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our resources and response to

COVID 19

Overview

The Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) is closely monitoring a pandemic of the 2019 novel (new) coronavirus or COVID-19. This new respiratory virus was first identified in the city of Wuhan in China’s Hubei Province and continues to infect people in China and around the world, including the United States.

On March 6, ISDH confirmed the first case of COVID-19 in a Hoosier with recent travel. On March 16, ISDH reported the first death in Indiana due to COVID-19. On May 18, Indiana confirmed its first case of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) that has been associated with COVID-19.

ISDH is working with federal and local partners, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), to respond to this evolving public health situation.  Please click here for the most recent press releases related to COVID-19.

Please contact your healthcare provider if you experience symptoms of COVID-19 including fever, cough, shortness of breath, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, and diarrhea. Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. Please immediately seek care if you experience symptoms such as trouble breathing, persistent pain or pressure in the chest, new confusion, inability to wake or stay awake and bluish lips or face.

General questions from the public or healthcare provider inquiries about COVID-19 may be directed to the ISDH COVID-19 Call Center at the toll-free number:
877-826-0011 (8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily for general public, Monday through Friday for healthcare providers).

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Vaccine Registration

Vaccines are now available for Indiana residents ages 12+. Use the following link to register for your vaccine today!

https://vaccine.coronavirus.in.gov/en-US/

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Public Health Information and Best Practices

Updated:  May 21, 2021

The Indiana State Department of Health and other health organizations have issued instructions on how to help prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus known as COVID-19. We encourage all tenants to stay informed and follow the advice of these health agencies, and to contact BHA by phone, email or the website rather than in person.

Phone: (317) 233-1325

Phone: (812) 349-2543

Important Precautions

  • Wear a mask that covers your nose and mouth to help protect yourself and others.
  • Stay 6 feet apart from others who don’t live with you.
  • Avoid crowds and poorly ventilated indoor spaces.
  • Wash your hands often with soap and water. Use hand sanitizer if soap and water aren’t available.
  • Get a COVID-19 vaccine.

If You are at Risk of Getting Very Sick

  • People of any age, even healthy young adults and children, can get COVID-19.
  • People who are older or have certain underlying medical conditions are at higher risk of getting very sick from COVID-19.
  • Other groups may be at higher risk for getting COVID-19 or having more severe illness.

Getting a COVID-19 Vaccine

  • Authorized COVID-19 vaccines can help protect you from COVID-19.
  • You should get a COVID-19 vaccine when it is available to you (Currently ages 12+)
  • Once you are fully vaccinated, you should be able to do the things you may have stopped doing due to the pandemic without wearing a mask or physical distancing (unless required by federal, state, local, tribal, territorial, business or workplace guidance)

What to Do if You're Sick

  • Stay home except to get medical care. If you have symptoms of COVID-19, contact your healthcare provider and get tested.
  • Isolate yourself from others, including those living in your household, to prevent spread to them and the people that they may have contact with like grandparents.
  • Call 911 if you are having emergency warning signs, like trouble breathing and pain or pressure in chest.

How to Get a Test for Current Infection

  • Visit your state, tribal, local, and territorial health department’s website to look for the latest local information on testing.
  • Talk to your healthcare provider about getting tested. You and your healthcare provider might consider either in-person testing, an at-home collection kit, or an at-home test.
  • If you have symptoms of COVID-19, or if you have not been vaccinated and have been in close contact with someone with COVID-19, it is still important to stay home even if you are not tested.

What Symptoms to Watch For

  • The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are:

 

  • Fever
  • Cough
  • Headaches
  • Fatigue
  • Muscle or body aches
  • Loss of taste or smell
  • Sore throat
  • Nausea
  • Diarrhea

 

  • Other symptoms are signs of serious illness. If someone has trouble breathing, chest pain or pressure, or difficulty staying awake, get medical care immediately.

Important Updates

The BHA Main Office (1007 N Summit Street) will re-open to walk-ins on Monday, June 28th.

Electronic reporting of interim changes (changes of income and/or household composition) and annual re-certification forms will still be available online and in the main office. Please see below for more information on how to access, complete, and submit these online forms.

2021 Accepted Waivers

To view the 2021 CARES Act BHA accepted waivers click here. To view the Emergency Housing Vouchers BHA accepted waivers click here.

Interim Changes Information

To report any changes, increase or decrease, you must complete an interim change form that is available online by clicking here.

For your convenience, your case manager is available to assist you with completing your interim change declaration over the phone. Click here  for the BHA staff directory.

Once you have completed the fillable PDF Interim Change Form, you may save the document to your computer, tablet, or smartphone and then email the document to your case manager. Click here for the BHA staff directory. If you are completing the form using your smartphone, it is recommended that you use the Adobe Fill and Sign app available for free from the Google Play Store and/or Apple App Store.

Changes to income and/or family composition should be reported in writing within fourteen calendar days of the occurrence. If you begin working, an interim change form should be completed within fourteen calendar days from the hire date.

Annual Renewal/Re-Certification Information

You may access the Annual Renewal/Re-Certification Form by clicking here.

