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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.