See statement below.

As you may be aware, the World Health Organization has declared COVID-19 a global pandemic disease and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention considers the potential public health threat posed by the outbreak to be elevated in the United States. As the number of cases identified in the United States continues to rise and the probability of community spread increases, we must acknowledge the rapidly evolving nature of the situation and be ready to safeguard everyone’s health while simultaneously managing business continuity. The Lakewood Housing Authority continues to monitor direction from the state and federal government related to declarations of state emergency orders and are prepared to support those directives as required

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact people locally and globally, the Lakewood Housing Authority is working to ensure that we do our part to keep residents, participants and staff members safe and minimize transmission of the virus. While we began taking precautionary measures on March 16th, we are also taking the following proactive measures to further protect the safety of our residents, participants, and employees:

• Effective Monday, March 23, the Lakewood Housing Authority office will be closed to the public. All communication will be completed via telephone, fax, mail and email.
• A mail/drop box will be installed in front of the main office on Tuesday, March 24. The mail/drop box will serve to allow receipt of incoming mail and for clients to drop off required information/paperwork to the LHA.
• Income & Household Change Forms will be placed in the “outgoing mail” portion of the mail/drop box for clients to pick up if needed. A link to the forms will also be placed on our website homepage, www.lakewoodha.org.
• Staff has been split into two groups and will alternate days that they work in the office to provide safe social distancing. Staff has been provided the ability to retrieve voice messages and emails from home. Staff emails and phone extensions are located on website at www.lakewoodha.org/aboutUs.aspx?page=staff.
• HQS inspections are only being completed for initial/new admission purposes and for any exigent health and safety concern.
• Participant moves are suspended with the exception of moves due to health and safety issues.
• The community rooms in our buildings have been closed down and we have suspended monthly extermination services to our units.
• Maintenance staff is only performing emergency work orders (not completing routine work orders) and limiting their exposure by working in vacant units and non-populated areas.

The safety and security of our residents/participants and team are our primary concern every day. We remain committed to helping our residents/participants navigate through these stressful and uncertain times. We encourage our residents/participants to reach out to their case worker through telephone or email if in need of any assistance.

The entire Lakewood Housing Authority staff and board of commissioners wishes you and your family health and peace of mind during this challenging time.  We will get through this together.

Sincerely,
Scott E. Parsons, Acting Executive Director
Lakewood Housing Authority Board of Commissioners