The pandemic has impacted families and communities in a variety of ways. From job losses and lack of access to food to questions around rent and mortgage payments and parking enforcement. Thankfully, COVID-19 is bringing community members together to help one another as we face the pandemic together. Below is information and links to community resources that you can utilize to help your family at this time, including information on how to volunteer.

211 L.A. County Resource Line – 211 LA is the central source for providing information and referrals for all health and human services in LA County. It is open 24 hours, 7 days a week, with trained Community Resource Advisors prepared to offer help with any situation, any time.

Resources for Food:

  • Everytable is offering free food for all, including delivering meals to seniors at their homes. Call the Everytable Helpline at 323-458-6487 for questions and more information. View updates on their Instagram page. Click here for a map of locations.
  • LA Food Bank – Food Pantry Locator – To find a local food pantry in your area, visit: https://www.lafoodbank.org/find-food/pantry-locator/
  • Los Angeles Unified School District has free food for students at 60 Grab and Go Food Centers starting Wednesday, March 18th from 7:00 am – 10:00 am. View the map to find a location near you.
  • El Torito offers free kids meals for children under the age of 12. View updates on their Facebook page.
  • Grocery Shopping for Seniors, People with Disabilities and Pregnant Women. All Northgate Gonzalez Markets and Super A Foods will offer one hour that is exclusively dedicated for seniors to grocery shop only. All Vallarta Supermarkets will offer one hour that is dedicated for seniors, disabled people and pregnant women to grocery shop only.
  • Grocery Stores – Grocery stores will continue to be stocked during the coronavirus outbreak, so please avoid panic-buying or over-buying.
  • WIC –– In Los Angeles County, many WIC offices are not providing face-to-face services at the WIC centers and are providing remote services to families through active outreach by phone, text and email. WIC is also responding to those who contact us via phone and text. Please be assured that WIC is able to upload food benefits for families already participating in the program, and is actively engaged in enrolling new participants remotely. People who have been economically affected by the COVID-19 crisis and are pregnant, postpartum or have a child under five years old can apply for WIC services by texting APPLY to 91997, calling WIC at 888-942-2229, or visiting www.phfewic.org/apply.
  • DPSS –– In accordance with Governor Newsom’s Executive Order, ALL DPSS benefits, including Medi-Cal, CalFresh, CalWORKs and General Relief benefit payments will be issued without interruption for the months of March, April and May 2020.
  • The City and County are providing free meals to older adults 60 and older who are impacted by the crisis. Here is a map of sites offering meal delivery.
  • FamilySource Centers: Families can obtain grocery gift cards through the network of FamilySource Centers. 3-1-1 staff will connect callers to a Family Source Center to apply over the phone and schedule an appointment. More information, click here.
  • Meals for seniors: L.A. City’s Emergency Senior Meals Response program – if you are over 60 years of age and in need of a home-delivered meal or know someone who is, please call 213-263-5226 or visit Coronavirus.LACity.org/SeniorMeals.
  • Residents in the City of Los Angeles First Council District may receive free meals –– The Free Meal Program is scheduled to last four to six weeks, starting Monday, April 21. The program will provide a total of about 35,000 meals. Households in the first district interested in receiving meals must email [email protected]. For more information, click here.
  • Food Resources by Special Planning Area (SPA) – View PDF
  • California Food Policy Advocates: To help partners in advocacy understand some of the new waivers/flexibilities available for WIC, SNAP/CalFresh, and other child nutrition programs, CFPA have created a COVID-19 Resource Page, including:
  • EBT can now be used to purchase groceries online!

For Spanish flyer, click here.

The state of California has authorized an emergency CalFresh benefit allotment for eligible households. Emergency CalFresh benefits for March will be issued on Sunday, April 12 and for April on Sunday, May 10. You may check your benefit balance online at https://www.yourbenefits.laclrs.org/ybn/Index.html or on the DPSS Mobile App.

WIC Benefits:

The Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Program continues to serve families in need during the COVID-19 emergency. To protect all families and staff, local WIC offices may be offering services by phone or online until further notice. Families should call the WIC office rather than go in person for enrollment or other assistance. If you have additional questions, please contact the state WIC office at [email protected] or (800) 852-5770. Click here for more information: https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CFH/DWICSN/Pages/WICCovid19Info.aspx

Resources for Free Internet:

Comcast will offer free Internet during COVID-19 crisis

  • Comcast will be making Xfinity Wi-Fi Network free nationwide, offering unlimited data for free, ending disconnections and late fees
  • These changes will help low income households remain connected to the Internet, which is particularly important as children learn remotely during school closures and families need access to health care resources

Spectrum is offering free internet for students. Learn more here: https://www.spectrum.net/support/internet/coronavirus-covid-19-educational-internet-offer

Certain families in L.A. County qualify for free internet services during the pandemic to accommodate online learning. To learn more information, click here.

