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Special Board Meeting – April 2020

Notice is hereby given in accordance with MGL Chapter 30A, §20 that a Special Meeting of the Commissioners of the Northampton Housing Authority will be held  virtually on Thursday, April 30, 2020 at 1:00PM. Due to social distancing guidelines related to the COVID-19 state of emergency, this meeting will be held remotely, not at the Northampton Housing Authority offices. The public is invited to listen to the meeting via phone, computer, laptop or tablet. To do so call the conference line 646-558-8656 at 1:00PM,  on April 30, 2020, enter the meeting ID which is 826 8540 5010, and enter passcode 043020 followed by the # sign. The board chair will instruct participants on the appropriate time and manner for resident and public comment during the meeting.

The agenda of the April Special Meeting shall be:

I.                    Call to order;
II.                  Roll Call;           
III.               New Business;

MOTION –                      Approve the Quarterly Financials.
RESOLUTION –        Approve FY20 State 400 Budget Revision.
MOTION –                 Accept the Application and Certificate for Payment No. 1. Salvo   Camera Install – FISH #214105
MOTION –                 Adopt selected HUD Waivers from HUD NOTICE PIH 2020-05 for Federal Public Housing and Section 8.

Any other business before the board

Adjournment

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Northampton Housing Authority No Visitor Order

Given that our residents are some of the most “at risk,” during this pandemic, Northampton Housing Authority has determined that it has become necessary to take some drastic measures to try and protect all of our residents.   

It is not a stretch to compare our buildings density to nursing homes or cruise ships, where there are many occupants close together. 

We continue seeing many residents and visitors failing to follow Health Department guidance and Governors advisories. Many visitors and residents alike are going along as though things are “normal”. 

We feel at this time that it is crucial for the well-being of our communities and residents to restrict visitors. 

The official order is as follows:

ATTENTION ALL – April 16, 2020

Please be aware that the CDC and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health are warning of a surge in positive COVID-19 patients in the coming weeks. Massachusetts is already experiencing a drastic increase in the amount of residents testing positive for COVID-19.

Northampton Housing Authority, like some other housing authorities in the commonwealth, is implementing procedures to restrict visitation as necessary to protect the health of the residents and staff.

Effective 12:01 A.M. on Friday. April 17th 2020,  will be allowed to enter any Housing Authority property.

This does not apply to home health aides, visiting nurses, public safety personnel or other essential medical services granted that they have credentials and are wearing masks and gloves.

Residents can arrange with their visitor(s) to meet outside of the building for delivery of food, water, medicine and other items essential to a resident’s well-being. Residents and visitor(s) must wear masks and gloves when meeting.  

This shall remain in effect until further notice is provided by the Governors that the Public Health Emergency no longer exists and we are no longer under a State of Emergency.

An abundance of positive Covid-19 cases in any one building could possibly result in a quarantine of the entire building. As a resident it is vital that you act responsibly to avoid getting sick or making others sick.

You are hereby instructed to follow the visitor restrictions as listed above, and instructed to stay in your unit in accordance with the governor’s Stay-At-Home Advisory, unless you need to leave to acquire essential services. Unfortunately, this includes no gardening all our Northampton Housing Authority properties.  If you must leave your unit, wear a mask and gloves if possible.

Practice social distancing. Your well-being and the well-being of those around you depend on this!

Cara Leiper – Executive Director

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New Food Resource

Grow Food Northampton will be offering a free weekly bag of fresh vegetables and shelf-stable food for residents at Northampton Housing Authority Properties.

At Florence Heights and Hampshire Heights, the program will run every Tuesday, and at Salvo, McDonald, Cahill, Forsander, and Tobin on Thursday’s! 

You can sign-up by clicking here or contacting:

Netanya Ortiz – Family RSC – (413) 326-4063
Email: RSC2@NorthamptonHousing.org

Summary of Resources Provided by Grow Food Northampton

Weekly on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays: Drive-up at Jackson Street School, times TBD. No signup required. 