Once completed, save the document to your computer, tablet or smartphone and then email the document to your case manager. Click here for the BHA staff directory. If you are completing the form using your smartphone, it is recommended that you use the Adobe Fill and Sign app available for free from the Google Play Store and/or Apple App Store.

Household Changes Information

The electronic application updates form can be found here.

Housing Quality Standards (HQS) Inspections Information

BHA continues to monitor which units are due for inspection. Rather than conducting a physical inspection for those which are due, we will conduct a teleconference call with the family to inquire about any potential deficiencies.

We will encourage families to take pictures of any said deficiencies and email them to the inspector. We will also encourage Skype sessions with the family when available in order to conduct a virtual assessment of the unit. We will then notify the landlord of the deficiency and require non-life-threatening deficiencies to be corrected within 30 days; any life-threatening deficiencies will be
required to be corrected within 24 hours.  Owners may also submit self-certification that the assisted unit meets HQS by submitting the HQS Self-Certification Form.

BHA will then follow up with the tenant at the end of the correction period deadline for confirmation of repairs being performed, again using methods such as teleconferencing and Skype. For any units still not meeting HQS at the end of the correction period, or any BHA-approved extension, an abatement of the Housing Assistance Payment will occur until such time that the unit is able to meet HQS.

BHA will continue to perform initial inspections provided that the unit is vacant, has been cleaned and received turnover maintenance prior to the inspection. For initial inspections in which the unit is occupied, BHA will conduct a virtual assessment of the unit utilizing such tools as Skype and webcams.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q:  Will my housing assistance be interrupted?

A:  No.  BHA will continue to make timely Housing Assistance Payments on behalf of participant families.

Q:  I’m a Public Housing resident.  How should I pay my rent?

A:

  • Pay with a card over the phone by dialing 812.339.3491
  • Drop your rent payment off at the drop box located at the BHA entrance (checks or money orders only, please be sure to include your name, address, and telephone number with payment)
  • Mail your rent payment to BHA at 1007 N. Summit Street, Bloomington, IN 47404 (checks or money orders only, please be sure to include your name, address, and telephone number with payment)

Q:  I’ve experienced a decrease of income.  How can I report this change?

A:  To report any changes, increase or decrease, you must complete an interim change form that is available online by clicking here.

For your convenience, once you have completed the fillable PDF Interim Change Form, you may save the document to your computer, tablet, or smartphone and then email the document to your case manager.  Click here for the BHA staff email directory.  If you are completing the form using your smartphone, it is recommended that you use the Adobe Fill and Sign app available for free from the Google Play Store and/or Apple App Store.

You may also obtain and complete the interim change form at the BHA main office entrance.  Changes to income and/or family composition must be reported in writing within fourteen calendar days of the occurrence.  If you begin working, an interim change form must be completed within fourteen calendar days from the hire date.  Calling to report a change will not be accepted.

Q:  Will I still have my inspection?

A:  BHA continues to monitor which units are due for inspection. Rather than conducting a physical inspection for those which are due, we will conduct a teleconference call with the family to inquire about any potential deficiencies.

We will encourage families to take pictures of any deficiencies and email them to the inspector. We will also encourage Skype sessions with the family when available in order to conduct a virtual assessment of the unit. We will then notify the landlord of any deficiencies and require non-life-threatening deficiencies to be corrected within 30 days; any life-threatening deficiencies will be required to be corrected within 24 hours.  Owners may also submit self-certification that the assisted unit meets HQS by submitting the HQS Self-Certification Form.

BHA will then follow up with the tenant at the end of the correction period deadline for confirmation of repairs being performed, again using methods such as teleconferencing and Skype. For any units still not meeting HQS at the end of the correction period, or any BHA-approved extension, an abatement of the Housing Assistance Payment will occur until such time that the unit is able to meet HQS.

BHA will continue to perform initial inspections provided that the unit is vacant, has been cleaned and received turnover maintenance prior to the inspection. For initial inspections in which the unit is occupied, BHA will conduct a virtual assessment of the unit utilizing such tools as Skype and webcams.

Q: I am moving to a new unit. Will I be able to get my unit inspected?

A: Yes, BHA will work with your landlord to complete the inspection either virtually OR if the unit is vacant, turned and recently cleaned the inspection will be done in person.

Q: My landlord says they are going to evict me because of nonpayment of rent.  What should I do?

A:  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention implemented a temporary eviction moratorium through June 30, 2021, protecting U.S. renters from losing their homes during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Talk to your landlord about your decrease in income and let them know we are working on a rent adjustment. We are happy to speak to your landlord on your behalf if that would be helpful. Please contact your BHA case manager and let them know there is an issue with your landlord and they will reach out.

Q: I am supposed to get my voucher for the first time, when will that happen?

A: BHA has every intention of continuing to issue vouchers. Although we will not have any in-person meetings, we will continue to conduct briefings and voucher issuance through the mail, online, or by phone. We will contact you through email, mail, or phone with details once we have reached your name from the waiting list.  The HCV Briefing Video Presentation may be accessed by clicking here.

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