Off Campus Living

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COVID-19 Resources for Off-Campus Students

COVID-19 is impacting our community in many ways. Keep up with recent University developments at the Safe Campus website. We will continue to add resources below as we find them. Please continue the use of non-pharmaceutical interventions (washing hands with soap and water or using hand sanitizer when soap/water is not available, covering your sneeze or cough, staying home when you are sick) and make good choices about social distancing.

Food Shelves

State of MN food assistance information and additional links for getting food help right now.

Restaurants

Funding

Student Emergency Funds - contact your Academic Advisor or One Stop to begin the application process and share what your needs are.

CARES Act COVID-19 relief is also available by application. Priority given to applications received by June 12, but funds will be distributed while they last.

Unemployment insurance is available in many cases if you've lost your job.

Housing

Eviction Suspension - Governor Walz announced a suspension of evictions as of March 24, 2020 through the peace time emergency. Please don't think this means you shouldn't pay your rent. You signed a legal binding contract that you would pay your rent in full and that still stands. If you are thinking about breaking your rental contract, check your lease for any breakage fees you may incur. If you have a two month penalty for breaking, and you have a two month notice with five months left in your contract ending in August, you'll want to give notice by March 31 to save one month's rent. After that, there may be no financial benefit to breaking the lease. Please contact your landlord directly to discuss your options and explain any extenuating circumstances. While no eviction proceedings can be initiated now, that does not mean they can't be initiated later on when the peace time emergency is lifted if you are in default of your contract. An eviction on your record down the road could prevent you from securing rental housing in the future. Avoid it if at all possible. Instead, talk with your landlord about a possible repayment plan.

Q: I was planning to live near/off-campus in the Fall, what if I don’t want to/feel safe coming back?

A: If you live in a privately-owned and managed residence, look for information about breaking your lease in your respective lease. Whether or not you are responsible for the full amount of the lease depends on the specific provisions in your contract. We recommend you talk to your property manager and reach out to Student Legal Service (SLS) if you need additional help negotiating. Leases must be reviewed individually and on a case by case basis. SLS can review your lease and advise you on how to best proceed and what legal options are available relative to terminating your lease.

Students could also consider identifying a subletter if their lease allows. Again, review your lease and speak with your property manager about the possibility. The Roommate Finder tool and the Housing group on FB are good options for identifying a possible subletter.

Q: What if an outbreak occurs in my apartment building?

A: Students should follow CDC guidelines to best protect themselves in shared living spaces. Students exposed to COVID-19 should self quarantine in their locations per CDC guidelines. Some property managers will have spaces available to isolate if your individual units are not feasible if you are sick. The University is not able to provide any possible isolation or quarantine spaces at this time for off-campus students.

The Minnesota Department of Health recommends that individuals in quarantine and isolation take the following steps to reduce viral transmission within their household:

  • Stay away from other people in their home. As much as possible, they should stay in a separate room and use a separate bathroom, if available.
  • Wear a facemask when using shared spaces like the kitchen and bathroom if no separate bathroom is available, and avoid occupying shared spaces at the same time.
  • Avoid sharing personal household items. Do not share food, dishes, drinking glasses, eating, utensils, towels, or bedding with other people in their home.
  • Wash their hands often.

Coronavirus, COVID-19 Testing

Boynton Health is one of many coronavirus, COVID-19 testing sites in the state of Minnesota. To schedule a test, call Boynton's nurse line 612-625-7900.

Who Can Be Tested at Boynton

Symptomatic patients—anyone who has coronavirus symptoms.

Certain asymptomatic patients—people who do not have coronavirus symptoms and meet the following criteria:

  • Health care staff
  • Critical infrastructure staff
  • Pre-procedural patients

Attendees of Protests, Vigils and Neighborhood Events

If you have symptoms, get tested right away. If you do not have symptoms, wait five to seven days after the event to be tested. If you can't get in at Boynton, consider going to another nearby location.

Low-Cost/Community Clinics (Health Support)

**If you think you have COVID-19, please call before going to any health care provider**

Resources for Working and Learning Off Campus (Internet Access and Academic Help)

Additional Resource Pages to check out:

Clean and disinfect

  • Clean AND disinfect frequently touched surfaces daily. This includes tables, doorknobs, light switches, countertops, handles, desks, phones, keyboards, toilets, faucets, and sinks.
  • If surfaces are dirty, clean them: Use detergent or soap and water prior to disinfection.

To disinfect:
Most common EPA-registered household disinfectants will work. Use disinfectants appropriate for the surface.

Options include:

  • Diluting your household bleach.
    To make a bleach solution, mix:
    • 5 tablespoons (1/3rd cup) bleach per gallon of water
      OR
    • 4 teaspoons bleach per quart of water
    • Follow manufacturer’s instructions for application and proper ventilation. Check to ensure the product is not past its expiration date. Never mix household bleach with ammonia or any other cleanser. Unexpired household bleach will be effective against coronaviruses when properly diluted.
  • Alcohol solutions.
    Ensure solution has at least 70% alcohol.
  • Other common EPA-registered household disinfectants.
    Products with EPA-approved emerging viral pathogens (pdf) claims are expected to be effective against COVID-19 based on data for harder to kill viruses. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for all cleaning and disinfection products (e.g., concentration, application method and contact time, etc.).

  • For soft (porous) surfaces such as carpeted floor, rugs, and drapes, remove visible contamination if present and clean with appropriate cleaners indicated for use on these surfaces. After cleaning:
  • If the items can be laundered, launder items in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions using the warmest appropriate water setting for the items and then dry items completely.
  • Otherwise, use products with the EPA-approved emerging viral pathogens claims (examples at this link (pdf)) that are suitable for porous surfaces

Complete disinfection guidance

Linens, Clothing, and Other Items That Go in the Laundry

  • Do not shake dirty laundry; this minimize the possibility of dispersing virus through the air.
  • Wash items as appropriate in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. If possible, launder items using the warmest appropriate water setting for the items and dry items completely. Dirty laundry that has been in contact with an ill person can be washed with other people’s items.
  • Clean and disinfect hampers or other carts for transporting laundry according to guidance above for hard or soft surfaces.

Put a household plan into Action:

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Resource information compiled by a great network of Academic Advisors and other resources at the University (thank you for sharing) as well as information from the CDC.gov site.