CORONAVIRUS RESOURCES

AU is here to help!

Arkansas United offers a wide variety of resources for people experiencing the COVID-19 pandemic.

Download the Help Postcard.

Cares Act

• Community Change Action: Federal Relief Fact Sheet

• Small Business Owner’s Guide to the CARES Act

• CARES Act Explained for Employers

Additional Policy Updates

• COVID-19 Policy Updates

• American Business Immigration Coalition Policy

• COVID-19 and ICE (U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement

Statistics for Immigrants and COVID-19

• New American Economy

• Center for American Progress

• United we Dream

• Migrant Health Workers are on the frontline. We need more of them.

General Information about COVID-19

• U.S. Government

• Centers for Disease Control

• U.S. Department of State

• UAMS (University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences)

• Arkansas Department of Health

• Washington Regional Hospital COVID-19 FAQ’s

• Resources for Domestic Workers on the Coronavirus Pandemic 

• CDC Handwashing and Hand Sanitizer Use

• Information from the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) about Covid-19

• Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum (APIAHF) COVID-19 Information

• Live updates on COVID-19 cases in Arkansas

• Watch Governor Asa Hutchinson’s LIVE updates

Domestic Violence & Mental Health

• How to prepare your family

• SAMHSA’s Disaster Distress Helpline provides 24/7, 365-day-a-year crisis counseling and support to people experiencing emotional distress Call 1-800-985-5990 or text TalkWithUs to 66746 to connect with a trained crisis counselor.

• Care For Your Coronavirus Anxiety

• Helping Children Cope With Changes Resulting From COVID-19

• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline Call 1-800-273-8255- Available 24 hours everyday

• Videos related to COVID

• Domestic Violence 24-Hour Hotline Little Rock area, (501) 376-3219 or toll-free (800) 332-4443

• NWA Women’s Shelter 24/7 Crisis Hotline (1-800-775-9011 or 479-246-9999) for safe shelter, access to resources, advocacy, support and more.

• Support due to domestic violence during COVID, you can text LOVEIS to 22522 or call 1.800.799.7233. You can also chat with a domestic violence advocate by going to this website for support

• Additional domestic violence shelters

Economic Payment Resources

• Economic Payment Information Center

• How to Access the Economic Payment

• Filers Get Your Payment, Non-Filers Get Your Payment

• Analysis on DACA and TPS and Cash Payments

• USA TODAY: Who Doesn’t Get Stimulus Checks, Millions of People Left Out

• COVID 19: Eligibility for the 2020 Economic Impact Payment for Immigrant Families

• Top 5 things you need to know about the coronavirus stimulus package

• Am I Eligible? Immigration-Related Eligibility Requirements for Benefits Under New Federal Laws

• Stimulus Payment Questions and Answers
  

Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) & Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL)SBA

• Coronavirus Pandemic Disaster Loans Comparison

• Everything You Need to Know about the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP)

• Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Information Sheet: For Borrowers

• Applying for an SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL)  
  

Families First Coronavirus Response Act: Employee & Employer Rights

• Families First Coronavirus Response Act: Employee Paid Leave Rights

• Employer Paid leave Requirements 

• Paid Sick Leave And Expanded Family And Medical Leave Under The Families First Coronavirus Response: ACT

• Immigrant Workers’ Rights and COVID-19—A Resource for Workers and Their Advocates

Information for Bankers and Consumers During COVID-19

• Coronavirus information for bankers and consumers

• Frequently Asked Questions for Bank Customers Affected by COVID-19

Resources for Specific Occupations

• Restaurant Opportunities Centers United is providing resources and financial assistance to restaurant workers impacted by the coronavirus crisis

• The Coronavirus Care Fund was established by the National Domestic Workers Alliance to provide emergency assistance for home care workers, nannies and house cleaners

• Emergency funds for home-based child care can maintain the supply of home-based child care, ensuring access to child care for essential workers and stabilizing the economic and housing status of home-based caregivers and providers. This toolkit outlines actions funders and intermediaries can take now to establish emergency funds that meet the needs of local providers and caregivers

• Resources and Information for Restaurant Businesses and Employees

• Freelance Artist Resources

Additional Resources

• Advocates and loved ones of people detained can confidentially report conditions in ICE jails & prisons by calling (209) 757- 3733. Hotline volunteers will conduct both a general intake for conditions and concerns and give callers the option of reporting COVID-19 specific issues. People incarcerated in ICE jails and prisons can call our Hotline by dialing the extension 9233 from a facility phone.

