Commissioner Babb Resource List

Table of Contents

National 2

State of California. 4

Contra Costa  Resources. 9

Solano County Resources. 10

San Francisco County Resources. 11

Humboldt County Resources: 14

General Resources. 17

Homeschool and Education. 17

Working Remotely. 17

Mental Health & Wellness. 18

 

National

  • Federal – Tax extension: Tax payments are deferred for 90 days. Treasury, IRS extend filing deadline and federal tax payments regardless of amount owed to July 15,2020.
  • Benefits to working people: Increase standard weekly unemployment benefits by $600 for the next four months.
    • Establish a new Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program that will provide workers who do not ordinarily qualify for unemployment insurance — such as freelancers, furloughed workers, and independent contractors — with a weekly payment equal to one-half of the state average unemployment benefit plus $600.

 

Who this doesn’t cover: regarding unemployment benefits

  • Workers who are able to work from home, and those receiving paid sick leave or paid family leave would not be covered. New entrants to the workforce who cannot find jobs would also be ineligible.
  • This provision wasn’t intended to cover people who quit (or want to quit) because they fear that continuing to work puts them at risk of contracting coronavirus,
  • Extend the duration of unemployment benefits by 13 weeks.
  • One-time cash payment. Who is eligible?
    • You MUST have filed your taxes with the IRS in 2018 or 2019. If not – file ASAP or risk delays or ineligibility. At least file the 2018 taxes!
    • A social security number is required for eligibility.
    • Non-citizens with a valid Social Security number who live and work in the United States will be eligible for stimulus checks.
    • That includes green card holders and most people on work visas such as H-1B and H-2A.
    • Visitors and those who are in the country illegally will not be eligible for the program.
    • Individuals who earn less than $75,000 a year will receive $1,200 in cash.
    • Couples who earn under $150,000 will receive $2,400.
      • Plus $500 for every child in their care. Child must be under the age of 17, not including those who are already 17.
      • Other dependents are not eligible.
      • And someone filing as head of household would get the full payment if they earn $112,500 or less.
  • Individuals who made $99,000 or more and couples who made $198,000 or more would not receive a payment.
    • How is this calculated? Use this useful Washington Post calculator here.
      • $1,200 minus $0.05 for every dollar over $75,000 that an individual made.
      • $1,200 minus $0.05 for every dollar over $112,500 that a head of household made.
      • $2,400 minus $0.05 for every dollar over $150,000 that couples who filed jointly made.
    • If you owe child support, you will likely be unable to collect this check.
    • The stimulus check does NOT need to be paid back in a future year.

 

  • Student Loans: Until 30, there will be automatic payment suspensions for any student loan held by the federal government.
    • If you’ve borrowed money from the federal government — a so-called direct loan — in the past 10 years, you’re definitely eligible.
    • Garnishment will be suspended, so is the seizure of tax refunds, the reduction of any other federal benefit payments and other involuntary collection efforts.
    • Will not affect eligibility for student loan forgiveness programs like Public Student Loan Forgiveness Program(PSLF) and payments count towards forgiveness.
  • Housing: The coronavirus economic stimulus package signed by President Trump last week provides federal safeguards for renters. The provisions are confusing and hard for tenants to understand if they qualify.
    • The package included a 120-day eviction moratorium for tenants who can’t pay rent. But the moratorium only applies to renters in properties — both single-family homes and apartments — whose owners have federally backed mortgages. Every renter who lives in federally subsidized low-income housing also is automatically covered.
    • Under the federal plan, homeowners with federally backed mortgages cannot be forced into foreclosure for at least two months. Additionally, homeowners who have suffered economic hardship over the virus can request a six-month deferral of their mortgage payments — without penalties, interest or late fees.
    • Homeowner Hardship Assistance: California Housing Finance Agency:https://www.calhfa.ca.gov/myaccount/hardship/index.htm
    • HUD: https://www.hud.gov/sites/documents/MORTGAGEASSISTANCEGUIDE.PDF

State of California

  • Read more at the Q&A from the IRS here on the tax filing extension and its impact on various things like retirement account funding.
    • This applies to: 2019 Tax Returns, 2019 Tax Return Payments, 2020 1st and 2nd quarter estimated payments, 2020 LLC taxes and fees, 2020 Non-wage withholding payments.
    • Taxpayers do not need to claim any special treatment or call the FTB to qualify for the relief.
  • Property taxes: However, property owners in California must still make their property tax payments on April 10 because of mandates in state laws.
  • Housing: Gov. Gavin Newsom announced that four of the nation’s largest banks — Wells Fargo, U.S. Bank, Citibank and JPMorgan Chase — as well as 200 state-chartered banks and credit unions will allow affected homeowners in California to defer payments for at least three months. Late payments would not be reported to credit agencies.
  • Renters: All renters in the state, are entitled to a delay of an eviction through May 31 if they can’t pay rent because of financial or medical circumstances caused by the coronavirus.

