Generalized National Resources to Help People Impacted by the Coronavirus Epidemic
The coronavirus pandemic is disrupting the lives of people across the United States, leaving countless people vulnerable and in need of support. That’s why we’ve put together a list of national resources—ranging from hot meals and food assistance to loans and help with internet access—that can help ensure that families don’t go hungry, don’t lose their homes, and don’t get mired in debt when this crisis is over.
This list is meant to serve as a starting place; in this dynamic environment, resources are emerging and evolving quickly so we may not have first-hand experience with some of these. As such, please use your best judgment when exploring them. We also welcome you to work directly with one of our financial coaches. Sign up for a session today.
To view these resources in Spanish click here.
03/19/21
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:
- Visit CDC-INFO for more info.
- Visit here for guidance on planning, preparing and responding to the Coronavirus.
- CDC Info line (Corona Disease Questions: open 24 hours, 7 days a week, English only): (800) 232-4636 (Toll-free), TTY (888) 232-6438
- Send an email within their site here.
- 211:
- For more information on local social services and to find your local 211 visit here.
- USA.GOV:
- To find government info or services initiate a web chat here or call toll-free at 1-844-USA-GOV1 (1-844-872-4681).
- World Health Organization
- For guidance on multiple facets of this health topic visit here.
- Visit here for a list of COVID-related legislation that has been introduced at the federal and state level.
- Visit here to register for free access to New York Times “Coronavirus Briefing: an informed guide, with the latest developments and expert advice about prevention and treatment.”
- Visit here for links to resource lists for non-citizens across multiple states (California, Illinois, Massachusetts, New York).
- American Rescue Plan Act of 2021
- For a breakdown of what’s included in the relief bill signed into law on March 11, 2021, please read this article.
- To get the answers to common questions about the stimulus checks under the relief measure, please click here.
- To determine how much your stimulus check may be under this bill, please use the CNN calculator.
- The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society:
- To apply for their Urgent Need Program granting $500 to provide eligible patients with assistance for non-medical expenses including rent, mortgage, lodging, utilities, childcare, elder care, food, transportation, car repair, car insurance, phone service, and acute dental work related to treatment please visit their website. The Urgent Need Program allows patients to reapply for additional $500 after 12 months.
- USA.GOV:
- For more information on emergency financial help from the government visit here.
- Bartender Emergency Assistance Program:
- To apply for a BEAP grant visit here.
- Musician Foundation Emergency Loan (applications currently on hold):
- To pre-apply for a Musician Foundation aid grant visit here.
- One Fair Wage Emergency Fund for Service Workers:
- To apply for cash assistance visit here.
- National Restaurant Association’s Restaurant Employee Relief Fund
- To apply for a grant visit here.
- Visit here for an Eater article listing relief funds for restaurants, bars and food service workers.
- National Domestic Workers Alliance Coronavirus Care Fund for home care workers, nannies and house cleaners
- To apply for the fund visit here.
- Visit here for the announcement from the Mission Asset Fund on their Rapid Response Fund to help students, immigrants and workers.
- Visit here for a list of funds across the country for coronavirus relief.
- Visit here for an article on Congress’ approval of the $2 Trillion Relief Package.
- Visit here to calculate your Coronavirus Stimulus Check amount
- Visit here for a New York Times article on Stimulus Check, Unemployment and the Coronavirus Plan. Visit here to register for free access to New York Times “Coronavirus Briefing: an informed guide, with the latest developments and expert advice about prevention and treatment.”
- Visit here and here for NBC News articles on the Stimulus Check and restrictions for those who owe child support.
- Visit here for more info on California’s $75 million fund for undocumented adults.
- Visit here for info from the IRS on coronavirus-related relief for retirement plans and IRAs.
- For a list of tips on how to prevent an eviction, please read this New York Times article.
- Making Home Affordable:
- To find a Housing Counseling Expert visit here.
- HUD.GOV (US Department of Housing and Urban Development):
- To find a housing counseling agency visit here.
- Visit here for article discussing Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac’s announcement that due to coronavirus they will suspend foreclosures and evictions of borrowers in single family homes owned by their companies.
- Visit here for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s announcement of a nationwide foreclosure and eviction moratorium for all FHA-insured single family mortgages for 60 days.
- Visit here to locate community organizations working to preserve affordable housing, prevent eviction, and reduce family homelessness.
- Visit here to review changing eviction policies around the nation due to Coronavirus.
- To find a housing counseling agency visit here.
- Feeding America:
- To find your local Feeding America local bank visit here.
- Meals on Wheels for seniors:
- To find a Meals on Wheels provider near you visit here.
- Visit here for an article on suspension (due to coronavirus) of the administration’s plan to implement work hour requirements for food stamps eligibility
- Visit here for an article on a book about eating on $4 a day, article includes links to free English and Spanish PDF versions of the book
- For residents of Westchester, New York
- Please visit the Westchester Residential Opportunities website for more information on food pantries and soup kitchens in the area.
- BenefitKitchen:
- Local, state and federal screening for AZ, CA, LA, NJ, NY, TX by visiting here
- For non-citizens visit here for a public charge screening tool to assess the impact of receiving public benefits.
- Upwardly Global
- Please visit their job search website for more information on their online job-coaching and skill-building program.
- Remote job opportunities for teachers out of work
- Visit here for a Forbes article on industries that are still hiring.
- Visit here for a directory of unemployment benefit options for each state.