Weekly on Tuesday’s: Pick up at school meal site or doorstep delivery at Hampshire Heights, Florence Heights, Meadowbrook, and 236 Pleasant St. Time: 11:00 am -12:00 pm. Doorstep delivery requires signup reflected above.

Weekly on Thursday’s: At Forsander, Tobin, Salvo, McDonald, and Cahill, between 11AM and 12PM, at the entrance to the community room/lobby or to your door. 

Northampton and the Northampton Survival Center are working together to bring you this food during the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

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Emergency Child Care

You’ve likely heard by now that all child care programs in the state are closed and will remain so for as long as we are under a state of emergency. Temporary emergency back up child care has been set up an is opening as of today, Monday, March 23. Here is some further information about both of these issues. 

Emergency Back Up Child Care

      • Recognizing that some people still need to work and have no other option, the state has authorized some child care providers to provide emergency, back up, drop-in child care.
      • A list of providers is posted on EEC’s website, and more will be added. So far, there are are a few hundred such providers, most operating 7:30am or 8:30 am- 5:00 pm. EEC hopes to make the list more searchable, but for now, it’s posted as a PDF. 
      • Here’s who will have priority access, from EEC’s website:
          • Priority will be given to people including but not limited to health care workers, essential state and human service workers, COVID-19 health workers, grocery store employees, emergency response personnel, law enforcement, transportation and infrastructure workers, sanitation workers, DCF-involved families, and families living in shelters.
                • Based on a webinar with the Commissioner on Friday, it seems programs will use their discretion in deciding who gets care.
      • To access care, a family must call each provider to see if they have space on a day by day basis.
      • These programs will be completely free to families.
      • This is a fundamentally different program from regular early education. While there are health and safety requirements, they are not as stringent as regular early education. EEC has prioritized approving providers that already held EEC licenses, had a site visit in the past 6 months, and where all staff had completed background records checks.  
      • Families are encouraged to find other non-group care to avoid the spread of COVID-19.
      • Families will be provided a spot, to the extent available, day by day.
      • No transportation will be provided. Families need to find a way to get their children to the program and home each day.
      • Child care will be provided in center based settings, with no more than 2 classrooms open, with a max of 20 children in each classroom. Ages will be mixed. Normal rules about ratios do not apply. 
      • Child care will also be provided in family child care, i.e. providers in their homes. I believe that is limited to 10 children per provider.
      • The amount the state is paying providers will not cover the basic operating costs of running these programs. Programs are stepping up majorly to help our communities. DPH will prioritize COVID-19 testing for child care providers who may be exposed to coronavirus.

Child Care Closures

      • Although child care providers are closed, many private providers continue to charge families their regular tuition. Here’s what Attorney General Maura Healey’s office has put out about that. https://www.mass.gov/guides/resources-during-covid-19#-child-care-and-resources-for-families-&-young-children-
      • Programs that receive child care subsidies will continue to be paid their full subsidized rate, with the state picking up the portion that would normally be paid through parent fees. To be clear, families with subsidized child care do not need to pay their regular parent fee to maintain their subsidy. 
      • When this is all over, families will get their subsidies back.

Please contact our Resident Services Coordinator Netanya Ortiz if you have any questions using our contact us page or clicking here.  

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Help is Available

We understand this is a difficult time for everyone, please continue to check our news section for the latest resource list or by clicking here.

We have added a digital request for residents and voucher holders to complete a rent change, if you have lost your job, income, or have other changes to report to us to adjust your rent, please click here.

For details about how to file for unemployment, please click here. 

For PDF version of the photo above with clickable links, click here. 

If you are concerned about your rent, please call our main line at (413) 584-4030 and speak with your property manager. At this time, we will not pursue “non-essential eviction actions” for as long as Gov. Charlie Baker’s declared state of emergency lasts. Non-essential cases are defined as “non-payment and cause cases that do not involve or include allegations of criminal activity or lease violations that impact the health or safety of Northampton Housing Authority residents, employees, or the general public.