 

  • California State of Emergency comes with housing protections: State of Emergency Declarations by Governor Newsom have triggered statewide anti-gouging laws which include important rent controls and eviction protections!
    • It is now illegal for any landlord – located anywhere in California – to charge (or advertise) rents 10% or above what they were charging before February 10. This is for ALL California tenants in new or existing tenancies. Additionally, it is illegal for a landlord to evict tenants and then re-rent the vacated unit at a higher rent than what the evicted tenant is paying.
    • What can tenants do if a landlord increases their rent above 10% during a State of Emergency?
    • File a claim with the Attorney General of California’s office. To learn more and file a claim, call here (800) 952-5225 or file online here.
    • Use this Tenants Together sample letter if you received a notice of increase above 10% after the February 10th Declaration of a State of Emergency.

 

  • Paid family leaveis available for those who stay home because they need to take care of someone who has contracted the virus (Covid-19) or who has been quarantined (must be certified by a medical professional). Learn how to file a Paid Family Leave Claim HERE. 
  • Disability benefits/paid sick leaveare 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.
  • Unemployment benefits are available to those whose hours have been reduced or who have lost their job due to coronavirus measures (and it also applies to those who choose to stay home due to underlying health issues making them more vulnerable). The Governor has waived the 1 week wait time and the person may not be required to be actively looking for work (as is usually required). Learn how to file an Unemployment Insurance Claim HERE.

 

·        Utilities :

  • SPECTRUM Internet- offering 60 days of free wifi for low income families. https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.fdlreporter.com/amp/5042351002
  • Verizon will help customers and small businesses disrupted by impact of coronavirus
  • Verizon FAQ on COVID-19 Verizon’s offer is simply to waive late fees at this time.”
  • Charter COMCAST- Free Internet Service for Households with Children for two months – to enroll: 844.488.8395 or find more information here
  • Free access to its Xfinity WiFi hotspots for everyone, including non-subscribers, for 60 days. It’s also providing unlimited data to its customers for no extra charge and is not disconnecting internet service or charging late fees for customers who say they can’t pay their bills. The company is also providing 60 days of free basic internet service to new customers.
  • Pacific Gas and Electric Co.: PG&E has halted service disconnectionsfor non-payment for both residential and commercial customers until further notice. The utility will also offer flexible payment plans “to customers who indicate either an impact or hardship as a result of COVID-19.”More recent PG&E FAQ
  • AT&T: The cable, phone and media giant is suspending the termination of wireless, home phone or broadband servicewhen customers can’t pay their bills because of coronavirus disruptions. The company is also waiving related late fees. Like Comcast, AT&T is also providing free access to its public WiFi hotspots. The company also said its consumer home internet wireline customers and fixed wireless internet customers would receive unlimited data.
  • T-Mobile: The mobile phone service provider is providing unlimited data to all current customers who have plans with data for the next 60 days. It will also provide additional data to mobile hotspot users.

·       Markets amend hours, some with hours for “At-Risk” community

  • Albertsons/Safeway/Vons/Lucky/Andronicos(all Albertson’s company stores – check the link): At a minimum, the company will reserve every Tuesday and Thursday from 7 to 9 a.m. for those vulnerable shoppers who must leave home to obtain their groceries, unless otherwise locally mandated. Customers should check their store’s hours if they’re opening on a different schedule.
  • Costco: Effective 3/30/2020 – Senior hours are Tuesday and Thursdays, 9-10AM. Hours are now reduced to Monday-Friday 10:00AM – 6:30PM, Saturday from 9:30AM – 6:00PM, and Sunday from 10:00AM to 6:00PM.
  • Trader Joes:As of 3/16/2020 hours are 9:00AM – 7:00PM.
  • Target: Starting Wednesday (3/18/2020), the retailer will “reserve the first hour of shopping each Wednesday at stores nationwide for vulnerable guests,” Target said, adding it is “encouraging other guests to plan their shopping trips around this time frame.” All Target stores will close at 9:00PM.
  • Whole Foods:Starting Wednesday (3/18/2020), all Whole Foods Market stores in the U.S. and Canada will let customers who are 60 and older shop one hour before opening to the public.
  • Resources for undocumented families : Resource guide created by California Immigrant Youth Justice Alliance available at https://ciyja.org/covid19/
    • This is a great list with resources and in other parts of the State: 

