NRHA COVID-19 Update Resident Newsletter: October 2020

LETTER FROM LEADERSHIP

Ronald Jackson, Executive Director

Unfortunately, as the summer comes to an end, COVID-19 doesn’t seem to be going away. This virus continues to upend life for so many of us. Who could have imagined we’d still be living this new normal? In these circumstances, it’s natural to feel frustrated, overwhelmed and even angry. But know that NRHA staff is working hard to minimize the impact these difficult conditions are having on you. And we must continue to work together to overcome this obstacle.

To this end, remember to continue to practice social distancing. It is very important in keeping you and your children safe and healthy. Remember to limit interactions with others outside your immediate family, and you should not be entertaining house guests who are not on your lease. Also, wear a mask outside of your home and when interacting with others. As we are working to best serve you, it is also my responsibility to keep staff safe. Maintenance has the directive to leave any unit if residents are not complaint to wearing masks.

Only through cooperation, flexibility, understanding and patience can we get through this together. As this pandemic continues, here’s where NRHA stands right now:

▸ Our NRHA COVID Hotline continues to be live. Through this phone number (757-314-4200), you can leave questions and comments and receive answers to NRHA COVID-related questions that are specific to your personal situation. In addition, we have provided answers to frequently asked COVID-related questions as well as other resources that are regularly updated on our website, www.nrha.us.

▸ NRHA continues to honor the country’s eviction moratorium. As long as it is in place, we will not begin the eviction process against our residents for nonpayment of rent. This, however, does NOT mean that rent payments have been suspended. More information on this is included in this newsletter.

▸ We are here to help. As you continue to read this newsletter, you’ll see that we have partnered with the City of Norfolk and other community organizations to provide tools and resources for you during this difficult time. If you have experienced job loss or loss of income because of COVID-19, we need to know. We want to help you and work with you, but you have to let us know what’s going on.

Remember, we are in this together. Through this unprecedented time, details will undoubtedly continue to change as we’re all trying to navigate through this pandemic. NRHA will continue to keep you updated and keep our lines of communication open to hear from you.

RON JACKSON EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

THE EXTENDED EVICTION MORATORIUM ENDS DECEMBER 31

In response to the coronavirus pandemic, the federal government declared a nationwide eviction moratorium in March to prevent landlords from evicting a tenant for nonpayment of rent. The federal moratorium will end Dec. 31, 2020, as of the date of this publication.

Photo of NRHA Community Property Management office

As required by the moratorium, NRHA will not start eviction actions against our residents for nonpayment of rent during the moratorium period of March 27 – December 31. As well, we will not assess late fees or utility charges during this time.

However, it is important to understand that rent payments have NOT been suspended and are still due and payable on the first of each month. The eviction moratorium does not provide rent forgivingness. If you are behind on your rent after this period, you will still be required to pay all past due rents. Failure to do so could result in NRHA seeking eviction actions that could result in termination of your assistance.

As a result of the COVID-19 situation, we know that many people are suffering real financial challenges. It’s our goal to keep NRHA families safely in their homes. If you have experienced a job loss or significant loss of income, contact your property management office right away. We may be able to lower your rent to reflect your change in income.

We are keeping a close eye on what’s unfolding at state and federal levels, and we’ll immediately contact residents as changes unfold. To stay up-to-date on this information, visit www.nrha.us.

Be sure to contact your property management office if you have questions or need more information.

UPDATE TO ST. PAUL’S AREA COVID-19 RESOURCE GUIDE

The City of Norfolk has put together a complete guide to all community resources available to your family during this difficult time. The guide, updated regularly, provides organization names, contact information as well as the dates and times of operations.

Find the guide at: https://www.norfolk.gov/4872/St-Pauls-COVID-19-Resource-Guide

NRHA CORONAVIRUS HOTLINE

We’ve opened a hotline where you can get answers to the NRHA COVID-19 related questions specific to your circumstances. We also welcome suggestions for improving our communications and operations during this time. We will get back to you with answers within 24 business hours.

NRHA Coronavirus Hotline: 757-314-4200

KEEP CHECKING OUR WEBSITE

Federal, state and local regulations are changing rapidly in response to the spread of the coronavirus. This can have a big impact on NRHA’s operations. Our website is your best source for up-to-date information on NRHA’s services and resources, so be sure to check frequently.

NRHA website: www.nrha.us