The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has been pervasive. Since March, and for an indefinite period, offices, schools, restaurants, mass transportation, sports, concerts, summer camps and more were closed, curtailed or canceled. There has been unprecedented self-isolation. For months, “eating out” has meant “curbside pick-up” for diners.

So, how does this relate to our affordable senior housing properties? As parts of the country were shutting down, our Center for Senior Services (CSS) worked to ensure that B’nai B’rith facilities met the unprecedented challenges. Regular readers of this column may remember that we often comment that the B’nai B’rith Senior Housing Network is “more than bricks and mortar.” That is, B’nai B’rith housing doesn’t end when the doors open. Rather, it only starts there.  

Whether it’s our annual Housing Conference, Managers and Service Coordinator Training, advocacy on Capitol Hill, Residents’ Leadership Retreat or the myriad of other ways we work with our buildings, our overriding commitment is that we do not quit after we cut a ribbon. That’s when our involvement and hard work truly begin.

In 2020, residents have been sheltering in their apartments, and the building staff have had to adapt to the “new normal.” Staff have had to calm residents and their families and find ways to acquire much-needed personal protective equipment (PPE), cleaning supplies and food, all while practicing responsible social distancing. If you think it’s difficult in your own household, imagine what it’s like in an apartment complex housing 50 to 250 “higher risk” older adults.

Jeff Cottingham, the management agent for the Sam J. Stone B’nai B’rith Apartments in Peoria, Illinois, described our Zoom meetings as “invaluable!”

Since the pandemic forced us to cancel our annual in-person meeting of managers and service coordinators, our staff provided remote online training focused on staff and residents’ day-to-day activities in our affordable housing properties. Participants heard from representatives from the American Association of Service Coordinators (AASC), the U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), consultants in the field of affordable housing and B’nai B’rith staff. Discussions included suggestions as to how to obtain PPE and cleaning supplies, limiting access to common areas, informing residents, practicing social distancing, mandatory mask policies and networking.  

Our work has included assisting individual properties throughout the crisis. We worked with community partners, including our own B’nai B’rith Center for Community Action (CCA), to ensure that residents received adequate supplies. Managers at our property in Queens, New York, told us that a local grocery store, where many residents were shopping, had to close for an extended period of time. Through CCA we were able to get pallets of food — including eggs, yogurt and nonperishable items — donated for 288 people. “The team at B’nai B’rith International quickly went to work to find donations and a food source for the residents in our building,” said Michael Pierce, the building’s regional property manager. The staff assembled bags to be delivered to the residents’ doors.