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1DAJSN41MksG839ChW0P-Ws1-iKmXYqbBPBfXxunyi-Y/htmlview?urp=gmail_link# 

·       Specialized Health Resources for Communities

Contra Costa  Resources                               

Solano County Resources

San Francisco County Resources

  • City’s FAQs, updated daily, listed here

 

  • Food:  SF Marin Food Bank locator Find Free Food (Pop-up locations will also populate as “transitional pop-up” based on zipcode). Can select “I don’t know my zipcode” to find all food banks in San Francisco. They are also teaming up with some school lunch distributions to do pantry pop-ups. Updated list of pop-ups here. 
  • Home Delivered Groceries – Currently available only in San Francisco to low-income seniors, age 60 and over, and adults with disabilities (415)282-1900 x 287.
  • Che Fico on Divisadero is providing meals to anyone in need. Please call 415-416-6980.
  • Project Open Hand will continue to deliver meals to elderly and folks with disabilities. They may extend services to provide medically tailored meals to economically-disadvantaged patients diagnosed with COVID-19.
    • Application, referral form – we can take verbal authorization from patients in place of their signature on the application form.
  • For children under 18 years of age: School pick ups and locations will be updated on edu/schoolfood. On Tuesday, March 17, eight sites will be open 9-10 a.m. Map and list of sites
    • Beginning Monday, March 30,sites will be open two days per week but continue to provide five days worth of food. This new schedule reduces the number of days families need to leave home for pick-up but the amount of food each child will receive remains the same. (Map of pick up sites can be found here)
    • No identification or proof of school enrollment is required, but a child must be present. Breakfast, lunch, fresh fruit, vegetables, and milk will be provided to take home. Shelf-stable meals will also be available. Families will not need to enter the school building for pick-up.
  • Find a local restaurant to support (who is open or selling gift cards) here

 

  • Transportation: As of March 17, 3:23PM“We will temporarily suspend enforcement on: residential permits, 72-hour limit and towing, commuter shuttles, peak hour tow-away and other towing not related to safety or access.” Through the end of March 2020
    • Parking will still be enforced in fire hydrant zones, red and yellow zones, “no stopping” and “no parking” zones, blocked driveways and double parking. It will also be enforced if vehicles are parking in bike or transit lines
    • San Francisco is implementing a temporary rate change in its parking meters — which will be fully in effect by March 24 and last through April 7. Drivers will have to pay for $.50 per hour for vehicle parking and $.10 an hour for motorcycle parking.
    • As of March 26, 11:14AM Starting Monday, March 30, there will be no more subway or light rail service in San Francisco.
    • Starting Monday, all Muni Metro and light rail routes will be replaced by buses.
    • Riders can take bus substitutions for the J, KT, L, M, and N lines using the same bus stops as the early morning Metro bus service.
    • Muni Metro subway stations will be closed, except for downtown stations which will remain open to customers taking BART during operating hours.
    • Muni Rapid routes—the 5R, 9R, 28R, and 38R—will also be temporarily discontinued, except for the 14R Mission Rapid.
    • Riders can instead use local service for all stops during all hours of service.
    • The 5 Fulton and 9 San Bruno will begin running longer buses to help maintain social distancing.
  • Emergency Childcare:
    • Beginning 3/16, SF Recreation and Park Department and the SF Public Library will operate facilities as emergency child and youth care centers for children of parents on the front lines of the COVID-19 outbreak and low income families qualified for Rec and Park scholarships. Participation is by invitation only, but other families can sign up for more info FAQs | Sign-up for updates or add’t openings here.
    • YMCA in SF is creating an emergency child care program called Pop-Up Y Kids for essential employees. For more information, click here.
  • Resources for Families with Children:
    • Free diaper pick-up at five locations. Recommend calling prior to pick-up for hours. 

