As our communities of working-class immigrant and undocumented workers and families grapple with the impacts of the escalating COVID-19 pandemic, which will continue to grow into a social, health, and economic crisis, DRUM in New York City has launched the “Building Power & Safety Through Solidarity” Campaign. This campaign provides a practical, accessible, and participatory program for building community power while also meeting the material needs of our frontline communities.
Read more about their community tools and resources at https://www.drumnyc.org/powerandsafety/
EMPLOYMENT
- If you are currently unemployed:
- If you are documented, you can apply for New York unemployment benefits
- NY Unemployment: https://applications.labor.ny.gov/Individual/
- If you need more information or assistance on this, let us know
- If you are documented, you can apply for New York unemployment benefits
HOUSING
- Landlords don’t have to make mortgage payments for 3 months
- If you are a landlord, call your bank to make arrangements for your mortgage
- There are no evictions for at least 3 months
- This means that if you don’t have a lot of money, you should save your money for essential things like food, and not for rent
- Talk to the other tenants and make agreements to not pay rent
- Many tenants are organizing rent strikes
- People are working on passing a law to cancel the rent
- If your landlord is also poor, and depends on the rental income for survival or has to pay for utilities, work out an agreement with them for partial payment or a payment plan
- Rent Strike Toolkit: https://t.co/ChKHyTvluO
FOOD
- If you are running out of food and need to access food, we can send you information based on where you live:
- Three Free meals are now available at over 400 NYC public schools for ALL New Yorkers Monday – Friday (Halal options available). You can find more info and locations here http://schools.nyc.gov/freemeals
- A list and map of food pantries and kitchens: https://maps.nyc.gov/foodhelp/#map-page
- Citywide Food assistance Organizations
- Zakat Foundation: Call 1- 888-ZAKAT-US or email covid19@zakat.org
- Muslim Ummah of North America (MUNA) 1- 877-868-2774
- Neighborhood food assistance:
- West Queens: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc4JI-xFE3qTxC07Tz762fEe4yNzpDo7eAsHkFo-jqnKZo1Bg/viewform
- East Queens: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc4JI-xFE3qTxC07Tz762fEe4yNzpDo7eAsHkFo-jqnKZo1Bg/viewform
- South Queens: https://docs.google.com/forms/
d/e/1FAIpQLScLggjsliLhxegB7Wt_ UOXpPqRCv0ef41RFQilmK17AAZKtrw /viewform - Brooklyn:
- Kensington: https://www.facebook.com/groups/KWTMutualAid/
HEALTH
- Testing for coronavirus is hard to find, but it is free
- Right now, there is no coverage of the costs for treatment
- If you need to get tested, you can find testing locations here: https://www1.nyc.gov/site/coronavirus/resources/covid-testing.page
- If you need access to general healthcare and are undocumented: https://www.nychealthandhospitals.org/immigrant/
IMMIGRATION
- As of March 18th, USCIS has suspended routine in person services (Court dates, check-ins, biometric appointments etc.)
- If you have renewal biometrics appointments (ex. DACA) during this time, USCIS will use previous biometrics.
- ICE is continuing to do raids. We don’t know if they are more, or less, or same as before, but they are happening.
SCHOOLS
- NYC schools are closed for the rest of the school year.
- Remote Leaning is in effect until the rest of the school year
- Students in need electronic equipment to access remote learning can request an iPad device at coronavirus.schools.nyc/RemoteLearningDevices
GOVERNMENT STIMULUS
- The federal government passed a 2 trillion dollar package on March 27
- Most of the money went for large corporations
MENTAL HEALTH
- This is a time of great stress for many people, and it will likely get worse
- Make sure to make some time everyday to do things that relax you or calm you
- Find people you can talk to regularly to relieve the stress
- If you need more help coping contact NYC Well, a confidential 24/7 helpline http://NYC.gov/nycwell
FUNERALS
- A guide to funeral and burial option in New York: https://www.citybarjusticecenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Guide-Funeral-Burial-Options-in-NY-ENGLISH.pdf
- HRA can provide up to $900 in funeral expenses: https://www1.nyc.gov/site/hra/
help/burial-assistance.page
CASH ASSISTANCE
- For Undocumented Youth & Families: NYSYLC will be providing $250 or $500 funds. you can requests funds at https://www.nysylc.org/undocufunds
- Jamaica Muslim Center providing COVID impacted muslim families with $100 cash assistance call 718-739-3182