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Important Updates from DTA and the Health Connector. 

1.  The Health Connector announced that Open Enrollment has been extended through March 23, 2021.
2.  15% SNAP boost is starting 2/1, retroactive for January – How DTA will issue
   • The 15% boost (approximately $27 per person) will be issued on the same day as the supplemental payment – the second business day of the month. What this means:
     • on February 2, households will be issued the 15% boost amount for January. 
     • For those eligible for a supplement, they will get the supplement and the 15% boost amount on the same day. 
     • For those already at the maximum grant and therefore not eligible for a supplement (under current guidance), they will get the 15% boost amount only on the 2nd.
       • • DTA will be sending text messages. DTA will not be mailing notices (just as no notices are mailed for the supplemental payments).

If you have any questions, please contact any of our Resident Services Coordinators. 

On April 16, 2020, to assist in the prevention of the spread of COVID-19, Northampton Housing Authority announced no visitors would be allowed to enter any Housing Authority property. This was done due to drastic increases in positive tests for COVID-19 across the state.

Following CDC, public health department, and Governor Baker’s reopening guidance, visitors are now permitted as of June 25, 2020. However, we encourage residents to arrange with their guest(s) to visit outside of the building versus in their apartments when possible, since COVID-19 is still around, it is critical that safety precautions are taken by all residents and their guest(s).

Visitors and Residents Should:

• • • Wear a face masks or covering at all times when in common areas. In accordance with the Northampton Health Department Order, all persons shall wear a mask or face covering at all times where one cannot reasonably expect to maintain at least six feet of distance from all other persons at all times. Face coverings worn in accordance with this Order shall be any cloth that securely covers the customer’s nose and mouth, including but not limited to scarves, bandanas, turtlenecks or similar coverings.
    • Maintain at least six feet apart at all times and at buildings with an elevator, only one household should occupy the elevator at a time.
    • Limit their movement within the community to the resident’s apartment (reduce walking the halls, congregating in the lobbies and laundry facilities).
    • Report to the office any signs or symptoms of COVID-19 or acute respiratory illness within 14 days after visiting by calling our main office at 413-584-4030 and selecting the option of the property you were visiting or texting us at that number.
    • Out-of-state visitor are encouraged to self-quarantine for 14 days following guidance by Governor Baker.

Northampton Housing Encourages:

• • • Visitors limit physical contact by practicing social distancing recommendations such as no hand-shaking or hugging, and remaining at least six feet apart.
    • Residents/Gardeners to follow guidelines issued for safe gardening outdoors and continue where possible gardening in doors this season if possible.

Additional Garden Updates:

Effective Monday, June 29, 2020, gardening can resume!

We realize that this is planting season is well underway, and getting outside in nature is important during this crisis, however it’s important that everyone remember social contact increases the risk of spreading the virus. The housing authority is not able to monitor the gardens and therefore gardeners are asked to acknowledge the rules and abide by them.

That being said, we encourage you to exercise an abundance of caution during this time, if you choose to garden. We are asking that gardeners wear masks, keep a 6-foot distance from others, refrain from sharing tools, and have no more than two people present at one time in the gardening area.

Additionally, we ask gardeners to:

• • • Communicate to all potential audiences that they should not visit the garden if they feel ill
    • Do not allow anyone with signs of illness on the site.
    • Postpone community events, as well as carry-ins, potlucks or self-serve food
    • Leave any garden gates open during hours of operation to avoid frequent contact
    • Stagger times for arrival/create an official schedule if possible
    • Enforce social distancing guidelines of remaining at least 6 feet apart at all times
    • Wear a mask or face covering.
    • Create and implement procedures to sanitize tools before and after garden work.

Please contact your property manager or resident services coordinator with any questions. 

Stay Well. 

As you are aware, a no-visitor order was issued for all Northampton Housing Authority properties due to COVID-19 Pandemic. In accordance with the governor’s Stay-At-Home Advisory, unless you need to leave to acquire essential services, residents are encouraged to stay home. 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. 

We understand the importance of gardening and are saddened it is not safe to do so at this time to due the space constraints. necessary sanitation, and oversight required. As soon as we are able to allow gardening again, we will make an announcement to all. 

Please see our resources page for informtion about the free produce deliveries that occur at all of our properties if you are in need of any fresh fruit and vegetables. 

There are still many ways you can garden at home! Here are some websites with great ideas for the entire family, for an indoor garden or smaller spaces, like your front porch or balcony:

• • • • •  Kidsgardening.org
        • TheHomesteadSurvival.com
        •  Brownthumbmama.com
        •  Apeiceoftherainbow.com
        • Savvygardening.com

There are still a few plots available we are told from Grow Food Northampton which is more spacious that our garden areas and can accomodate social distancing easier.