• Asian Pacific Policy and Planning Council (A3PCON) and Chinese for Affirmative Action (CAA) have launched this reporting center to allow community members to report incidents of hate they have experienced

• Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance (APALA

• College Students Resources

Mental Health

• If you have Medicaid or are without insurance coverage and can't pay for treatment on your own, DHS can help you pay for therapy. You can call the DHS Mental Health and Addiction Services Support line at 844-763-0198. It operates Monday - Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

• Emotional Health Support: Alas/Wings Program: Nonprofit Educational and Emotional Support Organization in Northwest Arkansas. Focused on the guidance and support of parents & families Call (914) 648-6376 or send an email alaswings19@gmail.com 

Unemployment

• Arkansas Hotline 1(844) 908-2178 or (501) 534-6304, Monday to Friday 8am to 3:30pm. File your unemployment claim online. For questions & information: 1-855-225-4440. Monday to Friday, 8am to 3:30p Visit the Arkansas Division of Workforce Services unemployment website

• Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) is a program under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act of 2020 that provides temporary income to eligible individuals who became unemployed as a result of the novel COVID-19 pandemic and are either self-employed, do not have sufficient work history to be eligible for a claim, or have exhausted other forms of unemployment insurance benefits Applicants can also call 1-844-908-2178 from 6 a.m.-4 p.m.

• In Arkansas: Any person with a valid & unexpired EAD (Employment Authorization Document) (that includes any DACA, TPS, Green Card & others) may apply for unemployment benefits in Arkansas if

  • they have worked 2 Quarters (1 year), 

  • have made $28,000 or more that year

  • work for an employer that pays in taxes 

  • If you work for an institution like a church or some one exempt, you would not qualify for unemployment.

The applicant will need to provide a physical copy (once the office is open to the public) of the EAD & one another form of picture identification, including driver’s license, passport or state identification. They will be run through the SAVE program to verify their EAD is valid. Once the system verifies, they will begin receiving payments. 

• List of Workforce Centers in Arkansas

• When Filing your unemployment claim online use Internet Explorer or Firefox web browser, not Google Chrome. 

• Common Questions and Answers Regarding Unemployment Insurance Program

• Filing for Unemployment Claims

Small Business Resources

• Arkansas Economic Development Commission

• Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce- Business Resources

• Resource Guide: Financial Tools, Aid for Businesses Hurt By COVID-19

• The Small Business Administration (SBA) Economic Injury Disaster Loan program

• Small Business Emergency Assistance

• List of Small Business Resources

• Small Business Administration Arkansas, (501) 324-7379 

• SBTDC ( Small Business & Technology Department Center) Serving as a liaison to government agencies and lending institutions.Some services also will be available to non-profits that meet the Small Business Administration Disaster Assistance funding requirements. Services include: Assisting with loan applications, Financial reviews, One-on-one counseling, Market research, Educational outreach, & Business planning. Contact us at (479) 575-5148.

• Conexión de Negocios Latinos (CNL) is a group dedicated to supporting LatinX Business or Businesses with LatinX Workers. Purpose is to promote, educate, and support local Latinos and help them integrate.

Rent & Mortgage

• Arkansas bans evictions on properties covered by the government: Arkansas’ high court has ruled that evictions for nonpayment at rental properties covered by the federal government are temporarily prohibited. The Arkansas Supreme Court’s decision bans evictions at properties backed by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act until July 25. The ban also includes federally subsidized housing, rural voucher-program housing and housing financed through federally backed mortgages.

• Each landlord needs to contact their mortgage loan servicer for more info, in any case , if they are unable to continue doing mortgage payments they need to explain the situation to their loan servicer, they should be able to help. 

• However, evictions require a legal process. A landlord or lender may NOT under any circumstances evict a tenant without a court order. A landlord or lender cannot use any eviction "self-help" method. Changing locks, removing doors or windows, terminating utilities, and making threats are all illegal methods of eviction. If the landlord threatens any of these illegal actions, the affected person should contact an attorney and his/her local police department immediately.

• The police also cannot intervene to force the tenant to vacate the property. 

