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Surviving COVID-19 Resources

By Chief Editor, Pleshette Robertson

THE HUB has compiled a list of some of the resources available throughout California to ensure African Americans communities are aware and have access to the care and necessities they need. There are so many organizations and association groups who are doing their due diligence in providing current info to help assist families and businesses and THE HUB wants to make sure you STAY INFORMED.

Sacramento Region

The new City of Sacramento 311 Customer Service Help Center website and mobile app make asking questions and getting service simple. Making government more accessible and life a little easier for our residents, businesses and visitors.  http://www.cityofsacramento.org/Information-Technology/311

Youth Programs to Help Young People during COVID-19 Pandemic
 
The City of Sacramento Wants Start-Ups and Companies to Submit Innovative Ideas in Response To COVID-19. Click here to learn more.

Are you a City of Sacramento resident unable to make your rent because of #COVID19? You must notify your landlord BEFORE the 1st to be protected from evictions. Download the template delay notice here: https://bit.ly/SacRentDelayForm. More info at https://bit.ly/SacEvictFAQ and https://bit.ly/LSNCcovidFAQ

The Sacramento Labor Council has useful links with information on resources for those who have lost jobs, potential benefits and other services available due to the impacts of COVID-19. Access the information at: https://www.sacramentolabor.org/covid-19-resources.

COVID-19: Coping as a community webinar series

Dr. Hendry Ton, Associate Vice Chancellor of Health Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, has launched a weekly webinar series to help the UC Davis community deal with the emotional toll of the COVID-19 pandemic. https://health.ucdavis.edu/diversity-inclusion

Rapid Response Business Triage HOTLINE: 1-833-391-1919

Sacramento Asian Chamber and Sacramento Metro Chamber Launched the Rapid Response Business Triage Hotline for small businesses impacted by COVID-19 The hotline provides free resources and counseling in multiple languages for the Sacramento small businesses struggling to operate in the current economic climate. https://businesstriagehotline.com

Mental Health Services in Sacramento County

24/7 for Mental Health Crisis Calls

(916) 875-1055 or toll free (888) 881-4881

https://dhs.saccounty.net/BHS/Pages/Mental-Health-Services.aspx

Bay Area

theREGISTRYbayarea.com offers an excellent online resource for African American arts, culture and lifestyle with information about financial assistance for your business, guide to soul food cuisines, job announcements, and links to county, national, regional and global resources.

Southern California

Free COVID-19 Testing Available 

In partnership with the City of Los Angeles and LA County, free testing is now available to ANY LA County resident with COVID-19 symptoms. To learn more about eligibility see the flyers below or to set up an appointment visit: Coronavirus.LACITY.org/Testing

Protections for Renters Against Evictions

COVID-19 eviction protections are in place for all Angelenos. Below is valuable information with answers to many of your questions. HCID LA also developed a template letter that tenants can use to communicate their inability to pay rent to their landlords. 

REGIONAL—ACROSS CALIFORNIA

Learn more about Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) Program. This is a newly available emergency unemployment assistance program under the federal CARES Act.  PUA provides assistance for unemployed or partially unemployed individuals who are not eligible for regular unemployment insurance and who are unable or unavailable to work due to COVID-19 related circumstances. The Employment Development Department (EDD) will be accepting online applications for this program beginning on Tuesday, April 28.  https://www.labor.ca.gov/pandemic-unemployment-assistance-pua-program/

The State of California launched a comprehensive, consumer-friendly website and public service announcements to boost COVID-19 awareness.  https://covid19.ca.gov

Mortgage Relief from financial institutions

The State of California is working to soften the financial impact of COVID-19 on residents who are struggling to pay their mortgage and bills. Citigroup, JP Morgan Chase, US Bank, Wells Fargo, and nearly 200 state-chartered banks, credit unions, and servicers have committed to providing relief for consumers and homeowners in California. Under the Governor’s proposal, Californians who are struggling with the COVID-19 crisis may be eligible for the following relief after contacting their financial institution. Get more info online at: https://covid19.ca.gov/get-financial-help

Covered California. Due to COVID-19, you can still enroll in 2020 health coverage. Are you or someone you know without health coverage and concerned about the coronavirus? You can enroll in a health plan through Covered California NOW due the coronavirus/COVID-19 crisis and may be eligible to receive financial help to help you pay your monthly premium. http://www.coveredca.com

The California School-Age Consortium (CalSAC) has an incredible list of resource links that include: the following. https://www.calsac.org/covid19-resources

  • Racial Equity Tools: Racial Equity & Social Justice Resources
  • Advocacy: Contact Congress to Ask for Additional Federal Funds to Support Afterschool
  • Webinar: Continuity Planning During Moments of Crisis
  • “Shelter in Place” Resources for Educators
  • Emergency Grants: No Kid Hungry
  • Free Zoom Professional Development Webinar Series

Access to capital opportunities and sign up for FREE empowerment and how-to webinars for entrepreneurs and business owners offered by the following organizations:

Maintaining and enhancing your MENTAL HEALTH & WELLNESS during the novel Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak https://www.mentalhealth.va.gov/coronavirus

NATIONWIDE 

Black Americans and COVID-19 Pandemic Facebook page is a tool to collect and share useful information and resources For example > The CDC found that 33% of people who’ve been hospitalized with COVID-19 are African American, yet only 13% of the U.S. population is African American. Some local communities have found a similar pattern in their data. Among the many (26) states reporting racial data on COVID-19, blacks account for 34% of COVID deaths, according to research from Johns Hopkins University. facebook.com/Black-Americans-and-Covid-19-Pandemic-106220921060081
 
Facebook Small Business Grants Program
 

SO WHAT HAS HAPPENED?  The world is currently experiencing a pandemic of an infectious disease called coronavirus disease 2019, or COVID-19. COVID-19 is caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and is part of a large family of coronaviruses (CoV). Coronaviruses are transmitted from animals to people, with this particular strain of coronavirus thought to have originated from a seafood market in the city of Wuhan in China in late December of 2019. Symptoms of COVID-19 resemble that of the common cold, with those infected often experiencing fever, coughing, and shortness of breath. However, infection can lead to pneumonia, multi-organ failure, severe acute respiratory syndrome, and even death, in more severe cases. The elderly and those with preexisting chronic health conditions have accounted for the majority of deaths from COVID-19.  https://www.statista.com/topics/5994/the-coronavirus-disease-covid-19-outbreak/

Dr. Jacqueline Young Cooper started the Facebook group, In Memoriam: Black People who have died from COVID-19, to put a face to all of the Black people who have succumbed to this virus and to honor them in this small way. https://www.facebook.com/groups/4271672532858383/