HUD has launched a new resource to make at-home COVID-19 testing kits available for free to older adults living in Section 202 Housing for the Elderly properties. The resource was launched in partnership with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the national nonprofit LeadingAge.
Section 202 providers that are registered with the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) can place weekly orders for between 45 and 90,000 test kits through the Health Partner Order Portal (HPOP). The kits will be delivered directly to any participating Section 202 property in seven to 10 days.
Regular testing is an important part of mitigating the spread of COVID-19 and protecting those most vulnerable to serious infection, including older adults and people with disabilities. This is particularly true in congregate living settings like nursing homes or assisted living communities, where airborne, communicable diseases can transmit quickly from person to person. The new program aims to promote community health and well-being by providing test kits to Section 202 providers that can be used to ensure residents, staff, and others are not infected with the virus or, if they are, to quickly identify, quarantine, and appropriately treat infected persons.
If you are a Section 202 provider, register with the ASPR and order your free COVID-19 test kits here: https://bit.ly/3jUTi0Y