Multifamily Housing During COVID-19 - National Edition

MULTIFAMILY HOUSING DURING COVID-19 HOW THE CORONAVIRUS AFFECTS OPERATIONS ON PROPERTY JUNE 2020

CONTACT US (888) 466-5572 www.navigatehousing.com

National Edition

MULTIFAMILY HOUSING DURING COVID-19 CONTENTS

3 4 5 7 8 10

COVID-19: THE GAME CHANGER

COVID-19 changed the way we interact with our residents and staff

COVID-19 CHALLENGES

How the pandemic has affected organizations overall

BUSINESS IMPACT & HOURS

Changes on property

PPE PROTOCOL

What personal protective equipment is required on property?

MOR READINESS

Ready or not...

MORs are back.

NAVIGATE'S MOR PROTOCOL

What we're doing to keep everyone safe and who to call with questions

STAYING INFORMED

11

Where people go for COVID-19 Multifamily updates

12

Accentuate the positive

BRIGHT SPOTS

COVID-19: THE GAME CHANGER COVID-19 changed the way we interact with our residents and staff, based, not only on advice from the nation's top doctors but also, local and state orders.

All 50 states have started the process of reopening with a number of stayat-home orders expiring in May. Navigate Affordable Housing Partners reached out to Owner/Agents and Property Managers in Alabama, Connecticut, Mississippi, and Virginia to see how they were operating during the "age of the coronavirus."

The 99 respondents provided valuable insight into what they are doing to protect their residents and staff, the challenges they face, and when the properties would be ready for Management and Occupancy Reviews (MOR).

We understand these concerns and are working to address them as our Relationship Managers (RM) start doing MORs again. You will find the steps we are taking, for the sake of public health, in this report.

COVID-19 CHALLENGES One property manager reported having a maintenance worker who was afraid to come to work. Another challenge on-property is keeping up the morale of senior residents and residents resistant to COVID-19 guidance.

Property managers tell us the pandemic has made it difficult to contact residents and applicants.

Some tenants do not want anyone in their units. Others have paused major capital projects due to an "unclear financial outlook."

WHAT CHALLENGES HAS YOUR ORGANIZATION EXPERIENCED AS A RESULT OF CORONAVIRUS? SELECT ALL THAT APPLY.

Reduced corporate spending Employees/relatives diagnosed with coronavirus Decreased productivity due to remote work Employee layoffs Lower employee morale Staying connected with your customers Childcare for workers 0%

10%

20%

30%

BUSINESS IMPACT & HOURS An overwhelming majority kept their onsite offices open during the pandemic.

IS YOUR ON-SITE OFFICE CURRENTLY OPEN DURING THE PANDEMIC? No 20 %

Yes 80 %

Many offices have maintained regular business hours, but some have adjusted their schedules. For example: 9Â a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

By appointment only Three days in office; Two remotely 8 to 11 a.m.

8am-5pm Mon-Fri face to face meetings by appointment only, using Social Distancing and face masks suggested (we provide masks)

PLEASE EXPLAIN HOW COVID-19 HAS AFFECTED YOUR STAFFING LEVELS, MANAGEMENT, MAINTENANCE, RESIDENT SERVICES, AND ACTIVITIES, ETC.

Maintenance is only entering units for Emergency Work Orders until June 1st.

Resident services and activities have been halted and will resume when the virus slows down in numbers increasing in our area.

Maintenance is using best judgement to determine if completing work orders is worth risk of entering unit, only completing emergency work orders. Currently all resident activities, health & wellness programs are suspended along with van services

"8:30-5:00, the door is kept locked. One applicant or tenant in at a time, if they are showing any symptoms, not allowed in office. When they depart, office is wiped down, all pens are wiped down, before the next person is allow in. Wearing masks and gloves are encouraged."

90%

CONDUCTING BUSINESS BY PHONE

98%

All staff are required to wear masks. More handouts, memos, phone calls to residents instead of meetings. Maintenance & janitorial is sanitizing common areas more frequently.

We stopped routine maintenance and private pay housekeeping but have started both of those services back as of 5/18. No group activities and no transportation

CLEANING AND DISINFECTING COMMON AREAS MORE FREQUENTLY

16%

CONDUCTING INTERVIEWS

BY VIDEO

PPE PROTOCOL The Centers for Disease Control says surgical masks and N-95 respirators should be reserved for healthcare workers and medical first responders. For the general public, the CDC recommends "simple cloth face coverings to slow the spread" of COVID-19.

WHAT KIND OF PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT ARE YOU REQUIRING ON SITE?

Masks Gloves Face Shields Goggles or Glasses Shoe CoversOther Head Covers Other 0%

20%

40%

60%

Nearly 30% of those surveyed require a combination of PPE on property.

MOR READINESS Many of those surveyed (41%) say their properties will not be ready until 2021. Unfortunately for them, HUD has lifted the suspension on MORs. HUD has charged Performance-Based Contract Administrators (PBCA) with determining whether local COVID-19 conditions will allow RMs to conduct inspections safely.

