AFFORDABLE HOUSING CONNECTIONS
March 17, 2020
An update for our community
These are certainly challenging and unprecedented times we’re facing, with many unknowns ahead. But if there’s one thing that’s true about the housing industry, it’s that we get through the tough times together. Please know that we’re following the CDC recommendations surrounding COVID-19 and that the well-being of our teams, your teams and all housing communities is our top priority. We’re here for you and we’re committed to helping protect our community every way we can.
Our thoughts go out to the people who have been affected by this extraordinary event and we appreciate the healthcare workers, local communities, and governments around the world who are on the front line working to contain this coronavirus.
Promoting health and safety. For everyone.
Nothing is more important than your health and safety, and the need to protect those most vulnerable to the coronavirus.
We have a very busy inspection schedule ahead of us and we have been sketching out site visit dates. At this time there are only two projects scheduled for a site visit between now and the week of April 6th. We will work directly with those projects on how to proceed with the site visit. However, because of our tight schedules we are proceeding as planned with site visits that we have scheduled after the week of April 6th. Should the protocol of social distancing and self-isolation continue past this date, we will re-evaluate our procedures.
AHC is taking multiple steps to minimize health risks to our teammates, our clients and our communities, including enhanced cleaning procedures during our visits to your offices. Unless your company implemented a “no entry” policy for units (i.e. no entry to any occupied unit unless it is an emergency), AHC will move forward with the minimal amount of inspections already scheduled. During these visits, you will notice the following precautionary measures.
1. AHC inspectors will wear gloves and shoe covers and will carry hand sanitizer. They will change gloves and/or apply hand sanitizer between each unit.
2. If a unit has or is suspected to have an occupant that is symptomatic, the AHC inspector will swap that unit with another.
3. AHC staff will bring wipes and hand sanitizer to each site visit and will wipe down all hard work surfaces. If an AHC staff person is not well, they will not go to a site visit. AHC will work with management contacts to reschedule or make other arrangements for file reviews if needed.
The IRS has not yet identified any additional guidance regarding face-to-face contact, limited ability to contact verification sources and any possible increase of requests for a review of income during annual recertification processing. Once the IRS publishes information, AHC will be sure to share its continued measures to ensure safety for all involved.
Suspension of activities offered within LURA
Activities that are offered in conjunction with requirements of a project’s LURA (such as fitness and nutrition classes) should remain available to tenants of a property at the discretion of the ownership/management company. If a property feels their tenant population is at risk, then the property should notify the tenants in writing of the suspension of activities providing a reasonable explanation and who to contact with questions or concerns. The property should then document their course of action and this documentation made available to AHC, upon request, during an audit or inquiry from a tenant. Tenants should also be notified when activities are able to return to their normally scheduled dates and times and the project file documented.
Access to common space amenities should not be limited, but extra precautions such as providing hand sanitizer, disinfecting wipes and regular, thorough cleanings should be scheduled to help mitigate the spread of infection. A notice to tenants who use these common spaces should be distributed and posted throughout the project’s common areas advising of sanitary precautions that are in place and the steps that should be taken by tenants prior to their use of such amenities. If a property feels their tenant population is at risk and wishes to restrict access to common area spaces, a written request will need to be submitted to Affordable Housing Connections at ahc@ahcinc.net for approval by the Suballocator.
Affordable Housing Connections, Inc.
Email: ahc@ahcinc.net
Website: https://www.ahcinc.net/
Location: 400 Selby Avenue, Suite B Saint Paul, MN. 55102
Phone: 651-222-8319