Stop COVID-19
Income Assistance
- Governor Whitmer has expanded the eligibility for unemployment benefits in Michigan. According to the press release on Michigan.gov, “Under the governor’s order, unemployment benefits would be extended to:
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- Workers who have an unanticipated family care responsibility, including those who have childcare responsibilities due to school closures, or those who are forced to care for loved ones who become ill.
- Workers who are sick, quarantined, or immunocompromised and who do not have access to paid family and medical leave or are laid off.
- First responders in the public health community who become ill or are quarantined due to exposure to COVID-19.
MICHIGAN UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE AGENCY
GUIDE TO FILING FOR UNEMPLOYMENT IN MICHIGAN DUE TO COVID-19
Utilities, Rent, Etc.
- Consumers Energy and DTE Energy have suspended shut-offs for seniors and low-income households through April 5th.
- United Way states that if you need food assistance, paying housing bills, accessing free childcare, or other essential services to contact 2-1-1 or locate your local 211 helpline via their website for support.
Food Assistance
- In a March 17th, 2020 press release, the Michigan Government website released an online map to help families find locations where meals are being provided during school closures. The map will be updated twice a day during the school closure period. For more details visit their website here.
- Oakland County has established the Oakland County Helpline “to address non-health needs of the general public such as food or housing assistance,” according to their website. The helpline number is 248-858-1000.
- Gleaners of Southeast Michigan “is expanding its food distribution efforts to include additional distribution sites, increasing volumes of food and establishing longer warehouse operations,” they said in their most recent press release from March 17th,2020. For more details read here.
LIST OF PLACES OFFERING FREE FOOD IN METRO DETROIT
Children & Families
- Wayne County prevention tips for Seniors and Families
- Oakland and Macomb County have put together multiple tool-kits and resource documents for Businesses, Faith-Based Organizations, School & Childcare, Seniors, Healthcare Providers, First Responders within their communities.
- For Oakland County toolkits and resources visit their website
- For Macomb County toolkits and resources visit their website here.
Pet Care
- For pet food assistance, the Humane Society of Macomb offers a pet food bank. In a recent social post on Facebook, the Humane Society of Macomb has requested that members of the community who need assistance please call them to make an appointment at (586) 731-9210.
Support for Small Businesses
Small Business Administration Updated Disaster Assistance Loans (As of March 17th, 2020)
- The S. Small Business Administration has updated their Disaster Assistance Loan criteria to support more small business. According to a recent press release from the SBA, the following criteria will have two immediate impacts:
- Faster, Easier Qualification Processes
- Expanded, Statewide Access to the SBA Disaster Assistance Loans.
- For more details on the SBA’s Disaster Assistance Loans visit their website here.
INFO ON MICHIGAN’S IN-PROGRESS WORK TO HELP SMALL BUSINESSES
Mental Health Support
- The following 24/7 crisis hotlines provide free, confidential emotional support:
- Wayne County: Call 313-224-7000 or 800-241-4949 24-Hour help line, or visit https://dwihn.org/
- Macomb County: Call 586-307-9100 or visit http://www.mccmh.net/
- Oakland County: Call 248-456-1991 or 800-231-1127 24-Hour Crisis, or visit http://www.occmha.org/
- National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: Call 1-800-273-8255 or visit suicidepreventionlifeline.org/
- Veterans Crisis Line: Call 1-800-273-8255 and press 1 or visit veteranscrisisline.net/
HELPLINE FOR DISASTER-RELATED MENTAL HEALTH/SUBSTANCE ABUSE ISSUES