KCHA’s Ruben Rivera-Jackman (left) accepts President’s Award in the American Association of Service Coordinators (AASC) Conference in Orlando, Fla.
By Ruth Stoffel
King County Housing Authority
“I think he’s one of the top five best people I’ve ever met in this life. And I’m 68!”
That was Marietta Milbert’s reaction to the news that KCHA’s Ruben Rivera-Jackman took home the President’s Award in the American Association of Service Coordinators (AASC) Conference in Orlando, Fla. last month. The Northridge I resident called Rivera-Jackman “a standout, an American patriot, as well as a lover of people.”
The award is the highest honor bestowed on a service coordinator, given to someone who serves as the best example of diligence, drive and care that has come to define the service coordination profession.
Rivera-Jackman has an accomplished 25-plus year career in serving people. The senior resident services manager has worked at KCHA for the past six years and manages a team of nine service coordinators who serve 24 mixed-population buildings and one dedicated staff assigned to the Section 8 program.
“The great job Ruben does makes an enormous difference – every day – in the lives of hundreds of residents,” said KCHA Executive Director Stephen Norman. “We at the Housing Authority are lucky to have him in our corner.”
“I’m so proud of him,” said Kay Vosika, a resident of Paramount House in Shoreline where Rivera-Jackman served for 18 months. “He really deserves it. He makes everybody feel good.” Vosika said there wasn’t much for residents to do before Rivera-Jackman got on board. But once he did, Vosika said he filled their social calendar with all kinds of activities and outings.
“I am so humbled and honored to receive this recognition,” said Rivera-Jackman. He said he hung up on the AASC member who first broke the news to him over the phone because they had a bad connection and all Rivera-Jackman heard was “president’s award.” He thought of President Barack Obama and thought it was a joke. But the AASC member called back and relayed the news again. This time, it sunk in.
“I’ve never really won anything,” said Rivera-Jackman. “It was almost like, ‘They really love me, they really do!’ ” Rivera-Jackman said he feels as if he’s come full circle with this award. As a child, he lived in public housing in New York after a fire forced his family out of their apartment. Now, he’s glad that he’s in a position to pay it forward. Rivera-Jackman also said the award is a testament to the great work his team does.
Here are some of the duties of resident services coordinators:
• Welcome new residents
• Conduct service needs assessments
• Provide information and referrals
• Coordinate on-site health and safety education presentations
• Provide conflict resolution and mediation
• Advocate for continued occupancy to prevent unnecessary evictions
• Assist with completion of KCHA and non-KCHA paperwork
• Provide lease education
For more information, contact the resident services coordinator assigned to your building or call Ruben Rivera-Jackman at 206-574-1187.
Return to the E-Voice Newsletter for the North-East Region
King County Housing Authority
“I think he’s one of the top five best people I’ve ever met in this life. And I’m 68!”
That was Marietta Milbert’s reaction to the news that KCHA’s Ruben Rivera-Jackman took home the President’s Award in the American Association of Service Coordinators (AASC) Conference in Orlando, Fla. last month. The Northridge I resident called Rivera-Jackman “a standout, an American patriot, as well as a lover of people.”
The award is the highest honor bestowed on a service coordinator, given to someone who serves as the best example of diligence, drive and care that has come to define the service coordination profession.
Rivera-Jackman has an accomplished 25-plus year career in serving people. The senior resident services manager has worked at KCHA for the past six years and manages a team of nine service coordinators who serve 24 mixed-population buildings and one dedicated staff assigned to the Section 8 program.
“The great job Ruben does makes an enormous difference – every day – in the lives of hundreds of residents,” said KCHA Executive Director Stephen Norman. “We at the Housing Authority are lucky to have him in our corner.”
“I’m so proud of him,” said Kay Vosika, a resident of Paramount House in Shoreline where Rivera-Jackman served for 18 months. “He really deserves it. He makes everybody feel good.” Vosika said there wasn’t much for residents to do before Rivera-Jackman got on board. But once he did, Vosika said he filled their social calendar with all kinds of activities and outings.
“I am so humbled and honored to receive this recognition,” said Rivera-Jackman. He said he hung up on the AASC member who first broke the news to him over the phone because they had a bad connection and all Rivera-Jackman heard was “president’s award.” He thought of President Barack Obama and thought it was a joke. But the AASC member called back and relayed the news again. This time, it sunk in.
“I’ve never really won anything,” said Rivera-Jackman. “It was almost like, ‘They really love me, they really do!’ ” Rivera-Jackman said he feels as if he’s come full circle with this award. As a child, he lived in public housing in New York after a fire forced his family out of their apartment. Now, he’s glad that he’s in a position to pay it forward. Rivera-Jackman also said the award is a testament to the great work his team does.
Here are some of the duties of resident services coordinators:
• Welcome new residents
• Conduct service needs assessments
• Provide information and referrals
• Coordinate on-site health and safety education presentations
• Provide conflict resolution and mediation
• Advocate for continued occupancy to prevent unnecessary evictions
• Assist with completion of KCHA and non-KCHA paperwork
• Provide lease education
For more information, contact the resident services coordinator assigned to your building or call Ruben Rivera-Jackman at 206-574-1187.
Return to the E-Voice Newsletter for the North-East Region