Our Resident Services Team is available to help, please visit our contact us page to send a message to Danielle McColgan and Netanya Ortiz. 

A reminder for all, please take some time to complete the 2020 Census, visit our article with the latest information and the significance for our community.

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UPDATED – Residents Resources – COVID-19

We will add updates as we receive them to this page, memo’s and other Northampton Housing specific information will be posted as a separate article.

Have you had a change in your income? You can notify our Section 8 and Public Housing Teams to request your adjustment by clicking here.

*****NEW ******

SNAP Update

The $300/week boost in unemployment that folks began getting today DOES NOT COUNT for SNAP.   As DTA has shared on Mass.gov here, folks do NOT need to tell DTA about this $300/week boosted Unemployment income.  This is different than in the spring (when the $600/week boost was counted).  Those who get unemployment and whose household income is below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level should apply for SNAP asap! 

Video on SNAP during COVID-19

Click here to view a 1 minutes and 25 second long video on DTA benefits during COVID-19 – including information about how to apply.  Click here to view the same video in Spanish. 

Produced by MLRI and the Massachusetts Websites Project, with the support of the Massachusetts Access to Justice Commission.

FAQ: Extra Emergency SNAP Benefits 

These extra SNAP benefits started in March 2020 and are issued each month to households not already getting the maximum grant. Extra emergency SNAP will continue each month as long as there is a federal and state public health emergency.  

FAQ: SNAP for workers who lost hours due to COVID-19

Please see this link to a flier with more information and links to fliers in English, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, and Haitian Creole. Distribute widely. 

FAQ: Harsh SNAP time limit & work rules suspended 

Please see this flier for more information, also posted in Spanish. Distribute widely. 

DTA Local Offices: Status

DTA local offices are closed to the public and DTA staff are all working remotely. DTA urges clients and helping agencies to use DTA Connect, fax and mail to send in documents. See Mass.gov/DTA/covid-19 for more information.

To apply for SNAP:  

All applications for SNAP must be done online, by phone, or by faxing or mailing in paper application:

      • To apply online, including from your smartphone, go to com
      • To apply by phone, call DTA at 877-382-2363. Press “6” after the introductory message to reach a worker. State you want to apply by phone. 
      • To get information about paper applications, visit gov/SNAP

For households requesting new or replacement EBT cards, requests will be taken through the automated DTA Assistance Lines, through DTAConnect.com, or directly with workers. EBT cards mailed out take about 7-10 days to arrive. If a client does not have a mailing address or for an urgent reason needs access to their benefits, contact a local office manager or the DTA Ombuds Office. At this time, DTA may not be able to issue EBT cards in a different way than the regular mail process. 

To apply for cash assistance (TAFDC or EAEDC): 

Cash assistance applications can be filed online at DTAConnect.com (click the blue “apply” banner). A case manager will need to speak with the client after the application is filed.

TAFDC or EAEDC applicants can also call their local DTA office by phone to start an application by phone for cash assistance.  Here is a link to the local DTA offices phone numbers. Applications for TAFDC or EAEDC can also be accepted by phone. 

MassHealth coverage of COVID vaccinations:

        • MassHealth Provider Bulletin 304 (December 2020)
        • MassHealth will cover the vaccines for members in MassHealth Standard, CommonHealth, Family Assistance, CarePlus, and the Children’s Medical Security Plan.
        • There is no cost sharing for members for the vaccines.
        • Re: MassHealth Limited, emergency services coverage for non-citizens who without status 
        • COVID-19 testing and treatment services are considered emergency services as defined in 130 CMR 450.105(F) for purposes of MassHealth Limited,
          and are payable by MassHealth to any participating provider qualified to provide such services. 
        • However, COVID-19 vaccination is not considered a
          COVID-19 testing and treatment service, and is therefore not payable by MassHealth for individuals with MassHealth Limited.

