Response for COVID-19
June 24, 2021
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has extended its nationwide eviction moratorium to July 31, 2021. Evictions are not being stopped automatically. Tenants must act affirmatively to fill out the CDC Eviction Protection Declaration form and give a copy to their landlord. Tenants must make sure to go to court, if sued, and raise CDC declaration or the state law 60 day delay.
Virginia Legal Aid Society put together a document to highlight current eviction law and new COVID-19 protections - STOPPING AN EVICTION DURING COVID-19
Forbes has posted a helpful article on what renters should do: Government Extends Eviction Moratorium For 3 Months. Here’s What Renters Should Do
June 4, 2021
Virginia Legal Aid Society shared a new online interactive guided app to help Virginia tenants and landlords determine whether they are eligible for COVID-related rental assistance. The app can be found at bit.ly/VaRentRelief or by visiting Virginia Legal Aid Society’s COVID-19 Resources page at vlas.org/covid19/.
The app walks people through a short series of questions that cover:
Whether tenants and landlords qualify for emergency COVID financial assistance to cover current and past due rent from April 1, 2020 under the Virginia Rent Relief Program;
What eviction protection may be available to them under the federal CDC Eviction Moratorium;
Know your Rights information about recently enacted COVID related protections for tenants including:
New notice requirements; and
Information on a 60-day delay of an eviction case for tenants that meet certain qualifications.
Virginia Legal Aid Society also provides legal information, advice, case representation and referrals to low-income Virginians through its LawLine at 1-866-534-5243 and at vlas.org.
February 16, 2021
Governor Northam announced and launched the Virginia Rent Relief Program (RRP) to support and ensure housing stability across the commonwealth during the coronavirus pandemic. Depending on availability of funds and household need, the RRP may provide financial assistance for rent payments for eligible households. Central Virginia CoC member organization, Virginia Legal Aid Society, put together the RRP Flyer outlining the program. Main changes from the previously launched Rent and Mortgage Relief Program include:
No longer includes mortgage relief
Easier to qualify- can now also show an increase in expenses due to COVID which most people have experienced at some point during the pandemic
They now pay 3 months of prospective rent as well
They will pay up to 15 months of rent per household
Tenants can apply one of two ways through Virginia DHCD:
Call the RRP Statewide Support Center number at (703) 962-1884 or
Apply online here
June 29, 2020
Governor Northam announced and launched $50 million in funding through the Rent and Mortgage Relief Program (RMRP) to assist households experiencing financial instability due to COVID-19. The Central Virginia Continuum of Care was awarded $450,000 to provide short-term financial assistance on behalf of households facing evictions or foreclosures. Interfaith Outreach Association is administering the RMRP for eligible residents in the City of Lynchburg and the Counties of Amherst, Appomattox, Bedford, and Campbell. If your household is behind on rent or mortgage payments because you lost income due to COVID-19, please call 434-846-6098 Monday through Friday from 9am to 12pm.
September 3, 2020
The statewide moratorium on evictions will end on Monday, September 7th. At that time, the CDC eviction moratorium will go into effect for Virginia. Here is a summary of the order:
Applies wherever there is not a more protective state moratorium in effect;
Applies to all tenants who present a signed declaration to their landlords;
The declaration requires the tenant to state:
income is less than $99,000, did not have to pay income tax in 2019, or received a stimulus check;
tenant unable to pay rent due to income loss or extraordinary out-of-pocket medical expenses;
tenant would become homeless or need to double-up if evicted;
tenant will still make partial payments ("using best efforts to make timely partial payments that are as close to the full payment as the individual's circumstances may permit, taking into account other non-discretionary expenses);
Lasts through December 31
Tenants can still be evicted for "reasons other than nonpayment of rent"
For assistance with drafting the declaration to the landlord please direct individuals to this website which is customizable and has all the required fields.
For those needing further assistance, please direct them to the Virginia Legal Aid Society at 866.534.5243
April 1, 2020
HUD issued a memorandum providing regulatory waivers of certain Continuum of Care (CoC), Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG), Housing for Persons With AIDS (HOPWA), and Consolidated Plan requirements to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 and to provide additional supports to individuals and families eligible for CoC, ESG, and HOPWA assistance who are economically impacted by COVID-19. The memorandum is posted on the HUD Exchange Disease Risks and Homelessness Page and HOPWA Resources Page.
