COVID-19 Resources
The City of Atlanta has activated a text message service for COVID-19 updates. Sign up by texting “ATLCOVID19” to 888777.
Small Business Owners and Contractors:
As of Monday, April 13, Georgia has updated its processing to include provisions related to the CARES ACT and expanded unemployment benefits.
The Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation program, or FPUC, provides an additional $600 payment per week to any individual eligible for any of the Unemployment Compensation programs – State and Federal. Those payments will begin this week for those already receiving unemployment benefits.
Pandemic Unemployment Assistance or PUA,is the program that will provide unemployment benefits to those not ordinarily eligible for them. This includes individuals who are self-employed, gig workers, and 1099 independent contractors. You must first apply and be deemed ineligible for traditional unemployment benefits before being evaluated for PUA benefits.
Please visit https://dol.georgia.gov/gdol-covid-19-information for additional information and https://dol.georgia.gov/ to apply.
Available Resources:
- Georgia COVID-19 Emotional Support Line (866)399 – 8938 , more details available here
- United States Artists Launches $10M Artist Relief Fund to Help Artists Affected by COVID-19
- Art Resources During COVID-19
- City of Atlanta Information & Resources
- District Three Resources
- Local Companies Hiring
- SNAP Application Assistance
- Tips for Dealing with Stress
Non-Profit Resources in Fulton County
- The United Way has setup a relief fund that is prepared to assist those in need with bills, rent and food. If in need call 1-866-211-9966 and provide your zipcode to get linked directly with the available resources.
- Community Assistance Center https://www.ourcac.org/2020/04/03/cvirusplans/ Helpline: 770-552-4889 or 770-552-4015 Rent, Mortgage, Utility Assistance, and Food
- Antioch Urban Ministries Inc. http://www.antiochurban.org/services/ Helpline 404-524-2704 466 Northside Dr. N.W. Atlanta, GA 30318 Rent, Mortgage, Utility Assistance, and Food
- Buckhead Christian Ministries https://buckheadchristianministry.org/covid-19/ Helpline 404-239-0038 Rent, Mortgage, Utility Assistance
- Midtown Assistance Centers http://www.midtownassistancectr.org/ Helpline 404-681-5777 Rent, Mortgage, Utility Assistance, and Food
- Hosea Helps https://4hosea.org/ Helpline 404-755-3353 Rent, Mortgage, Utility Assistance, and Food
- North Fulton Community Charities https://nfcchelp.org/nfcc-response-to-covid-19/ 678-640-0399 Rent, Mortgage, Utility Assistance
- Mercy Care https://mercyatlanta.org/ COVID-19 testing in key homeless shelters and encampments.
- Access to Capital for Entrepreneurs https://aceloans.org/ Loans for Fulton County small businesses
- Atlanta Legal Aid, Georgialegalaid.org
Community
As stressful and scary as the Covid-19 crisis are, the ways in which we’ve seen Atlanta unite in the past couple of weeks is heartwarming. We’ve heard countless stories of neighbors helping neighbors, people starting fundraisers for those who have lost their jobs, and a collective call to support local independent businesses.
But this pandemic is also making us all isolated (literally and emotionally). So while many of us want to help by doing something, it can also be hard to know exactly what to do when we’re stuck inside away from other humans. There are many ways to help each other even when we’re at least six feet apart.
Now is the time to step up and help someone who needs it — here are five ways you can be a good neighbor through this crisis.
1. Check in with your neighbors
If you’re young, healthy, and able, running an errand for a neighbor or someone in your community while you’re out is a super-specific, helpful way to give back.
2. Start a neighborhood pod
You can also consider posting on Nextdoor. Another more formalized approach is to start a “neighborhood pod,” These are usually groups of five to 30 people, involve starting a What’s App group for people to communicate, and then working together to help each other during the crisis.
3. Join a mutual aid network or volunteer:
The emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic has created a sense of urgency for ATLiens to unite in service. We’re rallying our community to help fight food insecurity and tackling our city’s most pressing needs. Explore how you can help today and ensure all of our neighbors can thrive tomorrow. Hands on Atlanta
4. Pay for canceled services that you had already booked
Gig and hourly workers are also impacted. If you have regular appointments on the calendar — like with a nanny, babysitter, dog walker, spa or salon worker, fitness instructor, house cleaners etc… and are one of the lucky ones to be financially stable right now, we strongly urge you to pay them even though you can’t get your services.
5. Use your tech skills
You can also offer to help people who could benefit from your tech skills, for example, helping someone file for unemployment, helping an older neighbor get set up with a Google Home or FaceTime to connect with loved ones.