NOTICE from Dukes County Regional Housing Authority

housing

Update on Dukes County Reg. Housing Authority efforts regarding Covid 19 - 

Housing Authority services are ongoing through a rotation of individual staff working at the 21 Mechanic St. office on an as-needed basis. Otherwise, staff remains available through phone, email, and on-line meeting capability. As per DHCD’s PHN 2020-11, efforts such as application processing, apartment lease-ups, and day to day financial operations continue while annual re-certifications, lease renewals, and all court related actions are on hold. O’Brien Property Management continues required availability for all emergency responses, continued cleaning of all common areas such as building entrances, hallways, laundry rooms, and those exterior up-keep functions that are possible without contact with tenant households. In all such duties, significant precautions are being taken while the back-up store of PPE and cleaning product is being added to as is possible.

The Housing Authority anticipates a rise in tenant inability to make rent payments. We, along with the Island Housing Trust and other developers for whom we manage, have taken advantage of rental property mortgage payment deferral programs offered by our local lending partners in an effort to provide deferment of tenant rent payments as needed. Additional funding support is being sought from state and federal sources as well as foundation and private sources. Should extended economic circumstances warrant consideration of rent waivers, we wish to be in a position to both offer that support to tenant households while continuing to meet all other financial obligations.

It is on this paramount issue of island renter support that the Housing Authority wishes to offer its partnership to each of your towns. While waiting to see the full effects of Federal & State stimulus and relief funding being employed, we would suggest that local responses to renter needs should also be explored. This link to yesterday’s reporting on what would seem an obvious statement (https://www.npr.org/2020/04/01/825056974/renters-get-less-protection-from-covid-19-economic-disruptions) none the less reminds us of what will only become more apparent in the coming weeks. The Housing Authority would like to suggest that we begin to look together at possible responses and potential resources that might be availed upon to help tenants and landlords both to make it through the increasing financial and emotional demands many an islander is under. DCRHA’s particular interest here is the support of tenant households and their landlords who are outside of Housing Authority rentals or those supported by town CPA supported Rental Assistance. 

Attached is the existing Housing Authority Emergency Financial Assistance Program (EFAP) doc as an existing example of one such support. We are currently redrafting the EFAP to potentially serve current needs in market rentals in response to one foundation’s request towards possible funding. 

Also attached for your information is a memo being used in DCRHA and O’Brien Property Management staff vehicles should the time come when driving bans require identification of “essential worker” status.

 

David Vigneault, Executive Director

Dukes County Regional Housing Authority

21 Mechanic St. PO Box 4538, Vineyard Haven, MA

Phone 508-693-4419   Fax 508-693-4419