- Visit here for an article from the National Employment Law Project on unemployment insurance provisions in the CARES Act.
- Visit this article from Bankrate for a list of banks providing numerous forms of assistance for its credit card holders.
- Visit this article from American Bankers Association on banks providing numerous forms of assistance for its clients.
Legal Resources & Consumer Protections
- State Consumer Protection Offices: Visit here.
- Finding a Lawyer and Affordable Legal Aide: Visit here.
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau: visit here for tools to protect yourself financially from the impact of the coronavirus.
- Visit here for a list of major consumer protections announced in response to COVID-19.
Contacting Your Elected Representative’s Office
- Senators: Visit here.
- House Reps: Visit here.
- State Governor: Visit here.
- State Legislators: Visit here.
- Mayor: Visit here.
- Government Agencies and Elected Officials: Visit here.
- Visit here for the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services’ response to COVID-19.
- Federal student loans:
- Visit the US Department of Education’s Federal Student Aid site for more information on federal student loans concerns and options due to Coronavirus.
- Visit here for the announcement from the U.S. Secretary of Education directing FSA to stop wage garnishment and collection actions for 60 days effective March 13, 2020.
- Private student loans:
- Visit this article for private student loan options due to Coronavirus.
- Visit this article for Navient private student loans options due Coronavirus.
- Visit here for a Forbes article summarizing major changes regarding student loans as a result of Coronavirus.
- Federal Tax payments
- The IRS has extended the filing deadline to May 17, 2021. It has also extended the payment deadline to May 17, 2021. To learn more about these measures, please visit their website.
- For status updates on your third stimulus payment, please visit the IRS Get My Payment Tool.
- Visit here for virtual VITA tax prep options.
- Visit here for free tax filing options.
- For Social Security’s press release on only offering remote services visit here.
- Kids Activities blog:
- You can access a listing of education companies offering free subscriptions due to school closures here.
- Amazingeducationalresources.com:
- You can access a listing of education companies offering free subscriptions due to school closures here.
- Charter Communications:
- For more information on Charter Communications’ offer of free access to Spectrum broadband and Wi-Fi for 60 days for new K-12 and college student households visit their site here. To enroll call 1-844-488-8395.
- Comcast:
- Offering free Wi-Fi service to new Internet Essentials customers for two months, for more info visit their site here.
- Altice:
- For more information on Altice’s offer of free access to Altice Advantage 30 mbps broadband solution for 60 days for new K-12 and college student households visit their site here. To enroll call 866-200-9522 for Optimum region, 888-633-0030 for Suddenlink region.
- Keep Americans Connected Pledge–-According to the pledge, from March 13 until 60 days thereafter, participating companies agree to:
- Not terminate service to any residential or small business customers because of their inability to pay their bills due to the disruptions caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
- Waive any late fees that any residential or small business customers incur because of their economic circumstances related to the coronavirus pandemic.
- Open its Wi-Fi hotspots to any American who needs them
- Visit here for free home-learning resources. Visita aquí para herramientas gratuitas para apoyar el aprendizaje en el hogar.
- Visit here to apply for the TuitionRelief program which acts as a middleman between students who need relief and donors who can provide it.
- For small business guidance and loan resources visit here.
- For more info on SBA’s Disaster Assistance Loans for small business visit here.
- US Small Business Administration
- Economic Injury Disaster Loans
- Per the SBA: The Economic Injury Disaster Loan program provides small businesses with working capital loans of up to $2 million that can provide vital economic support to small businesses to help overcome the temporary loss of revenue they are experiencing.
- To apply, click here.
- Visit The Points Guy Blog for a national list of resources for small businesses.
- Start Small Think Big
- For qualifying small business owners in NYC, the Bay Area and San Jose, California.
- They can help with thinking around options for assistance.
- Visit here for a guide on the impact of the CARES Act for small businesses.
- Visit here for an article on resources for small businesses.
- Visit here for an article on loans and grants for small businesses.
- Visit here for more info on Local Initiatives Support Corporation’s grant and loan opportunities for small businesses.
- For lending and business services to small businesses in Alabama, Louisiana and New York visit TruFund Financial Services.
Resources for Freelance Workers
- Visit here for resources for freelance artists.
- For more info on video and chat software companies, some currently offering free product features, visit here.
- Visit here to locate mental health services.
- Care.com provides support to connect families with caregivers and caregiver companies. Now offering healthcare workers and seniors with one month of free, premium access to their online site.
- National Domestic Violence Hotline
- Victims and survivors who need support can call 1-800-799-7233 or 1-800-799-7233 for TTY.
- You can also text LOVEIS to 22522.
- Refer to their press release to learn about how the Coronavirus may impact intimate partner violence survivors.
- Para español visite su página web aqui.
- Collective Healing Microgrant
- Per their website: I am offering a $5,000 grant and free consultation for a self-identified woman of color living in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, or New York to be used at their discretion towards the furthering of their future and their project’s goals. The project must be already in motion and related to (a) urban/community food-growing, (b) riparian/wetlands restoration, or (c) herbal/holistic medicine distribution. The project can be a for-profit business. To learn more about this initiative, please click here.
- Visit findhelp.org to locate food assistance, help with paying bills, and other free or reduced cost programs to help those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Pro Bono financial planning: Visit here for more info on this service from the Financial Planning Association.
- Visit Annual Credit Report to access free weekly credit reports through April 2021.
