COVID-19 Updates & Resources

Like all of you, we are working to respond to the C-19 pandemic with as much urgency and utility as possible in order to minimize the negative health and economic consequences for our members, our sector, and for all New Yorkers.

To that end, we have created this NYCETC COVID-19 Updates and Resources website that we will regularly update. It covers the following topics: Government Executive Orders and Proposals; Advocacy; Resources and Tools; Financial Support; Events and Webinars; Surveys; Ways You Can Support; and Health Resources.

Note: Wherever possible, we list the date when a resource was added to help you keep track of updating information.

Announcements

Frontline Communities Hit Hardest by COVID-19

Our friends at the Association for Neighborhood and Housing Development (ANHD) have been updating their COVID-19 Impact in NYC map, which overlays the number and rate of developing C-19 cases in each neighborhood with data on overcrowding, rent-burdened households, service workers, and people of color. Using this data, ANHD analysis shows the socio-economic impact of C-19 and the need for rent relief, hazard pay, and increased worker protections, especially in neighborhoods where a number of challenging factors come together.

COVID-19 Urgent Service Provider (CUSP) Insight Tool
Free insight tool built on the EQUIP platform designed to specifically evaluate the capacity of nonprofit service providers to meet the needs of the local communities they serve. CUSP helps donors identify the communities that have the greatest need as well as the non-profits that can make the most substantial impact during COVID-19.  For more information, watch recording of the webinar to see how CUSP works and visit website.

Surveys

(Virtual) Events

Older Workers & COVID-19: The Harsh Economic Realities
Thursday, May 28  /  2 – 3 pm  /  Info & RSVP

Meet the new Small Business Services (SBS) Commissioner Jonnel Doris
Friday, May 29  /  11:30 am – 12:30  pm  /  Info & RSVP

New York Budget Justice Coalition: Discussion
Monday, June 1  /  10 – 11 am  /  Info on the Coalition & RSVP

Women and the Future of Work: Women in Machine Learning, AI, & Diversity
Tuesday, June 2  /  6 – 7 pm  /  Info & RSVP

City & State – New York’s Other Crisis During Coronavirus Pandemic: Mental Health
Tuesday, June 2  /  2 – 3 pm  /  Info & RSVP

NSC – American Workers’ Digital Skills: What the Data Tells Us
Wednesday, June 3  /  2 pm  /  Info & RSVP

NYN Media’s Webinar Series: Nonprofit Resilience Through the Coronavirus Pandemic
Thursday, June 4  /  2:30 pm  /  Info & RSVP

Ongoing Support Meetings

Human Services Council 
1. COVID-19 Update Calls for Providers
Wednesday (4/15), and Friday (4/17) at 8 AM
Dial in: 425-436-6324 / Pin: 515229#
Submit your questions ahead of time to info@humanservicescouncil.org

2. Executive Director Roundtables
Mondays 4:30 – 5:30 pm /  Info and RSVP

Manhattan Chamber of Commerce – Weekly Small Business Updates
Every Tuesday  /  2 – 3:30 pm  /  Info and RSVP

Advocacy

HSC Launches Fight for the Frontlines Fridays: This Friday, May 29 will focus on federal advocacy by asking advocates to send a letter to your Senators, asking them to include supports for nonprofit human services providers in the next stimulus bill.To participate:

  • Learn more about the most recent Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions Act (HEREOS Act)
  • Find your Senator and their contact information
  • Use HSC’s sample letter to share your concerns and ask them to include key supports for human services providers in the next federal stimulus bill

#SaveSYEP: Teens Take Charge youth leaders have worked with HERE to HERE, ExpandED Schools, and SYEP providers to put together an achievable plan for SYEP 2020. The plan has 5 youth centered priorities, and calls for at least 75,000 spots, at least a $1,000 stipend per participant, and an $800 per-participant fee to providers. Organizations can sign on to the plan here.

    Open Letter Sign On for Staff & Organizations: Human Services Workers are Essential Worker: Given the City’s budget cuts, staff layoffs and furloughs, COVID-19 related sickness and deaths, the lack of PPE, and more, the letter aims to demonstrate how human services workers as essential workers are facing many of the same issues that other essential workers like health care and delivery workers are facing.

    NYCCAL Sign On Letter: Adult Literacy Funding: Sign on by this Friday, May 8 by contacting Ariel Savransky (UJA Federation) at savranskya@ujafedny.org

    #SaveOurSummerNYC Platform Sign-On: This platform addresses concerns with the Summer Youth Employment Program, which is proposed to be fully cut this year by the de Blasio administration, as well as the cuts to other summer programming such as Beacons, COMPASS, Cornerstones, and SONYC.