·       Law enforcement/Immigration Health Resources:

Humboldt County Resources:

  • Kids need food? The Humboldt County Office of Education maintains a list of pickup spots for free meals for children. Find it here.
  • Unemployment, Disability, Paid Family Leave: California state government has relaxed certain regulations around unemployment, disability and paid family leave programs. If you’ve been affected by the coronavirus — if you’ve been laid off, or if you or your loved ones are in quarantined — you can apply for services immediately. See this FAQ from the Employment Development Department. 
  • Small business owners should check in with the North Coast Small Business Development Center, which is maintaining a mailing list and a list of federal, state and local resources to assist local businesses through the crises. See the SBDC’s COVID-19 page here.
  • Restaurants: We are attempting to maintain a list of restaurants doing delivery, curbside pickup or something else new, due to the pandemic. Find it here.
  • School Closures: All Humboldt County school campuses are currently closed. The Humboldt County Office of Education is keeping a list of them, including provisional reopening dates. Find it at this link.
  • Benefit Programs (CalWORKs, CalFresh, Medi-Cal and General Relief):
    • Status: Providing essential services, with modifications.
    • How to contact: Local Call Center 877-410-8809 Highly encouraged. Almost all business can be completed by phone.  
    • Community partner inquiries also be referred to 476-4760 or calfreshoutreach@co.humboldt.ca.us
    • Modified Services: Scheduled interviews and new interviews being done by telephone.  State has changed requirements so renewals/recertifications are on hold (people retain benefits). 
    • Accepting and processing new applications; online and phone applications encouraged. (GetCalfresh.org, C4Yourself.com, 877-410-8809)

 

  • Housing, Outreach & Mobile Engagement: Status: Limited services, How to contact: 707-441-5010 Modified Services:  Staff are practicing safe protocols as HOME seeks to provide more focused
  • LGBTQ: Humboldt (707)502-2890 queerhumboldt.org
  • Mental Health: Status: Providing crisis services and modified on-going services. Sempervirens open.
    • Crisis Stabilization Unit open.
    • Same day Services is open. The HOPE Center is closed. TAY Drop In is closed.
    • How to contact: Phone encouraged wherever possible. Crisis services:  707-445-7715 24 hours a day, 888-849-5728
    • Regular Access and Adult MH Reception:  707-268-2900
    • 929 Koster Street campus, limiting access for the public to one lobby.  Limiting customers to five at a time for social distancing. 
    • Hoopa office closed
    • Garberville office reduced hours from 9:30-2, closed 12-1
    • 605 K Street office-closed to the public, all business by phone

 

  • Community Mental Health support for COVID: Professional staff are available if you are feeling anxious, worried, or depressed related to the current health crisis and need someone to talk to. It can be even more challenging with the direction to shelter -in -place, leaving people feeling socially isolated. Please reach out for support, by calling 707-268-2999, M-F 8 AM – 5 PM.
  • Public Health: For information about COVID-19, please phone 707-441-5000 or email COVIDInfo@co.humboldt.ca.us
    • Humboldt Health Alert 24 hours a day. org/HumboldtHealthAlert
    • Status: Some Public Health offices are open to the public.  The clinic is open.  Some programs are serving the community via phone.  Non-essential services such as community trainings are on hold.   
    • How to contact:  WIC: 707-445-6255, Clinic: 707-268-2108, Environmental Health:  707-445-6215, PH Lab: 268-2179,
    • Any other Public Health program: you can check this page for contact information:  https://humboldtgov.org/330/Public-Health
    • Modified Services: PH is serving community members including patients by phone whenever possible.   Community members are encouraged to call before making a visit to a Public Health office. 
    • WIC:  offices are closed to the public; services are being provided by phone.
    • Environmental Health:  the office at 100 H St. remains open to provide essential services.
    • PH Nursing: Supporting clients with telephonic case management when possible. 
    • Syringe Services Program: limited to the Community Wellness Center, 908 7thStreet, Eureka, CA
    • Vital Statistics: The office is open; there is a possibility of delay in issuing birth/death certificates.
  • Child Care: Changing Tides Family Services in the Myrtletown area is providing referrals to local families for child care options. Changing Tides can be reached by calling 707-444-8293. Other options to try are as follows:
    • Evenson family child care Ferndale CA 707-407-9787 Lic.#125407378
    • Little Rock Daycare Eureka CA. 707-7987102 open 24/7 Lic. #125407570
    • Shelley Family Child Care Eureka CA. 707-499-5349 Lic.#123009388
    • Macy’s Family Child care Fortuna CA. 707-407-8887 Lic.#123007003
    • Amanda Gahart Family Child Care Cutten CA. 707-499-2058 Lic. #125407487
    • Tostie, Antoinette Family Child Care Eureka CA. 707-601-1300 Lic. #125407223
    • Nakaylee’s Family Daycare Eureka CA. 707-298-4673 Lic. # 125407453

General Resources

Homeschool and Education

Working Remotely

Mental Health & Wellness

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