• Identify potential employee health risks.

• Public visitors in lobbies, computer labs, and community rooms;
• Inspections of occupied units;
• Work orders in occupied units;
• Case management visits to tenant apartments;
• One-on-one appointments with customers;
• Working in close proximity to co-workers;
• In-person meeting with external partners;
• In-person meetings, in general;
• Cleaning bathrooms, common spaces and THA buildings;
• Visits to the office from children who attend school and daycare centers;
• Interactions with vulnerable populations.

• Sick leave.
• Union contracts as they relate to out-of-class work before and during a pandemic and requirements for notification for travel.
• Telework.

• Our Emergency Operations team will monitor Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department, CDC, World Health Organization, State of Washington Department of Health, Governor Inslee’s Office and King County Health Department updates, directive and Coronavirus statistics daily and adjust plans in response to this information.. As of December 1, 2020, THA is in Stage 1 of its operations. Details on this stage are in Appendix E.
• On May 1, 2020, the Governor’s office outlined the state’s Safe Start four-phase approach to reopening businesses;
• THA has developed a Workplace Safety Plan which outlines a four-stage plan to reopen and resume operations. THA’s four stages track the state’s approval of Pierce County’s application to move to each phase. THA will not move through its four stages faster than Pierce County moves through its four phases. However, THA may move slower
• The Workplace Safety plan includes social and physical distancing, sanitation, and PPE guidelines;
• We have closed all of our offices to the public starting Friday, March 13, 2020. Our offices will remain closed through THA’s Stage Three and until after the suspected second wave of the virus has passed. First, we will open by appointment only. Next, we will begin taking walk-ins during limited hours and will also limit the number of people in the lobby. This will be determined by the square footage of each lobby and the guidance given by the local and state health departments;
• Community rooms at family properties will begin to reopen when Pierce County reaches Phase Three and when THA reaches Stage Three, with social distancing and sanitation measures in place;
• Community rooms within the seven S&D buildings will not open until Pierce County receives clearance for Phase Four and when THA reaches Stage Four.;
• THA computer labs will begin to open under THA Stage Two Guidelines which includes social distancing and sanitation measures, use by appointment only, monitoring by property staff and limited hours;
• All non-essential meetings have been cancelled or moved to a virtual meeting space through June 31, 2021
• All essential meetings will be held virtually or, when held in person, in meeting spaces that allow for a six-foot distance between participants by appointment only, as long as Pierce County is in Phase Two and THA is in Stage Two or beyond. 

• Placed Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department (TPCHD) posters and material at each entrance of THA offices and emailed them to all staff.  This material encourages staying home when sick, cough and sneeze etiquette and hand hygiene
• Provided soap, water, and alcohol-based hand rubs in multiple locations and routinely refill.
• Placed hand sanitizer (60% Alcohol), sanitizing wipes, face masks and facial tissue at all front desk areas, meeting rooms, and employee work areas. Set up Sanitation Stations at the entrance of each THA office.
• Placed/supplied hand sanitizer, sanitizing wipes, face masks and facial tissue are stocked in all Fastenal machines.
• Instructed employees to clean hands often with an alcohol-based hand sanitizer or by washing with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
• Ensured that sick leave policies are in place.
• Clean commonly touched surfaces at least daily during the work week.
• Ensured Tour maintenance and inspection staff have appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) and are trained accordingly when performing daily functions of their job class that may require such equipment.
• All maintenance staff are trained on bloodborne pathogens.
• All THA staff members are required to complete three COVID training modules in the Targeted Solutions platform.
• Encourage staff to disclose a positive Coronavirus test result for themselves, family or close social circle
• Require exposed staff to monitor for symptoms and to quarantine for a period of 10 days per TPCHD guidelines;
• Staff will be required to perform a self-wellness and contact assessment prior to coming into a THA office. Staff are required to check in /out and let the COVID Site Supervisor know they are there.
• Require and recommend PPE for all staff, including facemasks, effective May 6, 2020 (See Appendix B).
• Per Governor Inslee’s order beginning June 8, 2020, all employees will be required to wear a cloth facial covering, except when working alone in an office, vehicle, or at a job site, or when the job has no in-person interaction.
• Per Governor Inslee’s order requiring face covering for all Washingtonians when in public spaces, all visitors to THA offices will be asked to wear face covering or to conduct their business remotely.THA’s offices will have a supply of face masks to offer. 