You can visit their website at:  https://www.growfoodnorthampton.com/garden/garden-registration/

Plots are 20’x20’ full plots or 10’x20’ half plots. Either size costs $36 per year if leased before July 15. Senior Citizens (turning 65 or older this year) pay $28. Low-income gardeners enrolled in the SNAP program pay $10 and receive five buckets of free compost ($15 value). Plots leased after July 15 are half price. There is a $10 non-resident surcharge if you do not live in Northampton, Florence or Leeds.

Please contact Netanya Ortiz or Danielle McColgan on our Contact us Page or call our main number and press the number that corresponds to your property. They will be happy to help you obtain a plot or find answers to any questions you may have. 

Notice is hereby given in accordance with MGL Chapter 30A, §20 that the Regular Meeting of the Commissioners of the Northampton Housing Authority will be held virtually on Monday,May 18, 2020 at 4:00PM. 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 4:00PM on May 18, 2020, enter the meeting ID which is 871 5131 4232, and then enter pass code of 051820 followed by the # sign. A participant ID is not required, you can press # to skip/continue if prompted. The board chair will instruct participants on the appropriate time and manner for resident and public comment during the meeting.

There have been some recent changes by the Housing and Urban Development and Department of Housing and Community Development that change how we manage and oversee the daily operations of the programs we manage. 

Summary of Programs

• • • • Federal Programs – Florence Heights, McDonald House, and Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program
      • State Programs – Tobin Manor, Forsander, Walter Salvo House, Cahill Apartments, Hampshire Heights
        • • • • If you are unsure what program you participate in, call our main line at (413) 584-4030 and any of our managers can help you at option 3 through 6.

Federal Programs Highlights

Rent Calculation

• • • Annual Recertification’s are currently on hold, Interim Requests/Changes are still happening. You can do this by clicking here.
    • The $1200 per individual and $500 per child one-time federal stimulus payments are excluded from income for the purposes of the rent calculation.

Rental Payments

• • • Public Housing tenants must still pay rent; Please contact your Property Manager if you need to discuss payment arrangements or any concerns.

Inspections

• • • Inspections are currently on hold, we will notify everyone when they are scheduled to start again for the safety of all.

For the full list please click here of waivers that have been adopted by Northampton Housing Authority effective May 1, 2020 following board of directors vote on April 30, 2020, please click here.

State Program Highlights

Rent Calculation

• • • • Annual Recertification’s are currently on hold, Interim Requests/Changes are still happening. You can do this by clicking here.
        • The Department of Housing & Community Development (DHCD) is hereby temporarily waiving its regulations at 760 CMR 6.04(4) (annual redetermination of rent) and 6.04(5)(a) (interim redetermination of rent) to require Local Housing Authorities (LHAs) to limit rent increases in state-aided public housing for the months of April, May, June and July, 2020.
        • We will still process interim rent determinations (also known as changes) but we may not increase rents charged to any tenant above the amount charged on March 1, 2020 until after July 31, 2020 or such later date as published by the Department.
        • Additionally, the Department is waiving the provisions of 760 CMR 5.06(1) regarding the income eligibility of applicants for state-aided housing in order to exclude from an applicant’s income the $600.00 the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation provided under Section 2104 of the CARES Act.. This benefit also shall not be counted as income in the calculation of rent for applicants who sign a lease with an LHA between March 29, 2020 and July 31, 2020.
      • The $1200 per individual and $500 per child one-time federal stimulus payments are excluded from income for the purposes of the rent calculation.
      • For information on the DHCD Waiver for Rent Increases, Click Here. 

Rent Payments

• • • Public Housing tenants must still pay rent; Please contact your Property Manager if you need to discuss payment arrangements or any concerns.
    • We will not be charging late fees at this time.  
      • • • For information about resources that may help you pay your rent, you can contact your regional Housing Consumer Education Center. For a list of agencies, see https://www.masshousinginfo.org/regional-agencies/. Additional information about resources for tenants is available at https://www.mhp.net/news/2020/resources-for-tenants-during-covid-19-pandemic.
      • For information on the DHCD Waiver for Late Fees, Click Here, 

Inspections

• • • Inspections are currently on hold, we will notify everyone when they are scheduled to start again for the safety of all.

If you have any questions, please call our main line and select the option that best pertains to you or head to our contact us page. 

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 17^th 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