COVID-19 Community Resource Guide

“Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, vulnerable groups are not only elderly people, those with ill health and comorbidities, or homeless or underhoused people, but also people from a gradient of socioeconomic groups that might struggle to cope financially, mentally, or physically with the crisis.”



(“Redefining Vulnerability in the Era of COVID-19,” The Lancet)

In one way or another, the coronavirus pandemic is affecting all of us. For some, that impact has been felt especially hard. From housing and food to mental and physical health care, here are a few resources for seeking help during these unpredictable and disorienting times.

To be clear, this list isn’t all-encompassing, and there are tons and tons of other programs, organizations, and funds working to provide coronavirus relief to a variety of communities. This is a place to start your search, and if you still need help finding food, paying housing bills, or receiving other essential services, you can also contact your local 211 for the most comprehensive source of locally curated social services information in the US.

Table of Contents

• Housing
• Food
• Mental Health/Addiction
• Students
• Health Care
• Unsafe Situation
• Immigration
• Native/Tribal Resources
• Incarceration
• Unemployment/Vulnerable Workers

Housing

• JustShelter: a tool to find organizations near you working to preserve affordable housing, prevent eviction, and reduce family homelessness
• Aunt Bertha: a tool to search for free or reduced cost services like housing, medical care, food, job training, and more

Food

• FoodPantries.org: a state-by-state collection of pantries, soup kitchens, food shelves, food banks and other food help
• WhyHunger: a map of free food sites, with an additional hotline at 1 (800) 5-HUNGRY
• Feeding America: a locator for the nationwide network of Feeding America food banks
• SNAP Benefits: The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program is a federal nutrition program that can help you stretch your food budget if you have a low income.
• Program Overview: information and FAQs about the SNAP program
• Directory of Resources: find contact info for your local SNAP office to apply for benefits or get more info on the program

Mental Health/Addiction

• Crisis Text Line: free 24/7 support via text or Facebook messenger (text DS to 741741)
• Suicide Prevention Lifeline: free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress, 24/7 (1-800-273-8255)
• Trevor Project: 24/7 support for LGBTQ young people, across text, chat, and phone (1-866-488-7386)
• Narcotics Anonymous World Services: find a Narcotics Anonymous meeting near you, several of which are now being held remotely
• Never Alone Club: daily online Narcotics Anonymous meetings where those seeking recovery can chat 24/7 for support and fellowship.
• Online Intergroup of Alcoholics Anonymous: Alcoholics Anonymous meetings in various formats and multiple many languages, happening 24/7.
• Virtual Recovery Resources from SAMSHA: tip sheet with resources from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

Students

• COVID 311: a portal for college students affected by COVID-19 to seek help and get connected with a case manager to help find resources
• Displaced Students Guide: what do if you’re a student disrupted or displaced by COVID-19, from financial aid to career readiness
• Hope4College Guide: a guide that addresses common needs and offers resources for students during the coronavirus pandemic
• Together We Rise: emergency COVID-19 support for students with experience in the foster system
• AISES T3 Fund: one-time relief scholarships for Native American/Indigenous students

Health Care

• Medicaid: provides health coverage to millions of Americans, including eligible low-income adults, children, pregnant women, elderly adults and people with disabilities
• Program Overview: information and FAQs about Medicaid
• State Directory: find contact info for your state’s Medicaid program
• Resource Finder: find your state’s general healthcare and medical assistance programs
• Health Center Finder: a tool to find free or low-cost health centers near you
• Undocu-Friendly Health Centers: a directory of health centers that welcome undocumented individuals, compiled by United We Dream

Unsafe Situation

• National Domestic Violence Hotline: 24/7 support for survivors of domestic violence seeking resources or information, or who wish to talk confidentially with a trained staff member (1-800-787-3224)
• National Sexual Assault Hotline: 24/7 support, information, advice, or a referrals for survivors of sexual assault (1-800-565-4673)
• StrongHearts Native Helpline: a domestic violence and dating violence helpline for Native American/Indigenous individuals, open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. CST (1-844-762-8483)
• Domestic Violence Shelter Locator: a tool to find domestic violence programs and shelters near you

Immigration

• COVID-19 Relief Bills Explainer: information to help understand how key provisions of recent COVID-19 relief bills impact immigrant communities
• Betancourt Macias Family Scholarship Foundation: emergency funds for individuals who are undocumented and have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic
• COVID-19 Resources for Undocumented Immigrants: a collection of financial, medical, legal, food, and mutual aid resources for undocumented immigrants
• Resources for LGBTQ+ Asylum Seekers: verified LGBTQ affirming and immigrant friendly resources providing services during COVID-19
• Immigrant Families Fund: rapid response fund providing financial support to immigrant families who have been left out of the federal government’s relief efforts.

Native/Tribal Resources

• One Sioux Falls Fund: a disaster fund to help residents in the Sioux Falls MSA avoid evictions if they are unable to work due to COVID-19.
• NDN COVID-19 Response Fund: provides immediate relief to frontline organizations, Tribes, and individuals who are providing essential services to Indigenous communities
• New Mexico - COVID-19 Resources for Native Communities: directory of Native-serving resources and organizations for COVID-19 relief in New Mexico and the Navajo Nation
• Navajo & Hopi Families COVID-19 Relief: provides relief support for Diné & Hopi Families affected by the COVID-19 crisis

Incarceration

• COVID-19 & Pardon Power: state-by-state resources on how to potentially use pardon power to commute prison sentences during the pandemic
• National Bail Fund Network: nationwide network of bail and bond funds within the criminal legal or immigration detention systems
• National Legal Aid & Defender Association COVID-19 Resources: a collection of resources pertaining to access to justice for low-income and vulnerable people amid COVID-19

Unemployment/Vulnerable Workers

• Unemployment Insurance: information for filing for unemployment insurance provided by a joint state-federal program
• US Bartenders Guild Emergency Assistance Program: a relief fund for bartenders, their spouses, and their children, who have been impacted by an emergency hardship
• DoorDash Financial Assistance Program: a relief fund for eligible DoorDash couriers who have been impacted by COVID-19
• One Fair Wage Service Workers Emergency Fund: a relief fund for restaurant, gig, and hourly workers facing economic hardship from the coronavirus crisis
• National Domestic Workers Alliance Resources: collection of resources for domestic workers during the coronavirus pandemic
• Restaurant Workers Community Foundation Emergency Fund: fund providing direct relief to individual restaurant workers, non-profit organizations serving restaurant workers, and impacted restaurants
• Children of Restaurant Employees Relief Programs: programs serving food and beverage service employees with children, who are faced with a health crisis or a natural disaster and are in need of support
• CERF+ Emergency Assistance for Artists: an emergency fund providing grants and/or brokered assistance for artists recently impacted by a career-threatening emergency
• Artist Relief Fund: emergency fund for artists experiencing dire financial needs during the COVID-19 pandemic
• Artist Relief Project: emergency fund for artists in any discipline whose income have been impacted by COVID-19-related cancellations and closures