NRHA COVID-19 Update Resident Newsletter: March 2021

from NRHA COVID-19 Update Resident Newsletter: March 2021

LETTER FROM LEADERSHIP

**Ronald Jackson, NRHA Executive Director**

What a start to 2021 we’ve seen! Now a quarter in, COVID-19 has continued to upend life for so many of us. But with all of the efforts being made to accelerate vaccinations throughout the state and the relaxing of some restrictions, I believe we are beginning to see a reprieve. Yet, we must continue to stay vigilant. And know that our NRHA staff is doing everything in our power to minimize the impact of COVID on you.

Several resources have been put in place to assist you through this. We’ve highlighted a few in this newsletter. But know that ultimately it is up to you to do your part to help stop the spread of COVID-19.

Remember to continue to limit interactions with others outside your immediate family, and you should not be entertaining house guests who are not on your lease. Please heed and follow the guidelines Governor Northam and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have established during this pandemic. Here are the updated measures in place as of publication of this newsletter:

▸ Increase in public and private gatherings: All public and private in-person gatherings must be limited to 100 individuals for outdoor settings and 50 individuals for indoors.

▸ Mask mandate: All Virginians aged five and over are required to wear face coverings in indoor public spaces.

▸ Enforcement within essential retail businesses: All essential retail businesses, including grocery stores and pharmacies, must adhere to statewide guidelines for physical distancing, wearing face covering and enhanced cleaning. Violations will be enforceable through the Virginia Department of Health as a Class One misdemeanor.

▸ In-person graduation and commencement events: For in-person graduations and commencements, there is a cap of 5,000 people or 30 percent of the venue capacity for outdoor events, whichever is less. Indoor events indoors may have up to 500 people, or 30 percent of the venue capacity, whichever is less. Attendees must wear masks and follow other guidelines and safety protocols to ensure proper distancing.

Always remember to 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. When responding to maintenance calls, staff has the directive to leave any unit if residents are not compliant with wearing masks or have guests present during their maintenance visit. Also, please minimize your interaction with maintenance staff while they are present. This means maintain a six-foot distance from them and avoid being in the same room while they are working.

Remember, we are in this together. NRHA will continue to keep you updated and keep our lines of communication open to hear from you.

NOTICE TO ALL RESIDENTS REGARDING RENTAL PAYMENT OBLIGATIONS

We’ve reached the one-year mark of dealing with the awful COVID-19 pandemic, which has affected so many of us in so many ways.

Due to the pandemic, many have experienced job loss or have had their work hours decreased. In an effort to provide relief to families who have experienced these situations, the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Centers for Disease and Control Prevention have put in place a temporary suspension of evictions for nonpayment of rent, also known as the eviction moratorium, due to COVID-19. At the time of publication of this newsletter, the moratorium was scheduled to end June 30, 2021.

It is important to understand that rent payments have NOT been suspended. Rent is 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.

The eviction moratorium is designed to help families who do not have the ability to pay their rent at this time because of COVID-related issues. If you have been impacted financially by the pandemic and cannot afford to pay your rent please contact your property management office immediately. NRHA staff is here to assist and can connect you with programs and resources that may provide further assistance during these uncertain times.

However, the eviction mortarium is NOT an excuse for by those who have not been financially impacted by COVID-19 to not pay their rent. If you are capable of paying your rent and do not do so, when the moratorium is lifted, you will be left with a very large past-due balance that will be considered ineligible for a repayment plan. If left unpaid, NRHA will seek eviction actions that could result in termination of your assistance. As well, termination of assistance may impact your ability to receive other federal assisted housing and housing on the private market. In short, if you are fortunate enough to not have experienced job or income loss, please pay your rent on time.

See below for a list of all property management office phone numbers. Please, reach out to them to discuss what options and resources are available to you. Also, check out the next article for an additional program that might help. In order to keep you in your home, you must do your part. You must communicate with us. Please work with us by calling your property manager today.

Property Management Phone Numbers and Email:

▸ Calvert Square: 757-624-8611, kbritt@nrha.us

▸ Cottage Bridge Midrise: 757-314-4214, csaunders@nrha.us

▸ Diggs Town: 757-624-8606, aespree@nrha.us

▸ Eulalie Bobbitt Midrise: 757-624-8616, vhamlin@nrha.us

▸ Franklin Arms: 757-314-1520, llassiter@nrha.us

▸ Grandy Village: 757-624-8608, bfleming@nrha.us

▸ Hunter Square Midrise: 757-624-8619, dtate@nrha.us

▸ North Wellington: 757-624-8616, vhamlin@nrha.us

▸ Oakleaf Forest: 757-624-8612, rmassey@nrha.us

▸ Robert Patrea Midrise: 757-314-4214, csaunders@nrha.us

▸ Sykes Apartments: 757-624-8617, tcross@nrha.us

,▸ Tidewater Gardens: 757-314-2055 sjackson@nrha.us

▸ Young Terrace: 757-624-8610, ywiggins@nrha.us

▸ Scattered site locations: 757-624-8617, tcross@nrha.us

Although all property management offices are closed to the public, they are open for phone calls and maintenance requests between 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Please be sure to leave a voicemail. Some staff may be working remotely but will be checking messages regularly.