Resources for Immigrants:

L.A. County Office of Immigrant Affairs: FAQ – Coronavirus Information for Immigrants

State of California: Guidance for Immigrant Californians

Coronavirus Testing for Uninsured L.A. County Residents

*Note* The Public Charge rule does NOT restrict access to testing and treatment of communicable diseases, includes COVID-19. Fore more information, click here.

Teaching, Interpreting and Changing Law: Information on Public Charge & COVID-19 (espanõl).

Disaster Relief Fact Sheet for Immigrants

Office of Immigrant Affairs

  • Individuals seeking any medical care/treatment related to COVID-19 will not be factored into in any future application for immigration status.
  • LA County residents that are uninsured should utilized, MyHealthLA, a program provided by the County. Services provided will not count against people in a public charge test.
  • Mix-Status Families. People who are eligible for benefits should continue to access them and it will not be count against other members in the household who will be applying for residency in the future.
  • Office of Immigrant Affairs can be reached at 1-800-593-8222.

LA County Public Defender’s Office

  • The Office of Los Angeles County Public Defender has a team of 700 attorneys working to protect the rights of immigrant population in the county and reduce the impact of criminal convictions on the County’s immigrant population.
  • Public Defender Office is focusing on lowering the prison population to reduce the harm of spread of coronavirus.
  • Public Defenders Office provides legal representation to individuals in custody that face immigration consequences.
  • Public Defender’s Office is available to help and answer any questions around immigration and incarceration.
  • Los Angeles County Public Defender’s Office can be reached at 213-974-0572 or 1-833-974-3003.

CHIRLA (Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights Los Angeles) manages a free hotline people can call if they think they have the Coronavirus, 888-624-4752.

California Immigrant Youth Justice Alliance has created a resource guide available at https://ciyja.org/covid19/

Shelter Resources:

United Way of Greater Los Angeles launched the Pandemic Relief Fund to support the county’s unsheltered residents and low-income individuals, students and families at risk of homelessness due to hardships caused by the coronavirus.

L.A. Countywide Rent Relief

The L.A. County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a motion at April 14th’s Board meeting for the establishment of a Countywide Rent Assistance Program during the COVID-19 crisis that will provide up to $1000 per month for three months to renters who have lost income due to the pandemic. For more information, click here.

Information on Evictions:

If you received an eviction notice in Los Angeles during the COVID-19 Pandemic, you may have additional time to make rent payments without eviction. Click here to view more information on the city’s Renter’s Relief Program: https://la.curbed.com/2020/3/20/21186979/renter-relief-coronavirus-los-angeles

L.A. City has put together a quick fact sheet about eviction protections and COVID-19. View here: https://hcidla.lacity.org/system/files_force/documents/covid-19_eviction_protections_fact_sheet.pdf?download=0

The Los Angeles Tenants Union is providing support around evictions. Find your local union at: https://latenantsunion.org/en/locals/

Utility Bills:

As of April 2nd, Gov. Newsom has announced that water services will not be turned off as a result of unpaid bills. For more information, click here.

PG&E has also issued a temporary moratorium on turning off gas and electricity during the pandemic. Click here for more information.

Apply for CARE and FERA to lower your electricity and gas bills

California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE) reduces electrical bills for eligible customers by about 30% and gas bills by about 20%. Family Electric Rate Assistance (FERA) reduces electric bills for qualified households by 18%.

It only takes a few minutes to apply and no additional documentation is required. You may be selected for ‘verification’ later, although these utilities are not conducting any verifications for the duration of the COVID-19 emergency.

CARE and FERA are open to both SoCal Edison and Clean Power Alliance (CPA) members. CPA members apply through SoCal Edison.

Links:

·CARE/FERA Programs

·SoCal Edison

·SoCalGas

Apply for the California Lifeline Telephone Discount Program to lower your cell phone or landline bills

This program is open to Californians who qualify for a public assistance program or whose household income is under 150% of the Federal Poverty Levels. This works out to $28,700 for a household of one.

To get started, you need to call your existing wireless or telephone carrier, and say you want to apply for the California Lifeline discounts or Enhanced Lifeline discounts.

Then, you’ll receive an application form with a Personal Identification Number (PIN) in a pink envelope within three weeks. (Yes, three weeks, but maybe longer due to COVID-19). You need the PIN to proceed with the application. So, get this going now because it will take awhile for the discount to kick in.

