PHA Visitor Policy updated for vendors, partners and others who enter PHA buildings in light of COVID-19. 

The Providence Housing Authority (PHA) has updated its Visitor Policy for vendors, partners, and others entering PHA buildings in light of health risks associated with COVID-19. The Policy is only one of the many ways the PHA is working to protect residents, participants, partners, and staff during this pandemic.

Updated December 13, 2021

GUIDANCE FOR EVENTS – anyone requesting to hold an event at any PHA property must complete this Event request form and submit to Peter Asen, pasen@provhousing.org, for political candidate events and Julie Piccolo, jpiccolo@provhousing.org, for community partner events.

1) Events will take place outside-community rooms, high-rise gyms, libraries, and computer labs remained closed to the public. PHA reserves the right to change this policy based on future COVID-19 conditions. Indoor events will be for PHA sponsored efforts to respond to the COVID emergency only.
2) Health screening – The requester certifies that it will notify and require that any staff and volunteers for any partner organization do not come to an event if they
a. Have symptoms which may be symptoms of respiratory Infection, including, but not limited to the following: fever, cough, runny nose, sense of smell, shortness of breath, severe sore throat, or muscle aches. This applies regardless of vaccination status.
b. They are unvaccinated and have been in close contact (within 6 feet for at least15 minutes) within the last 14 days with anyone known to have tested positive or been presumed positive for COVID- 19.
c. They have been directed to quarantine by the Rhode Island Department of Health or a medical professional.
3) Masks are required for all staff, volunteers, and attendees except when eating or drinking.
4) Social Distancing required during the event – attendees must maintain a minimum of three feet and when possible, at least six feet. Partner/event requester must agree to do  their part to maintain social distance at the event.
5) Partners will not be allowed into buildings to put up flyers. Flyers will be provided to PHA staff to put in the buildings.

BACKGROUND ON VISITOR POLICY

The Providence Housing Authority (PHA) takes seriously its responsibility to protect the safety and well being of all its tenants, and the COVID-19 pandemic has created substantial challenges for the agency in this area. In particular, the agency has been concerned with its high-rise buildings, which together hold more than 1,100 units of housing in close proximity, where residents share building entrances, hallways and elevators and social distancing is a challenge. In addition, the high-rise buildings tend to house some of those at highest risk for COVID-19 – two are open exclusively to elderly tenants, and the other four house elderly as well as younger adults with disabilities.

The PHA has posted signs, banners and put forward other communications to tenants since April of 2020 stating clearly that visitors to high rise buildings are limited to deliveries of food or medicine, medical care, and wellness checks and that other visitors are prohibited at this time. The PHA has continued to remind high rise tenants of this policy and to make sure tenants understand that the various stages of “reopening” at the state level have not negated the need to continue extraordinary safety measures at the high rise buildings.

While family developments are different in their setup in terms of having less density among apartments, far fewer units per building, and no shared elevators, family development tenants have still been reminded of safety protocols that are necessary to protect the safety of themselves and their communities as well.

Visitor Policy

1. Visitors in high rises should be limited to delivery of food, medicine and other essential items as well as wellness checks
2. Visitors must wear a mask indoors in any public spaces within any PHA building.
3. PHA vendors will be required to have COVID-safety procedures in place for all employees who visit PHA properties.
4. Community partners, political candidates or anyone else seeking to hold an event on PHA property will only be approved for outdoor events.

QUESTIONS ABOUT THE VISITOR POLICY

Please direct all questions about the PHA’s Visitor Policy to inquiries@provhousing.org.  To learn more about the PHA’s response to COVID-19, view our Coronavirus Updates.