COVID Program Provides Rent Help for Residents

**To apply go to https://dmz1.dhcd.virginia.gov/RMRPEligibility**

Virginia Housing is now administering relief for renters experiencing financial difficulties due to the COVID-19 pandemic through the Virginia Rent Relief Program (RRP). And the great news: Public housing and project based voucher residents are eligible for RRP funds. You can apply to receive assistance to pay delinquent rental payments dating as far back as April 1, 2020. These funds, however, do not cover current or future months’ rent.

Here are a few eligibility requirements:

▸ The household’s total gross income is equal to or less than 80 percent Area Median Income for location

▸ The household has experienced a loss of income and any of the following as a result of COVID-19:

▸ a) Layoffs

▸ b) Place of employment closures

▸ c) Reduction in work hours

▸ d) Loss of spousal/child support

▸ e) Inability to find work due to COVID-19

▸ f) Need to stay home with children due to day care/school closure

▸ g) Inability to participate in previous employment due to the workplace’s high risk of severe illness from COVID-19

Sign up for your FREE COVID-19 Vaccine!

Preregister online at: https://vaccinate.virginia.gov

Get assistance with state preregistration by calling 877-829-4682

Food Distribution Programs for NRHA Residents

FAMILY COMMUNITIES

▸ Door-to-door delivery, Mondays or Tuesdays after 11 am

▸ Must have at least one child living in the household

▸ Call your property manager or resident service coordinator to register

SENIORS AND RESIDENTS WITH DISABILITIES (Sykes or Franklin Arms only)

SYKES

▸ Pick up from Advisory Council Office, Mondays or Tuesdays

▸ Visit the Advisory Council Office to register

FRANKLIN ARMS

▸ Mondays, pick up from 1st Floor Activity Room, noon

▸ Call Gloria Parker at 314-4215 to register

FOR NORFOLK PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS

▸ Grab n’ go meals at 34 school cafeterias, Monday-Friday, 3-5 pm

▸ Must provide student’s lunch ID information and name of school they are enrolled at

▸ Go to www.npsk12.com/nutrition for more information

FOODBANK HUB IN YOUNG TERRACE

▸ This location offers weekly food distribution and onsite shopping for produce, proteins and additional items.

▸ Visit www.nrha.us/foodbank-hub for more information

How do I reach someone at NRHA?

Call NRHA’s main number 757-623-1111: NRHA staff is available in departments that serve our clients and residents. You can reach NRHA by calling our switchboard at 757-623-1111 during Monday - Friday, 8 am - 4 pm. Always leave a voicemail as some employees are working remotely, but check their messages regularly.

Call NRHA’s COVID-19 Hotline 757-314-4200: If you have questions regarding any COVID-related NRHA matter, call the voicemail only hotline and a staff member will return your call within 24 business hours.

Call NRHA’s After-Hours Emergency Maintenance Number 757-623-5266: If you have a maintenance request outside of your regular property management office hours, you can leave a message to submit an after-hours emergency work order.

How do I report a maintenance issue?

Submitting a work order: Maintenance service continues to be limited to emergency services only. A list of what constitutes an emergency is provided below. During normal business hours, residents can call their property management office to place a work order. Outside of business hours, you can submit an after-hours emergency maintenance work order by calling 757-623-5266.

Cooperating with safety precautions: If it’s necessary for maintenance staff to enter your apartment, we ask you to help keep everyone healthy by cooperating with the following safety measures. If you choose not to cooperate, NRHA employees have the right to leave the unit immediately.

▸ Only household members can be present while maintenance staff is in the unit.

▸ Residents must wear masks and stay 6 feet away from maintenance workers.

▸ Staff will ask the following questions and provide additional instructions depending on your response. You are under no obligation to answer these health-related questions. If you choose not to answer, alternative arrangements will be made to ensure that your unit is properly serviced at a later date.

▸ 1. How many people are in your household?

▸ 2. Has anyone in the unit traveled outside of the United States in the last two months?

▸ 3. Is anyone in your unit currently sick with cold or flu symptoms?

▸ 4. Has anyone visited your unit with cold or flu symptoms?

Entering units where someone tested positive for COVID-19: NRHA employees will only enter a unit where someone has tested positive for COVID if it is an emergency and will be dressed with the proper personal protective equipment upon entering.

False emergency requests: If maintenance staff responds to an after-hours call that is not a legitimate emergency, you may be fined for a nuisance call.

Qualifying emer, gency maintenance items during COVID-19: Fire, FloodingMajor leaks of any kind (ceiling, radiator, etc.), Damage to NRHA property, Inoperable smoke detector, Medical emergency/death, Inoperable door locks, Power outages, Gas leak or natural gas odor, Broken window (based on security breach, temperature factor and safety hazard), No window locks (based on security breach and safety hazard), Broken and/or stuck elevator, Refrigerator/stove not working, Hot water heater leaking or ruptured, No heat (if the temperature is below 55 degrees between October 15 and May 15), No air conditioning (if outside temperature is above 75 degrees between May 15 and October 15. In Senior Midrises, North Wellington, Scattered Sites, Grandy Village, Diggs Town and Oakleaf Forest only), Lead-based paint hazards, Unhealthy/inadequate water supply, Mold, Blocked egress, NRHA property/security damage (break in/ alarm sounding)

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