TAFDC, EAEDC, and SNAP Update:

 The following can be done via telephonic signature (done completely by phone), no paperwork back and forth is required:

      • TAFDC and EAEDC applications
      • TAFDC and EAEDC reevaluations
      • SNAP applications
      • SNAP Recertifications (not Interim Reports

Videos on SNAP during COVID-19 –Click here to view a 1 minutes and 25 second long video on DTA benefits during COVID-19 – including information about how to apply! Click here to view the video in Spanish. 

From MassHealth Regarding the Federal Changes to Section 1557 of the ACA and the Impact on the LGBTQ Community

      • On June 12th, the Trump Administration announced changes to its interpretation of Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act. These changes remove certain federal nondiscrimination in health care protections for members of the LGBTQ community, and in particular, for transgender individuals. Additionally, the change weakens federal requirements related to translation and language access. MassHealth submitted a letter in opposition to these changes on August 13, 2019 to the federal Department of Health and Human Services when they were first announced in draft form. Monday’s Supreme Court decision concluding that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act protects LGBTQ individuals from employment discrimination may further impact the administration’s changes to Section 1557.
      • We want to expressly emphasize that these federal changes have not changed MassHealth’s commitment to providing all medically necessary MassHealth services to LGBTQ individuals who are MassHealth members, including transgender members. Nor do these federal changes affect our commitment to ensuring LGBTQ members can access MassHealth covered benefits free from unlawful discrimination. We want to reiterate that various other state laws and regulations, as well as MassHealth managed care contracts, continue to prohibit discrimination in health care for the LGBTQ community and require meaningful language access for MassHealth members. Plans and providers must continue to ensure compliance with these nondiscrimination requirements.

Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) Update:

P-EBT provides households with an EBT card with the value of school breakfast and lunch for the days that schools are closed due to COVID-19. The benefit is available regardless of immigration status, to ALL children who would receive free or reduced-price meals.

Massachusetts state website includes clarification that “the Public Charge rule does not apply to P-EBT benefits and “using P-EBT benefits does not impact your or your child’s immigration status.” 

Update

DTA is now mailing EBT cards locally (from within Massachusetts). Previously, DTA EBT cards were issued via the EBT vendor, Conduent, from an office in Indiana – and it took 7-10 days, or longer, for a DTA EBT card to arrive in the mail. By mailing EBT cards locally, the goal is to reduce the number of days between DTA issuing the EBT card and the household receiving the card. 

DTA local offices remain closed while DTA staff work remotely. Homeless households or households without a mailing address need to designate a mailing address to receive their EBT card and PIN. This can be a shelter, a trusted family or friend able to receive the EBT card and PIN and give it to the household. 

Note: Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) cards were issued over the last week or so – but those cards are still coming from Conduent (from Indiana), so may take a couple of weeks to arrive. 

Tax Help:

Here is information and contact numbers for the Massachusetts free VITA sites for low income taxpayers: https://www.masscap.org/freetaxprep/

Help Website:  www.lookforhelp.org
 
Do you think you have symptoms? Visit: https://www.buoy.com/mass
 
Have questions about Covid-19?

Cooley Dickinson Hospital in Northampton has opened a COVID-19 community call center the call center is staffed seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m by health care workers who can answer general questions to help residents during this pandemic. 1-888-554-4234

Message from Department of Transitional Assistance DTA, please visit: https://www.mass.gov/service-details/learn-what-you-can-do-on-the-dta-connect-mobile-app-and-website

Important Information from DTA:

TAFDC and EAEDC applications can now be filed (started) online!

As of today, cash assistance applications can be filed online at DTAConnect.com (click the blue “apply” banner). Just like with SNAP, a case manager will need to speak with the client after the application is filed. 