    Federal Comment Period Open for SBA Business Loan Program Temporary Changes; Paycheck Protection Program: open until May 15


    Council Discretionary Funding Advocacy:     Email your Council members with a call to protect City Council Discretionary Funding

    NYS Advocacy – Support A10226/S8211, COVID-19 Business Interruption Insurance Bill: Call on NY legislators to require business interruption insurance cover COVID-19 losses for nonprofits and small businesses. Read A10226/S8211 here

    Workforce

    Human Services

    Member Resources for Jobseekers / COVID Jobs

    • Contact Tracing: Both the City and State are hiring employees and supervisors for contact tracing reaching out to the contacts of those diagnosed with COVID-19 to track the spread. Learn more here for the City (three types of contract tracer jobs along with many non-tracing jobs listed), and here for the State (contact tracers, team supervisors, and community support specialists).
    • COVID-19 Staffing Portal: NYC community-based behavioral health providers are having increasing challenges maintaining essential staffing in a variety of services for New Yorkers with behavioral health needs and developmental/ intellectual disabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Recently, the New York City DOHMH launched the NYC COVID Congregate Care Staffing Portal to expedite access to needed relief staff for providers and to track trends and potential issues related to staffing. The portal is now open to any licensed NYC provider. Email to register:  staffingsolutions@coalitionny.org
    • Upwardly Global is now offering free, self-paced job-search and skill-building digital tools to help navigate the job search process for all jobseekers – regardless of immigration status, and uincluding American-born citizens from vulnerable communities. Learn more and sign up here. UpGlo is hosting a partner convening and live demo of these free resources on Friday, May 15 (RSVP) and May 22 (RSVP).
    • The Financial Clinic has launched the Marketplace – an expansion of its online financial coaching platform Change Machine. The Marketplace is a recommendation engine that equips practitioners to confidently connect their customers with trustworthy fintech products and services. The first product suite – Marketplace Relief – is intended to mitigate financial insecurity amidst the unfolding economic recession triggered by COVID-19.
    • WeWork for Good initiative: no cost workspaces to governments and nonprofits (including those who are existing members) playing an active role in supporting the public health response and the economic resiliency of impacted communities due to COVID-19. Applications accepted until May 31. 

    Government Guidance & Resources

    See “Financial Supports” section for information on the Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act & the Small Business Administration Paycheck Protection Program (PPP)

    City and State Launch Recovery Efforts

    Federal

      NYS

      NYC

      A. City Guidance for Nonprofits and Contract Holders

      B. Agency and Individual Resources

      • NYC COVID-19 Engagement Portal
        • website is intended for individuals, or those authorized to report on behalf of individuals, who have recently met any of the following criteria – Experienced symptoms of COVID-19; Tested positive for COVID-19; Have come into contact with someone who may have COVID-19; Currently in quarantine – to provide them with information about COVID-19 and give them the ability to update the City on their status
      • NYC COVID-19 Services & Resources site
        • Central resource site by City of New York
      • City Agency Service Updates: Agency Suspensions and Reductions (updated regularly)
      • Guidance for Human Service Providers: Business Continuity During COVID-19
        • Updated regularly and is central website for updates to funded )
      • NYC Office of Emergency Management’s Virtual Service Center (launched last week)
      • COVID19.NYC – A group of technologists in New York City has launched this website offering public health information to New Yorkers during the novel coronavirus crisis, aimed at centralizing and aggregating info from a range of medical authorities
      • NYC Department of Small Business Services opened applications for the NYC Small Business Continuity Loan Fund (March 27)
      • ACCESS NYC
        • a portal for NYC residents to determine their eligibility for over 30 economic opportunity programs and benefits, with COVID-19 updates
      • GetCoveredNYC: Health Insurance Enrollment Services
      • For workers with reduced hours or unemployment
        • Cash Assistance: If a worker’s schedule was reduced as a result of the coronavirus and they are unable to pay their rent, they can apply for Cash Assistance Special grants
        • Virtual Workforce1: Find employment and training opportunities
      • Regional Enrichment Centers: DOE plans to open 93 REC sites across all five boroughs, with the first sites opening starting the week of March 23 for the children of essential workers. Beginning March 27, the city’s Enrichment Centers will now also serve grocery and pharmacy workers
      • Food Access
        • Meal Hubs:  Starting Monday, March 23, three meals a day will be served to all New York City students at 439 hub sites citywide
        • SNAP: Apply online or by smart phone with the ACCESS HRA app. After you submit your application, complete your eligibility interview by calling SNAP at 718-762-7669, anytime between 8:30 AM and 5:00 PM, Monday to Friday.
        • Food Help NYC: You can get food today from New York City’s food pantries, which provide groceries you can cook at home, and community kitchens, which provide hot meals. Food pantries and community kitchens are located throughout the five boroughs. If you need food immediately, find locations near you here.
        • HungerFree NYC publishes Neighborhood Guides to Food and Assistance, which cover all neighborhoods in NYC by zip code and are available in multiple languages