• employees who report to work having a fever or an acute respiratory illness upon arrival to work;
• who become sick during the workday;
• employees that have recently returned from travel to “high risk” areas should self report to their supervisor;
• employees who self-report a recent exposure to someone with Coronavirus symptoms or diagnosis;
• Employees will be asked to stay home until they feel better, if applicable, and have completed a virtual assessment:  multicare.org/virtualcare/.
• We will continue to sanitize the buildings where the sick employee(s) worked.
• Per the Workplace Safety Plan, we will designate COVID Safety Supervisors who are tasked with monitoring their fellow colleagues and reminding them of PPE and face covering guidance. 
• Employees will work with their supervisor to determine if they have the ability to work from home while waiting test results or self-quarantining. 

• All managers and employees are aware of Tacoma Housing Authority policies and the expectation that sick employees stay home;
• All managers have been reminded to send sick employees home.

• Close the office building(s) they’ve worked in for 72 hours;
• Hire a 3rd party vendor to sanitize the office(s);
• Advise all employees and visitors that have been in the building that they have been exposed and ask that they follow TPCHD guidelines related to "close exposure;"
• Work closely with TPCHD on any further action items and inform them of a confirmed COVID employee.

• Store a two-week supply of water and food;
• Make sure to have enough prescription drugs at home.
• Keep non-prescription drugs and other health supplies on hand. Get copies of electronic health records from the doctor, hospital, or pharmacy.
• Talk with family members and loved ones about how they would like to be cared for if they got sick, and what's needed to care for them at home.

• Payroll;
• Pay rent to landlords;
• Issue Key cards to new tenants and/or replace any lost cards;
• Initial Inspections: Rental Assistance;
• Emergency and Urgent Work Orders;
• Crisis Management for Tenants (virtually)
• Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Staffing and Communications;
• Accounts Payable
• Rent collection
• Return Urgent Phone Calls
• Process Mail
• Lease enforcement related to health and safety
• Payment of vendors/contractors

We have developed a policy to allow for a more lenient hardship and interim rent adjustment policies. Beginning March 25th, we asked clients to start reporting any financial hardships they are experiencing due to the pandemic. Based on the information received, we will reduce tenant rent payments through a Coronavirus-specific hardship rent policy.  We have also made it easy for clients to request these adjustments by reducing the paperwork we usually require, e.g, allowing self-certification of income loss.

We have also communicated with our landlord partners about the policy change.

We coordinated our response with the rental assistance programs that the City of Tacoma is developing with its newly enhanced federal and state money.

We suspended until December 1, 2021 the expiration of all-time limits on the duration of THA’s rental assistance.

June 29, 2020 we issued Executive Emergency Action 12: Superseding Prior Actions re: Residential and Commercial Tenant Rents, Rent Adjustments & Program Documentation, and Time Limits.

The purpose of Executive Action 12 is to update THA’s policies to comply with state proclamations and to account for federal requirements detailed in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The authorizations granted in this Executive Action supersede the following previous Executive Actions:

• Executive Action 3: Residential and Commercial Tenant Rent (Fees and Notices)
• Executive Action 5: Emergency Coronavirus Hardship: Easing Rent Adjustments and Program Documentation
• Executive Action 9: A Moratorium on Time Limits for Voucher Participants
• Executive Action 11: Entering into Rent Repayment Plans with Commercial Tenants

For both our residential and commercial tenants, we will not issue notices for non-payment of rent for  the months of April 2020 through December 2020.  Additionally, we will waive late fees.

Through December 30, 2020, we will not issue any notices for non-payment of rent nor any notice to terminate a tenancy for other reasons necessary to respond to a significant and immediate risk to the health, safety, or property of others created by the resident. In such a case, the notice must attach an affidavit attesting to this necessity. Staff will confer with THA’s attorneys to discuss and prepare such a notice and affidavit. We will also not file any rent-related judicial actions for the months of April through December 2020.