Please encourage families with children and very low or no income, or adults 65+ or disabled who don’t have income and have very low assets, to apply for cash assistance benefits.

 WIC: Services are being done by phone. 

A message from WIC in MA: ALL WIC Programs are able to provide all services by phone.  Again, WIC Services are being done by phone! Don’t come in, call in!  WIC participants can contact their local WIC office with any questions.  

Please refer to Mass.gov/wic or facebook.com/MassWIC  for ongoing updated information.

SNAP and Low-Income College Students 

If students move home, they should be added to their parent’s SNAP case (if they meet the student rules). As far as we are aware right now DTA’s policies and procedures regarding college student eligibility have not changed. However, on the paperwork front the CCE-1 and EDUC-1 are not required during the crisis – students can self declare that information since schools, in most cases, are not open and cannot do the paperwor

DTA is stopping all negative cash assistance case actions during the COVID-19 crisis. This means that, prospectively, no one should be terminated or reduced for any reason– including sanctions, failure to verify information, reaching the time limit, etc. DTA has not yet worked out what to do about clients whose cash assistance cases are being reduced due to a sanction or overpayment. 
 
Reminder that households can give permission to friends, family, or other trusted people to use their EBT card on their behalf, with no need for formal documentation or written paperwork. The federal rule about this says: “States shall not require households to notify or provide the State information regarding individuals making purchases permitted by the household on an ad-hoc basis.” 7 CFR 273.8(f)((9)
 

Northampton MA Website for COVID-19: https://www.northamptonma.gov/2104/Coronavirus-COVID-19

Mass Department of Health Website: https://www.mass.gov/resource/information-on-the-outbreak-of-coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19

Health Coverage:

Do you have concerns about your MassHealth or Health Insurance? Please contact our resident services coordinators. 

Protection of MassHealth Coverage During the COVID-19 National Emergency

MassHealth will preserve coverage for all individuals who had MassHealth, Health Safety Net, or Children’s Medical Security Plan, on March 18, 2020 and for all individuals approved for coverage during the COVID-19 national emergency, and for one month after the emergency period ends. 

CDC Website: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/index.html

Food Resources:  See our latest post on by clicking —> New Food Resources. 

Child  Care (Updated): Please see our recent post with the latest information we have by clicking here. 

Internet Offer: https://www.internetessentials.com/covid19

Meals for Florence Heights and Hampshire Heights: https://www.northamptonhousing.org/florence-heights-and-hampshire-heights-lunches/

Food Resources:

https://www.northamptonsurvival.org/get-help/overview/

https://www.foodbankwma.org/get-help/locate-a-local-feeding-program/

http://Massfooddelivery.com

https://crimsonandcloverfarm.com/snap-shares/

https://www.highlandvalley.org/

Who is eligible for the Economic Impact Payment?

U.S. citizens or resident aliens who:

  • Have a valid Social Security number,
  • Could not be claimed as a dependent of another taxpayer, and
  • Had adjusted gross income under certain limits

The Social Security Administration announced that Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients will receive automatic Economic Impact Payments directly from the Treasury Department.  Treasury anticipates these automatic payments no later than early May.

 

Learning at Home:

Consider a schedule:

Local Restaurants:

Know the signs:

How can you protect yourself? Watch this helpful video by clicking here.

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Florence Heights and Hampshire Heights Lunches

Northampton Public Schools is working to set up a meal program for students during closure. This plan should take effect on Thursday 3/19/20. They intend to deliver lunch and breakfast for students at both Hampshire Heights and Florence Heights from 11-12PM.
 
There will be a bus present with volunteers to distribute meals to any child 18 or under at no cost or need to sign up. This will be just like the summer programs we had this past summer. They do not intend to request children to stay to consume their meals at the site, but they must be present to receive the meals.
 