      C. Announcements & Executive Orders

      COVID Jobs

      • Contact Tracing: Both the City and State are hiring employees and supervisors for contact tracing reaching out to the contacts of those diagnosed with COVID-19 to track the spread. Learn more here for the City (three types of contract tracer jobs along with many non-tracing jobs listed), and here for the State (contact tracers, team supervisors, and community support specialists).
      • Virtual Workforce1 Centers are open
      • The SIEU Employment Center Portal: Employers are seeking Registered Nurses, Licensed Practical Nurses, Certified Nursing Assistants, Dietary Workers, Environmental Service Workers, Home Care Workers, and others to fill important roles.
      • NYC Health and Hospitals needs workers to help transport patients, clerical staff and cleaning staff.
      • NYC Food Delivery Driver: The City of New York is hiring licensed TLC drivers to deliver food to New Yorkers in need during the COVID-19 crisis. TLC drivers will be paid $53 per route, rather than hourly —  $40 base pay + $13 for expenses.

      Client & Organizational Support

      • NYC Department of Small Business Services is re-launching their Neighborhood Challenge program as “Neighborhood Challenge: Connect & Recover.” The re-launched neighborhood challenge program is an online open innovation platform that enables us to crowdsource your local challenges, build upon those submitted by others, and facilitate collaboration with the tech community on implementing viable pilot projects. Initial challenge submissions for the storefront business campaign will be due by June 1st. Click here for more information.
      • Childcare for Essential Workers: The New York City Child Care Resource and Referral Consortium is enabled through an allocation from the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (the “CARES Act”) to provide child care to income-eligible essential workers at no cost. Essential workers using a regulated child care provider will receive a scholarship for the cost of care as long as the funds to support it are available. All licensed and regulated providers who are caring for essential workers are able to participate in this new program.
        • Parents and families can apply here in English, Chinese, and Spanish
        • Licensed providers in a community who are open and looking to serve children of essential workers can apply here in English, Chinese, and Spanish
        • For info, see this NYS OCFS letter on Child Care Market Rates Advance Notification, or contact NYCCR at info@nyccr.org or 1-888-469-5999.
      • NYSDOL 
      • Freelancers, gig workers and self-employed workers
      • THE CITY Unemployment Insurance Guide (April 10)
      • The Unemployed Workers Project has relaunched in response to the COVID-19 crisis. Through the initiative, trained English and Spanish speaking attorneys will provide free advice to New Yorkers who find themselves unemployed due to COVID-19 and would like to learn more about unemployment and other government benefits for unemployed workers. Contact the hotline at 347-521-5720 or complete an interest form. 

          Remote Learning Tools

          Grow with Google OnAir – virtual workshops

          NYCETC March 31 Member Roundtable: Transition to Remote Training
          Video Available

          Learning Management Systems: Schoology, Canvas, Edmodo and Socrative (for testing)

          General Assembly

          Google & Grow with Google

          LinkedIn

          Justworks
          Remote Life Resources: Your Guide to the New Normal

          Center for Learning in Practice
          Moving My Program/Course/Workshop Online course

          AT&T
          Business Continuity Resource Page

          Google & Grow with Google

            Quizlet

            Zoom

            Financial Supports

            Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act

            • SBA’s PPP:  The Federal SBA continues to issue new guidance and other information on the PPP program.
            • Fed’s Main Street Lending Program: The Federal Reserve announced more details on the Main Street Lending Program for small and mid-size businesses, which is due to launch “soon.” Businesses with up to 15,000 employees or up to $5 billion in annual revenue are now eligible for one of the three lending options (determined by loan size, minimum is $500,000) from this program. The four-year loans will carry a rate of LIBOR + 3%

            Government Supports

            Philanthropy

            Relief Funds and Private Supports

            Survey & Information Requests

            Resource Pages

            Ways You Can Support

            Food Supports

            COVID-19 Food Assistance Resources