• Because the courts are closed, it is not possible to make an eviction court order right now.

• If the landlord sues the tenant, the tenant can contact Legal Aid of Arkansas immediately. After answering a few eligibility questions, if the person qualifies to receive Legal Aid's representative services, an attorney may represent him or her.

• It is recommended that affected persons contact Legal Aid of Arkansas directly for guidance on these matters. 

• If the person does not speak English, they can contact 1-800-952-9243, Ext. 4317 to speak with Neira Galvez.

• Governor Hutchinson has assigned a staff person to deal with landlords ordering evictions because of late payments. If you, or you know of someone being evicted or threatened of eviction because of past due rent payments, please contact us so we can have Robin Lundstrum handle these cases tied to housing.

• AU#: 479-347-2824

• AU Hotline #: 479-763-2822

Food & Utilities

• DHS Arkansas is expediting applications for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for people who have lost their income due to COVID-19 (coronavirus). Apply for SNAP For additional information please call 1-855-372-1084. 

• HARK is ready to help you with up-to-date community resources and referrals serving Washington, Benton, Carroll and Madison counties. We do not ask for documentation. Everyone is assessed on a case by case basis. We’ll first refer to other resources, and as of right now there are still places with funding.

• Mobile Food Distributions

• School Meal Assistance for children: Visit your school district website or social media page for updated information on meal pick-ups for students

• Dream Center, Text “Hunger” to 88000 for all feeding locations in Arkansas.

• Arkansas Food Bank Service Locations Map

• Arkansas Hunger and Relief Alliance

• Arkansas Food Bank, Little Rock 

• Food Bank of Northeast Arkansas in Jonesboro

• Harvest Regional Food Bank in Texarkana

• Food Bank of North Central Arkansas in Norfork

• Northwest Arkansas Food Bank in Bethel Heights

• River Valley Regional Food Bank in Fort Smith

EOA Economic Opportunity Agency

Help with electricity bills during the summer, and gas utility bills in the winter. Anyone needing assistance please call 479-872-7479, if Spanish speaker, ask for Shelly. If an individual needing assistance does not have a SSN, but their children DO have SSN AND have SNAP, they qualify for assistance. If the individual needing assistance does not have a SSN, with no qualifying children or SNAP benefits, they do not qualify. EVERY CASE IS DIFFERENT.

Bread of Life Religious Organization

Assistance with utility bills. Call (479) 750-5229. Open Wednesday & Thursday 9am to11am.

United Way NWA

United Way NWA provides assistance finding food, paying housing bills, accessing free childcare, or other essential services, dial 211 to speak to someone or TEXT 211 to 898-211. No documentation is needed

Arkansas Community Action Agencies Association

Assistance with energy and gas bills. There are requirements to be eligible. Call (501) 372-0891 to fill out an application for assistance. If you are a Spanish speaker and need help filling out the application, please contact Arkansas United first and ask for assistance (479) 763-2882.

Additional Resources

• UpliftArkansas.com is a quick and easy resource to use to find all the information you need in relation to COVID-19 in one spot

• File a Consumer Complaint

• This guide will help you learn how to receive benefits during this difficult time. Be safe if you need to apply in-person for benefits

Central Arkansas

• Little Rock’s response to the COVID-19 health crisis

• Helping Hand of Greater Little Rock is a food pantry, thrift shop and provider of limited financial assistance to thousands of families in Central Arkansas. Open from 9am to12:30pm, Monday to Thursday. You will need an official state identification, federal identification, medicaid card, consular card or social security card for each member of your family. In emergencies, no one will be turned away because of lack of identification on the first visit. (501) 372-4388

• St. Francis House of Little Rock is a food pantry and offers limited help with utility bills, 2701 S. Elm Little Rock, Arkansas 72204, 501-664-5036

Northwest Arkansas

This list was created by Fayetteville Public Library librarians in an effort to provide clear and updated information on COVID-19.

Internet & WIFI

• City of Fayetteville offers free wi-fi at multiple public locations

• City of Springdale is offering free wi-fi access at some of its major parks

• Comcast "Internet Essentials" for qualifying new, low income customers impacted by COVID

• Arkansas Wifi Map

Children’s Education

• List of learning resources for children PreK- high school

• Free online resources for families

• Educational Worksheets By Grade

• Visit your library’s web page for additional educational resources