Official Link to full letter in English and Spanish: https://www.northamptonhousing.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Family-Letter.pdf
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Press Release Covid-19 March 16, 2020

Official Press Release: https://www.northamptonhousing.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/NHA-PRESS-RELEASE-COVID19-MARCH16.pdf

At the Northampton Housing Authority our first priority is always safety and ensuring the well-being of our employees, residents, and the community we serve. Following the CDC and Massachusetts Department of Health guidance to minimize exposure between employees, and also between employees and the public, our management teams will be working remotely and answering phones/email communication as frequently as possible. Our offices will be closed to the public from March 16, 2020 to March 27, 2020.

Our on-call maintenance team will be available to complete any emergencies that arise but we ask residents to be aware that nonemergency work orders will not occur during this time for the safety of both our residents and employees. Our on- call teams will be following all of the latest guidance when entering units and working in common areas to minimize exposure. We ask that all residents notify our office if they are experiencing flu-like symptoms or feeling ill, especially with a fever or persistent cough, have been tested for Covid-19, or are under self-quarantine.

Out of an abundance of caution, a deep cleaning was conducted by our vendor 24 Restore New England on Friday, March 13, 2020, at all of our properties on the common touch points such as elevators, common doors, and offices. We will continue to follow CDC and Department of Public Health recommendations for clean and disinfecting as our team also addresses the emergency work orders.

We are cognizant that many hourly workers will lose income in March and possibly April and want to assure residents we will be lenient during this emergency period with regard to documentation accepted to verify the decrease in income or increase in deductions. We do not want residents being concerned about these changes at this time and we will work with all residents regarding these concerns.

At this time, we will not pursue “non-essential eviction actions” for as long as Gov. Charlie Baker’s declared state of emergency lasts. Non-essential cases are defined as “non-payment and cause cases that do not involve or include allegations of criminal activity or lease violations that impact the health or safety of Northampton Housing Authority residents, employees, or the general public.

Northampton Public Schools is working to set up a meal program for their students during closure. At this time, they have informed us that it will start on Thursday, March19, 2020. They intend to deliver lunch and breakfast for students at both Hampshire Heights and Florence Heights from 11-12PM. There will be a bus present with volunteers to distribute meals to any child 18 or under at no cost or need to sign up. This will be just like the summer programs we had this past summer. We do not intend to request children to stay to consume their meals at the site, but they must be present to receive the meals.

Residents are encouraged to check the news section of our website at NorthamptonHousing.org which is located at the bottom of our homepage for the latest updates.

We will continue to update residents via memos delivered to their apartments, updating our main phone line at (413) 584- 4030, and posting in common areas as additional guidance and recommendations are received.

For a listing of what is considered a maintenance emergency, please click here.

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March 13, 2020 – MEMO to Residents – COVID-19

Here is the link to the memo: https://www.northamptonhousing.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/COVID19-Resident-Memo-2.pdf

We were just informed by Mayor Narkewicz that effective Monday, March 16, 2020, all Northampton Municipal Buildings, including the Senior Center, will be closed to the public for two weeks. Our first priority at the Northampton Housing Authority is always the safety of our residents and employees therefore, our offices will be closed to the public from March 16, 2020 to March 27, 2020. 

Following the CDC and Massachusetts Department of Health guidance to minimize exposure between employees, and also between employees and the public, our management teams will be working remotely and answering phones/email communication.  The on-call maintenance team will be available to complete any emergencies that arise but we ask residents to be aware that nonemergency work orders will not occur during this time for the safety of both our residents and employees. Our on-call teams will be following all of the latest guidance when entering units and working in common areas to minimize exposure. Please notify our office if you are experiencing flu-like symptoms, or have recently.

We have already received questions regarding rent and are cognizant that many hourly workers will lose income in March and possibly April and want to assure residents we will be lenient during this emergency period with regard to documentation accepted to verify the decrease in income or increase in deductions. We do not want residents being concerned about these changes at this time and we will work with all residents regarding these concerns.

We will continue to update residents as additional guidance and recommendations are received.