As residents, emergency and essential personnel, business owners and government agencies battle this horrific pandemic, the provision of low-income housing assistance remains among the most vital services needed. Stay-at-Home orders were issued by Governor John Bel Edwards and Mayor LaToya Cantrell, and confirm the absolute necessity for healthy, sustainable homes. To ensure the safety of residents and staff, HANO immediately responded to the orders by restricting public access to administration and property management offices, and implementing protocols to ensure continuity of all critical functions and programs. 

 

Although modified operations have been temporarily instituted, we've continued to maintain contact with participants to provide essential services for the families we serve. Mailed and emailed correspondence was provided to all program participants with specifications on major policy changes implemented in accordance with The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The CARES Act provides immediate protections and financial relief for families, including a moratorium on eviction for non-payment of rent established because of the unexpected and drastic loss of wages, and dramatic increase in unemployment cases across the nation. This will ensure our residents are able to remain in safe homes during this unfortunate time. 

 

The Housing Authority will continue to closely monitor the ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. While the virus has created an extremely tragic loss of life and unprecedented economic hardship, we will remain vigilant in communicating policy and operational modifications and identifying community resources that may affect our clients and stakeholders.

 

Please continue to visit the HANO website and social media pages to receive real-time updates on additional changes implemented as we weather this storm together.

To date, Urban Strategies, in partnership with Second Harvest and The Healthy School Food Collaborative, has distributed 3,000 meals to seniors, and 2,300 breakfasts and lunches to school age children. 

In response to the COVID-19 crisis, the Columbia Parc management team continues to provide vital resources to protect its most vulnerable residents. Columbia Parc staff contacted each resident via phone to determine resource needs in addition to providing a resource guide to their doorstep. 

In collaboration with its partners, Kingsley House and the Bayou District Foundation, Columbia Parc has provided ongoing food delivery, along with vouchers from Rouses grocery store, to the residents at Heritage Senior. Additionally, the Columbia Parc team has also been instrumental in identifying emergency financial assistance for its residents.

 

Although the management office remains closed, the management team at Columbia Parc is available via phone during office hours. In addition, the maintenance staff continues to complete essential and emergency service requests while wearing personal protective equipment (PPE).

To contact the Columbia Parc team, please call (504) 284-4769 (Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 5:30pm). 

The two-hour training provided attendees with an overview of the importance of mental health awareness for resident leaders, with a specific focus on the needs of residents and service coordinators during the pandemic. Webinar participants were also provided with the necessary tools for addressing social or physical distancing, and increased awareness of how to address grief. When the training concluded, attendees were presented with a certificate of completion.