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FLORIDA INFORMATION ON COVID19

CALL/TEXT CENTERS

  • Advent Health 24/7 hotline: 877-VIRUSHQ (847-8747)

  • Crisis Text Line (COVID-19 Anxiety): text SHARE to 741741

  • State of Florida COVID 19 24/7 Call Center: 866-779-6121

  • NAMI’s Disaster Distress Helpline: call 1-200-985-5990 or text “TalkWithUs” to 66746

UNEMPLOYMENT

  • Mobile Applications are Now Available 

  • Paper Applications are Now Available: DEO has just posted on its website paper applications that can be printed and mailed to DEO. You can click here to access these forms. Please note that paper applications could potentially take longer to process than completing an online application but with the website being so bad, a paper application might be more ideal for you. You can also go to any FEDEX location to get them printed and mailed free of charge.

  • $275 Threshold: Many of you have asked if the $275 threshold to receive weekly benefits also applies to the federal relief program. We are being told that at this time it does — meaning that in order to receive ANY benefits in Florida, you have to make less than $275 per week in Florida. But if your employer reduces your hours against your will, you may be eligible for partial benefits.

  • Retroactivity of Benefits: We have also heard questions about the ability to receive benefits from the day you were unemployed versus the day your application is approved. DEO has told us they are looking into this idea, to see if it is something DEO can change or if the Governor needs to change it. We are actively advocating for this change and will continue to keep you posted. 

MULTILINGUAL INFORMATION ON COVID19

FOOD

FINANCIAL SAFETY

  • Small Business Owner Assistance: If you are a small business owner, The Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program has been activated to support small businesses! The application period is from March 17th until May 8th. Get more information and apply here

  • Unemployment Benefits: The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity has opened temporary wage replacement (unemployment insurance) to eligible individuals who are out of work through no fault of their own. See criteria and apply here. 

  • Unemployment help for bartenders: If you work as a bartender, barback, or cocktail server and need financial support, you can apply to the USBG National Charitable Foundation's Bartender Emergency Assistance Program. You do not need to be a member to request funds! For more info and to apply, click here. 

  • Restaurant workers and owners: Restaurant Workers' Community Foundation - Apply here.

  • Service Workers: The One Fair Wage Emergency Fund is providing free, cash assistance to restaurant workers, delivery drivers and other tipped workers and service workers — who are seeing their income decline during this disaster, or aren’t able to work because of quarantines or other health concerns.

EDUCATION - DISTANCE LEARNING RESOURCES

  • Education companies offering free subscriptions due to schools closing: This is a list of educational companies offering free subscriptions to help students and adults fill their time while they are home with learning. There are options for all age groups.

  • Talking is Teaching Staycation Toolkit

  • Kids' improv classes at home from Studio LOL

  • General parenting tips from Zero to Three 

  • Scholastic has rolled out a free "Learn At Home" program, which offers three hours of classes per day with up to four weeks of instruction. It does not require sign-up or printing, will remain free and open indefinitely, and covers four grade spans: pre-K and kindergarten, first grade and second grade, third grade through fifth grade, and sixth grade and above. 

  • Outschool is offering $100 worth of free classes for families affected by school shutdowns at public schools. The company has more than 10,000 live, online classes for students from ages 3 to 18, all conducted via video chat, with teachers that are background-checked and curriculum that is carefully vetted. (Outschool is also asking for donations in order to continue offering free courses to those who need it most during the outbreak.) Click here for access. 

  • Khan Academy is a free online educational platform that offers free content for students on a range of subjects, as well as specialized content from organizations like NASA and the MoMA . In response to COVID19, Kahn released free daily learning schedules with plenty of links to online resources for students from pre-K to 12th grade to follow along with from home. 

HEALTHCARE

HOUSING AND STORAGE

  • The Red Tent is offering housing assistance for people in domestic violent or abusive situations that have current employment. Financial assistance is available.  College students may also be eligible if displaced or campus closings.

  • U-Haul is offering 30 days of free self-storage to college students who have been impacted by schedule changes.

  • For Small Business assistance: The Small Business Administration is offering low-interest disaster loans for eligible small businesses to help mitigate losses due to the pandemic.

SERVICES IN ORANGE COUNTY

  • Financial safety

    • Evictions have been suspended.

  • Actions

  • Food

  • Housing​​

    • Orange County is offering a limited Rental Assistance Program for Orange County residents who need help with rent and utilities in the coming month. The Crisis Assistance Hotline operates from 8:30 am – 11:30 am and 1 pm – 3pm Monday through Friday. The number is 407-836-6500. Residents MUST call for an appointment to drop by the necessary documents. The program does not cover those who are receiving payment from their employer or any other social service organization, such as United Way. 

  • Testing Centers

    • Orange County Convention Drive-Through Testing Site

      • Orange County Convention Center - North Concourse Parking Lot
        9400 Universal Blvd, Orlando, FL 32819 | Opens at 9 a.m.

    • Florida Department of Health in Orange County Testing Site

      • By appointment only. | Opens daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
        Call the Florida Department of Health in Orange County at 407-723-5004 to set an appointment.

    • UCF Testing Site in Partnership with Aventus Biolabs

      • By appointment only. | Opened April 6, 2020.
        For information, visit www.ucf.edu.​

SERVICES IN BREVARD COUNTY

  • Realtime Updates: https://mutualaidbrevard.com/

  • Food

    • Central Florida Harvest Food Bank: 6928 Vickie Cir STE A, West Melbourne, FL 32904

    • Daily Bread Distribution Center: 1408 Morningside Dr, Melbourne, FL 32901

    • Grab and go meals for K-12 from 10am-2pm on March 23-27: Student(s) must be present. Search by address here.

  • Alert

    • Brevard Emergency Management Alerts: Text BREVARDEOC to 888777 to get text updates from the Brevard County Emergency Operations Center.