Effective April 16, 2020, we will not increase any contracts rent while the governor’s moratorium is in effect. Rent increase notices that were sent prior to April 16, will remain effective for the date stated on the notice.

Additionally, we will allow for repayment plans for unpaid rents amongst our commercial tenants

• It can equip tenants with necessities that may otherwise be hard for them to get;
• It can keep them out of the stores to reduce the chance that they will get or give infection;
• It can save them money;
• The deliveries can relieve a tenant’s isolation and loneliness.
• Reduce social visiting to individual units by friends and family bringing supplies and resources.

We are also working with Korean Women’s Association to reach out to our tenants in elderly/disabled buildings to find out medication needs and help them get refills by mail.

We will work to identify how to get residents needed toiletries and other items.  We shop for bulk purchases.

We have partnered with KCTC to provide meals to students at Salishan, Hillside Terrace and Bergerson Terrace. We have partnered with the Salishan Association and St Leos Food Bank to provide summer lunches at Salishan. Nourish Mobile Food Bank is also at Salishan every Friday.

Tacoma Public Schools (TPS) is providing free lunch to all children under 18 through the 2020-21 school year.

We have produced a document further outlining how we will serve our customers during this time. It has been incorporated as Attachment C to this document.
 

• View Appendix A for a complete list of signage throughout our properties.
• Post TPCHD infographics at every managed property of ours in a variety of high visibility areas and in a variety of languages;
• Post TPCHD infographics on each apartment door, and in each elevator that houses a high-risk population. E.g. senior/disabled buildings;
• Advise our third-party managers to communicate similarly at their properties;
• Post tips and links to social media sites;
• Update tenants and voucher holders with regular updates about operation changes that affect them, eviction prevention, social distancing, personal preparedness, and TPCHD prevention measures such as handwashing;
• Communicate with landlords and partners by email, phone, and letters about eviction prevention and resources for landlords, tenants and voucher holders;
• Communicate with investors, lenders, elected officials, and other partners about our Coronavirus pandemic response;
• Update staff regularly, via email, about social distancing, flexible leave, exposure, prevention measures, supplies, telework procedures, and operational status;
• Update staff via text of emergency closures or of possible close contact with suspected or confirmed COVID ill staff;
• Maintain a webpage that communicates our Coronavirus pandemic plan, TPCHD tips and links, resources, and FAQ’s;
• Maintain proactive phone, email, and written communication with tenants, clients, landlords, and others for the purposes of answering questions, helping with resources, well-being checks so people can remain housed and safe;
• Post notices on office doors about how they can reach staff for services by phone and email during regular business hours. 

• Notify the Emergency Operation Committee Commander and /or call an EOC meeting if needed; 
• Contact the tenant and ask the following questions: 

• If we can't confirm that a person is not displaying symptoms and/or refuses to share information with us, we will ask them to self-quarantine for 14 days.  

• Hire a 3^rd party sanitization vendor to complete a thorough cleaning of the building;
• Let staff and vendors in those buildings know and ask that they not enter the building until a full 3^rd party sanitization has occurred;   
• Notify the tenants in the building that we do not know of a positive test but they will be seeing a 3^rd party vendor as an extra precaution.
• Remind all THA staff and tenants in that building of social distancing recommendations.  

• Contact TPCHD and follow the instructions of the TPCHD investigative team. 

• To ask the appropriate questions of the occupant to allow for an assessment of risk.
• In the event of a risk of COVID-19 infected occupant, the staff person will not enter without appropriate personal protective equipment.
• Also, see below of required and recommended use of PPE.

• CSE Staff will continue to meet with clients over the phone or virtually.
• If a CSE caseworker is unable to engage the clients over the phone or virtually, then case worker will knock on client’s door (knock and talk) using PPE protocol during THA Stages Two, Three and Four. If the resident is at home, maintain social distance, and not enter the unit. (No confidential information will be discussed during this time but an opportunity to agree on alternate ways to communicate.)