Links

·California Lifeline Telephone Program

·Public Assistance Programs (LA County)

Domestic Violence:

During the COVID-19 pandemic, stress and isolation may contribute to greater instances of domestic violence. Help is still available to all who need it. Please visit: http://nodvla.org/get-help/resources/ to be connected to a domestic violence resource in your neighborhood or call 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) for the National Domestic Violence Hotline. You can also call L.A. County’s hotline at 1-800-978-3600.

Financial Resources:

If you lost your job and are looking for work:

Financial Resources for Those Impacted by a COVID-19 Death:

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought overwhelming grief to many families. At FEMA, our mission is to help people before, during and after disasters. We are dedicated to helping ease some of the financial stress and burden caused by the virus.

Under the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021 and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, FEMA is providing financial assistance for COVID-19 related funeral expenses incurred after January 20, 2020. More information: https://www.fema.gov/disasters/coronavirus/economic/funeral-assistance

California Workforce & Development Agency

Stimulus Check Fact Sheet

  • Neighborhood Legal Services of Los Angeles: Stimulus Fact Sheet (English) (Spanish)

Employment Development Department of California – COVID-19 Resources: https://edd.ca.gov/about_edd/coronavirus-2019.htm

If you have had your hours cuts, been furloughed or laid off:

If your employer has reduced your hours or shut down operations due to COVID-19, you can file for unemployment insurance. If you are expecting to return to your job after the dust settles, you do not have to be actively seeking new work during the outbreak. But you must be “able and available to work” to get these benefits, which generally range from $40-$450 per week for up to six months.

https://edd.ca.gov/Unemployment/Filing_a_Claim.htm

If you are currently sick of have been exposed to COVID-19:

Individuals who are unable to work due to having or being exposed to COVID-19 (certified by a medical professional) can file a Disability Insurance (DI) claim.

Disability Insurance provides short-term benefit payments to eligible workers who have full or partial loss of wages due to a non-work-related illness, injury, or pregnancy. Benefit amounts are approximately 60-70 percent of wages (depending on income) and range from $50 – $1,300 a week.

https://edd.ca.gov/Disability/How_to_File_a_DI_Claim_in_SDI_Online.htm/t_blank?fbclid=IwAR37UBdHJK4O3IRzK9Ff_sY1xdK7LuD1QKeb60xPK_-DC6cvtmF6Ejxbtxw

If you are caring for someone who is sick:

Californians who are unable to work because they are caring for an ill or quarantined family member with COVID-19 (certified by a medical professional) can file a Paid Family Leave (PFL) claim.

Paid Family Leave provides up to six weeks of benefit payments to eligible workers who have a full or partial loss of wages because they need time off work to care for a seriously ill family member or to bond with a new child. Benefit amounts are approximately 60-70 percent of wages (depending on income) and range from $50-$1,300 a week.

https://edd.ca.gov/Disability/How_to_File_a_PFL_Claim_in_SDI_Online.htm/t_blank?fbclid=IwAR1h6aChB9g-qjbT5S2SGOeOfJQtjbj-BqlJsUEYmloPvtHDWeCVhEIsyN8

Disability benefits/paid sick leave are available for those who have actually contracted the virus themselves or who have been exposed to it and are quarantined (must be certified by a medical professional in the case of Disability Benefits). Learn how to file a Disability Insurance Claim HERE.

The Angeleno Campaign helps low-wage hourly workers who had jobs in homes and restaurants, seasonal workers, and other precarious workers such as day laborers, street vendors, or self-employed individuals who are experiencing financial hardship because of COVID-19. This economic hardship may be due to job loss, severe reduction of work hours, or furloughs.

To be eligible, applicants must be residents of the City of Los Angeles with a household income that falls below the Federal Poverty Level. Applicants must have been denied unemployment insurance benefits, be ineligible for public benefits, and/or applied for unemployment insurance benefits and have not received their first check. The City of Los Angeles has 16 FamilySource Centers, which are operated by vetted non-profits. These centers will assess applicants and household needs and provide financial assistance via grocery gift cards and/or no-fee debit cards enabled by Mastercard’s City Possible network.

To apply, call 3-1-1 to be connected to the nearest FamilySource Center or visit https://hcidla.lacity.org/family-source-centers.

