Massachusetts National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials

The MassNAHRO Insurance Group, Inc., the largest writer of workers’ compensation insurance for MassNAHRO Members, has been fielding questions recently regarding COVID-19 and its potential impact on employees of local housing authorities. In particular, this question has been asked – is an employee who is presumed to have, or who has been diagnosed with COVID-19 eligible for workers’ compensation benefits? In order for an injury, illness or disease to be compensable under workers’ compensation insurance, the injury, illness or disease must have occurred within the course and scope of employment. While specific circumstances and facts may exist that might reasonably support a claim that the onset of COVID-19 may be work related, additional factors likely preclude such a determination. An occupational illness or disease is a workplace exposure. An occupational illness or disease is not a general life or general public exposure. Given the customary and usual workplace functions and duties performed by housing authority employees, COVID-19 exposure would be considered a general life exposure in the same fashion as the flu, a cold, or any other similar contagion. Housing authority employees are not considered to be at any greater risk of contracting COVID-19 than the rest of the general population. Absent a directive or ruling from a relevant regulatory authority in Mass., claims involving COVID-19 would not be deemed compensable under workers’ compensation insurance.

Call/Texting Solutions to Reach Residents

One Call Now Solutions - Janelle Lott, Regional Account Manager at One Call Now - P 937.573.2373 - F 937.335.3887 onecallnow.com

Callfire - https://www.callfire.com/ - CallFire Inc. support@callfire.com 1.877.897.3473 (Submitted by the Worcester H.A.)

Link to other similar software

Contact for KN95 masks in Easton, MA:

Pete Boosader 508-889-3643

1000 masks - 3.50 each, over 5000 - 3.25

(the minimum order is 1000, if you are a smaller H.A. we suggest contacting surrounding H.A.s to combine your need to meet the minimum as an option.)(Submitted by Quincy H.A.)

Contact for Air Purifiers:

Karen Johnson
CRiMSON MEDICAL Solutions
508.523.6400
110 State Road, Suite 8
Sagamore Beach, MA 02562
kjohnson@crimson-medical.com
www.Crimson-Medical.com

United Way Resources for Resident Services Coordinators

Link to United Way's Local Funds and more COVID resources

Sample Documents:

Sample Notice to employees on working remotely

Sample Notice to employees on childcare timeoff

Sample Notices to Tenants:

https://files.constantcontact.com/a08b9b0e001/fec15971-e36f-4b3d-bb77-dab890387b0e.pdf

https://files.constantcontact.com/a08b9b0e001/89c99808-3a6d-434c-86c2-37a68528928d.pdf

Sample Resource Guide For Residents

http://www.ghama.com/default.aspx?action=open&id=1247

Activities for Residents

[from Colleen Doherty, Taunton H.A]

Dance Contest for our kids to submit video. All must submit dancing to the song Justin Timberlake's "Can't Stop the Feeling" Winning dances posted to our website with prizes. Must have guardian/parental permission
Poster Contest "What Family Means to Me" create poster and tape to windows we will judge and post to our website with prizes.
Posting you tube videos for families of fun inexpensive recipes and activities.
Trivia Tuesdays for our elderly/disabled. Call them all every day with one trivia question one hour to call back with the answer. Every Tuesday we will announce winners who got all question right for the week.
Asking elderly/disabled residents to paint rocks and/or color Easter eggs. We will then hide both for our kids to find in our family developments. Numbering the rocks and eggs so kids can make a card or pictures for the resident who made them. THA will know the identity of the resident who made them by the number.
Posting jar of jellybeans to guess the number inside on our website and doorways. Prizes for top 5 closest guesses.