The National Alliance to End Homelessness (NAEH) is hosting webinars throughout the next few days to discuss various tools, guidance, and strategies relating to how providers and homeless system leaders can respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. Access the webinars through the link below:
Shelter Management During an Infectious Disease Outbreak
COVID-19 Quick Reference for Homeless Shelters
CDC COVID-19 Informational Signs and Graphics
VDH Interim Guidance: Homeless Shelters Considerations, COVID-19
Be aware that some early symptoms of withdrawal and COVID-19 infections are similar. These include fever and muscle soreness. If symptoms include a persistent cough, if could be COVID-19. For more guidance, review the Guidelines for People Who Use Substances
As of March 18, 2020, Coordinated Homeless Intake and Access (CHIA) is not accepting walk-ins. Please call the telephone line 434-455-5722 for homeless services.
March 16, 2020
The Central Virginia Continuum of Care encourages shelter providers to focus on continuity of services and ensuring that staffing, equipment and space issues have been considered in order to accommodate a possible surge in shelter residents, to allow shelter residents the space to quarantine/isolate if experiencing symptoms, to ensure that residents are not put out during the day to avoid additional exposure/transmission, and to prohibit discharges of residents based on exhibiting symptoms. The following are steps that may be implemented in providing critical emergency services during this time:
Extend hours to 24/7 operations to allow guests to shelter in place;
Screen all guests for basic symptoms at entry;
Provide surgical (not N-95) masks to any guest with a cough;
Refer anyone with Covid-19 symptoms to local health department and healthcare professionals;
Isolate any symptomatic (cold/flu/etc.) individuals in a solitary area at least 10 feet away from each other;
Decline unnecessary physical donations;
Request financial donations from the community to offset additional staffing and facility needs;
Provide guests with regular communication regarding protocols;
Communicate prevention strategy broadly to the community;
Identify secondary shelter locations if needed;
Increase cleanings of all surfaces;
Set up additional hand washing stations;
Issue hand washing requirements for guests and staff;
Issue wellness requirements for staff and volunteers;
Hire additional facility or relief staff (or volunteers), in order to allow case managers to increase focus on exiting households to permanent housing.
March 13, 2020
Homeless populations tend to be more vulnerable to infectious disease in general (e.g., influenza) due to their limited access to healthcare, their mobility, and poor health status. Moreover, as with any other congregate setting, there are special considerations for providers of homeless shelters to help reduce the spread of infectious diseases.
This resource list is intended to provide useful information to providers of homeless shelters and other homeless services to prepare in the event as cases of COVID-19 are found in the central Virginia area, and to help prevent the spread of infection. We will continue to update as new resources become available.
GUIDANCE AND RESOURCES
CVCoC encourages all providers of shelter and other congregate settings to review these resources, as well as to continue to check back with the Virginia Department of Health's website.
Summary of National Resources
National Health Care for the Homeless Council Guidance:
HUD Guidance:
CDC Guidance:
NAEH Guidance:
USICH Guidance:
Summary of Local Guidance sent via email on March 13, 2020
The Central Virginia Continuum of Care is aware that there are concerns about how COVID-19 will impact our homeless neighbors, both sheltered and unsheltered. At this time, the CVCoC is deferring to the guidance provided by the Centers for Disease Control, the Virginia Department of Health and the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Recommended safety protocols for immediate implementation for all homeless response providers are the following:
Increased screening of any visitors to your facility to ensure that they are not experiencing any flu-like symptoms. “Are you or anyone in your household experiencing flu-like symptoms such as fever, cough and/or shortness of breath?”
Providing space and policy adjustments to allow for quarantine/isolation of any shelter client(s) exhibiting flu-like symptoms
Enhancing environmental controls including increasing the availability of hand sanitizer and more regularly disinfecting surfaces
Requiring that any staff member demonstrating flu like symptoms not report to work
Requiring that all staff follow the CDC guidelines to enhance hygiene: regular handwashing, coughing in a sleeve, social distancing, etc.
Reviewing agency emergency protocols, update as needed and circulate to all personnel and clients
Educating clients on hand hygiene, respiratory etiquette, and other infection control practices. Post hand washing and respiratory etiquette signs
Providing in-service education sessions for staff on infection control
Encouraging staff, volunteers and clients to model hand and respiratory hygiene
The CVCoC will be working closely with the Central Virginia Health District to ensure that all appropriate protocols are being implemented. Please continue to monitor information provided by the Centers for Disease Control and public health officials.
Sincerely,