May 29, 2020 Washington DC – From Katie Smith Sloan, president and CEO of LeadingAge, the association of nonprofit providers of aging services, including Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)-assisted senior housing:

“At this critical time during the coronavirus pandemic, we need government policies that prioritize the health of older adults who live in affordable senior housing, including the 1.6 million seniors helped by HUD’s programs, and we need federal support for the providers serving them.

This week, HUD issued long-awaited guidance to help communities minimize COVID-19 exposure for staff and residents during key management operations. The new HUD Notice provides guidance for the use of electronic signatures, files, and documents in HUD-assisted, multifamily housing—a key flexibility needed to keep residents both housed and healthy.

Existing HUD guidance requires the use of original signatures and documents, as well as paper file storage and transmission, in housing communities; in today’s world of technology the new electronic flexibility has major benefits for both housing staff and residents who will be able to conduct necessary transactions without the need to be in physical contact.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, HUD made limited and temporary electronic options available for operations requiring resident interactions, like income recertifications and new applicant processing. This week’s new HUD guidance effectively continues and expands electronic flexibilities for signatures and documents, limiting in-person interactions at communities and relieving burden on housing providers.

LeadingAge supports streamlining and electronic flexibilities to help housing providers better serve residents. By allowing providers to create policies for electronic signatures and documents, HUD has taken a step toward building stronger affordable senior housing communities during this crisis and for the future of housing and services delivery.”

We represent more than 5,000 aging-focused organizations that touch millions of lives every day. Alongside our members and 38 state partners, we address critical issues by blending applied research, advocacy, education, and community-building. We bring together the most inventive minds in our field to support older adults as they age wherever they call home. We make America a better place to grow old. For more information: www.leadingage.org