BRENHAM HOUSING AUTHORITY BELIEVES WASHINGTON CO. COVID-19 DEATH WAS HOUSING AUTHORITY RESIDENT

  

Washington County’s lone COVID-19 related death could have been at one of the properties managed by the Brenham Housing Authority (BHA).

According to BHA Executive Director Ben Menjares, the death reported early April 3^rd occurred at Parklane Villas.  He said, while he has not received any official reports or test results, the BHA is assuming the death was COVID-19 related from what has been reported to it, due to the age of the housing authority resident who passed away.  Washington County officials previously said the man, who was in his 80s, had multiple underlying medical conditions.

Menjares said he knows of at least two other cases in BHA residents.  He said the county is working on a way to notify the housing authority when there is a positive case, but at this time, it is learning of cases from the residents themselves.

 

Menjares said the BHA is not aware of any COVID-19 cases in public housing.  Both Parklane Villas and Northview Village are classified as Section 8 housing, though they are still managed by the BHA.

Menjares said he is frustrated that in instances where a COVID-19 positive individual lives with other people, the others are not tested unless they are presenting symptoms.

 

Menjares was unable to say if the man who passed away lived with a roommate.

Menjares said BHA staff have been taking extra steps to stop the spread of COVID-19, including sending out notices to all residents stressing the importance of adhering to guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), closing common areas, and closing the offices.  He said nearly all staff are now working remotely.

In addition, all routine work orders have been cancelled, and staff are being outfitted with personal protective equipment (PPE) for any emergency situations.

 

Menjares said the BHA is trying to internally track any suspected or confirmed cases in residents, but is limited in the amount of information it can obtain due to privacy laws.

According to Menjares, the BHA currently manages roughly 280 residents across 148 public housing units, 50 senior-only units with 70 or so residents at its Northside Terrace facility, 80 units housing around 200 residents at Parklane Villas, and 66 units with about 150 residents at Northview Village.  There are also another 70 Section 8 vouchers representing another 200 or so residents.

Menjares said he is appreciative that the BHA’s facilities and properties are fairly spread out and not condensed into a single area, which should reduce the risk of community spread.  He said, as long as residents continue to follow CDC recommendations, they should stay safe.