Bet Tzedek Legal Services

  • Organization offers legal services free of charge. Particularly around workers’ rights.
  • California Employment Development Department has supports for people who have lost their jobs or have had their hours reduced due to COVID-19.
  • Encourage workers to utilize unemployment insurance and all expanded benefits offered through the CARES Act.
  • The Bet Tzedek Office is offering weekly virtual clinics for people that have questions related to employment rights.
  • Bet Tzedek can be reached at 323-939-0506 ex. 415.
  • Bet Tzedek has information on workers centers offering financial assistance to those that have lost their jobs such as the Garment Workers Center or the Clean Carwash Campaign for people who may not qualify under the CARES act.
  • Please contact office or visit website https://www.bettzedek.org

LA County Department of Consumer and Business Affairs

  • Price Gouging—it is prohibited and illegal. A price that increases by more than 10 percent of what it cost before a state or local emergency was declared is prohibited.
  • The Dept. is monitoring and has a team of counselors and investigators to review complaints.
  • The Dept. has formed a price gouging taskforce.
  • The Dept. encouraging individuals to file complaints regardless of immigration status.
  • The Dept. is also the minimum wage enforcement in the county.
  • People can contact the Dept. of Consumer and Business Affairs at 1-800-593-8222

For Businesses/Nonprofits/Employers:

The Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce is providing small to mid-size businesses with resources on how to protect their employees and bottom line.

If you had to close your business to prevent or manage the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, Governor Newsom’s executive order temporarily suspends the 60-day notice requirement for employers who give written notice to employees and meet other requirements.

If your business is directly affected by COVID-19, you can request up to a 60-day extension to file your state payroll reports and deposit state payroll taxes without penalty or interest. Include the impact of COVID-19 in your written request for the extension. Your request must be received within 60 days from the original past-due date of the payment or return.

The U.S. Department of the Treasury

The US Treasury has begun outlining guidelines for small business loans. Loans can be used to cover payrolls costs, interest on mortgage obligations, rent and utilities, and are forgivable as long as employee and compensation levels are maintained.

Paycheck Protection Program

The Paycheck Protection Program prioritizes millions of Americans employed by small businesses by authorizing up to $349 billion toward job retention and certain other expenses.

Small businesses and eligible nonprofit organizations, Veterans organizations, and Tribal businesses described in the Small Business Act, as well as individuals who are self-employed or are independent contractors, are eligible if they also meet program size standards. Learn more: https://home.treasury.gov/policy-issues/top-priorities/cares-act/assistance-for-small-businesses

The County of Los Angeles — in partnership with Goldman Sachs, Wells Fargo Foundation, Citi, and others — has created a new application portal for small businesses and nonprofits seeking to apply for the federal Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), a forgivable loan product created by the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

To access the portal, visit: https://crfusa.com/ppp/la-ppp-inquiry/

Resources for Nonprofits:

Guidance on Requirements to Protect Workers from Coronavirus: https://www.dir.ca.gov/dosh/coronavirus/Health-Car…

U.S. Small Business Administration – Disaster Assistance

LA County Business and Worker Disaster Help Center has created a centralized call center and website for free one-on-one counseling and support for business owners and workers impacted by the outbreak. Visit here: https://lacountyhelpcenter.org/?utm_content&utm_medium=email&utm_name&utm_source=govdelivery&utm_term

Street Vendor Emergency Fund: Created by to provide direct cash assistance to vendors who can not access resources from the government.

Child Care for Essential Workers:

Mayor Garcetti’s Childcare Connection for Front-Line Responders: https://corona-virus.la/Childcare

California’s Child Care Portal: https://mychildcare.ca.gov/#/home

Los Angeles has partnered with hospitals across L.A. County to ensure that essential hospital workers have access to child care. Three options are available for finding care:

  1. A $100 stipend per shift for workers to offset the cost of child care, including by paying a relative or friend to watch the kids.
  2. Free referrals to center-based and home child care through an L.A. County hotline, 888-92CHILD (922-4453), and website, and third-party services WeeCare and CarinaCare.
  3. Child care at five Los Angeles Parks and Recreation centers near hospitals for kids 6-to-14 years old, starting Monday, April 13 from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Help with Child Care Costs:

Jewish Free Loan is offering interest-free loans of up to $10,000 so families can pay for childcare while schools are shut down. Loans can be turned around in a matter of days. Visit jfla.org and fill out our pre-loan application.

Resources for Foster Care and Youth:

https://kids-alliance.org/covid-19/

John Burton Advocates for Youth is also ensuring that foster youth, homeless youth and other vulnerable populations have access to technology, such as free laptops and internet, to continue with their online education. They also have a running list of available resources for K-12 and college students.

Resources for Seniors:

Governor Newsom announced the creation of a statewide hotline — 833-544-2374 — in coordination with the non-profit local 2-1-1 systems, so that older Californians have a one-stop shop to answer their questions and get assistance during this crisis.

Resources for Volunteering:

For businesses that can provide key commodities such as medical shelters and supplies: https://doingbusiness.lacounty.gov/

https://californiavolunteers.ca.gov/get-involved/covid-19/

https://www.calfund.org/covid-19/

Donate Medical Resources: https://covid19supplies.ca.gov/




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