HUD uses MORS to insure O/As are complying with the mandate to provide decent, safe, and sanitary housing.

WHEN WOULD YOUR PROPERTY BE READY FOR AN MOR?

Now 24% Next Year 41%

30 days 12%

90 days 23%

Most PBCAS will resume MORs in July 2020. Navigate began MORs in Mississippi & Virginia in June.

People taking our survey are concerned about:

The difficulty of completing a physical audit due to social distancing concerns Resident interviews COVID-19 testing for reviewers

IF MORS ARE REINSTATED, WHAT EFFECTS MIGHT AN MOR HAVE ON THE SITE'S DAILY OPERATION?

Meeting with elderly tenants. Tenants may refuse to have anyone in apartment due to contagion and risk to theIr elderly population. Management would prefer to have MOR when vaccinations are available and State and Federal government have more solid scientific evidence. Effects and symptoms of spread are too risky currently in our small building. It only takes one outsider to expose these people.

Now that CT is in Phase 1 of opening, I am very concerned about residents who've been cooped up and isolated that they might let down their guard and get exposed to the virus.

It just seems that we're working under such a heightened state that the last thing you want is people coming in from outside whose status you don't know.

No direct effect. However, I would want to make sure it is safe for both parties to meet with social distancing being practiced.

I feel we could have digital files of requested materials available and could scan files to be uploaded to a sharefile if need be. But the physical inspections should be put on hold until Owners/Managers and Residents alike are all more comfortable with allowing access and interactions.

tenant's may not want anyone in unit. Hard to maintain office working from home.

It would cause extra detailing of all work to make sure we are prepared by continuing to work toward the preparation of the upkeep of our property and office, which is done daily.

If MOR auditors would need to review files electronically, it may take some time for site staff to upload files.

WE HEAR YOU Navigate's MOR Protocol

We have taken note of all of these concerns and are working on our plan to make public health a top priority.

Navigate will: Follow the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines Use personal protective equipment (PPE) Observe social distancing Observe any other additional safety protocols required by the OA Navigate has equipped our Relationship Managers (RM) with masks, gloves, wipes, hand sanitizer, and disinfectant wipes.

RMs will not be entering occupied units for the time being.

Individual PBCAs will handle MORs differently. If you have any questions or concerns about an upcoming MOR being performed by your Contract Administrator, please contact the person who scheduled your MOR. You can also contact your HUD Account Executive.

STAYING INFORMED WHAT RESOURCES ARE YOU USING TO STAY UP-TO-DATE WITH HUD'S GUIDANCE DURING THE PANDEMIC?

HUD Multifamily COVID Website

NavigateHousing.co m

Navigate Social Media

Other 0 %

25 %

50 %

75 %

"Other" Resources include: CDC Departments of Health Leading Age Governors' offices

Corporate offices Industry calls Industry webinars

100 %

BRIGHT SPOTS! To lighten the stress of trying to keep our seniors healthy, I have created a COVID day away for each staffer one day per week. Paid of course. Like a personal holiday. It has had a very positive effect and has not reduced our productivity.

One staffer is teleworking per a doctor's note.

At present we have experienced zero cases within employees and that is a direct result of our conservative safe approach and we will continue with this approach.

residents are able to get food from our pantries and area restaurants provide hot meals to our seniors and disabled. The children receive hot meals from a partner. We just partnered with VCE to start mini vegetable gardens at the properties.

Just a thank you. We love your Tuesday Tips. We send out weekly tips to our teams as well and include your videos. So thank you!

ABOUT NAVIGATE WE BELIEVE QUALITY, LIVABLE HOUSING IS ESSENTIAL FOR EVERY PERSON AND ARE WORKING WITH COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, HOUSING AUTHORITIES, AND GOVERNMENT AGENCIES TO MAKE THAT A REALITY. Navigate Affordable Housing Partners is a nonprofit that actively works to enhance all aspects of the housing industry to ensure that people have access to quality, livable housing choices. We develop, own, and manage housing properties and serve as a federal government contractor and consultant to housing agencies.

Community Development : We are investing in long-term sustainable community development to revitalize communities.

Housing : We own and manage quality, livable affordable housing properties.

Government Contracting : We are a premier Performance-Based Contract Administrator (PBCA) for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). We offer a number of professional services to state and local housing authorities.

Navigate Gives Back : We give back to the community to empower people.

MISSION

We invest in communities, provide quality housing options, and offer services to benefit the entire housing industry.

#40LookingForward

VISION

VALUES

CONTACT US (888) 466-5572 www.navigatehousing.com

Our vision is simple: to be an instrument of change by revitalizing communities, empowering people, and expanding housing options for all.

Quality : Setting and adhering to standards that seek efficiencies and economies of scale Service : To our customers and the communities in which we operate Respect : For our peers in the industry and the families we serve Innovation : Through collaborations and partnership with members of our communities Accountability : In how we operate and interact with communities and the industry

Celebrating #40LookingForward