Embedded Files
Community Resources: How To Get Help
Community Resources: How To Get Help
Para obtener información en español, haga clic aquí
Para obtener información en español, haga clic aquí
At-Home Education and ENTERTAINMENT Resources
At-Home Education and ENTERTAINMENT Resources
Food Assistance
Food Assistance
Get help buying food while school is closed. Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) is a program for families with children who were eligible for free or reduced-price school meals during the 2019-2020 school year.
More information about the program is available online from Texas Health and Human Services (HHSC).
General information about the program and criteria is available in English (PDF), Spanish (PDF), Simplified Chinese (PDF), Traditional Chinese (PDF), Korean (PDF), Burmese (PDF), Vietnamese (PDF), Arabic (PDF), Urdu (PDF).
Local food pantries and school districts are providing emergency food access in our community. If you are in need of food assistance, please call 211 or visit Connect ATX.
Organizations providing emergency food assistance to people in need can get connected with volunteers and other resources using the ATX Emergency Food Systems Exchange.
Virtual Enrichment from Parks and Recreation Department
The Parks and Recreation Department (PARD) is offering a variety of online recreation and cultural experiences including learning, exercise, and family activities. Visit www.austintexas.gov/parkprograms.
Austin Public Library Virtual Library
Austin Public Library has a “Virtual Library” where you can read, listen, watch on your computer or mobile device 24/7 when you download or stream eBooks, eAudiobooks, magazines, movies and music. For more information, visit library.austintexas.gov/virtual.
Austin ISD Learning-At-Home
Austin ISD Learning-At-Home provides optional resources to include a range of ideas for online and offline activities that student can work on at home independently, with family members, or with other adults. Additional resources will be added, please check back periodically. For access, visit https://sites.google.com/austinisd.org/aisd-learning-at-home
UT Biodiversity Center
UT Biodiversity Center has a live falcon camera to observe the UT Tower, which is home to a female Peregrine Falcon, nicknamed “Tower Girl.” For more information, visit biodiversity.utexas.edu/resources/falcon-cam.
Google Arts & Culture
Google Arts & Culture has a virtual collection available to explore iconic locations in 3D, including iconic museums and monuments. For more information, visit artsandculture.google.com/project/openheritage.
Monterrey Bay Aquarium
Monterrey Bay Aquarium has ten live webcams to watch various ocean experiences, including coral reefs, jellyfish, and penguins. For more information, visit montereybayaquarium.org/animals/live-cams.
Smithsonian National Zoo
Smithsonian National Zoo has four live webcams to watch their naked mole rats, lions, giant pandas, and elephants. For more information, visit nationalzoo.si.edu/webcams
Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History
Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History has virtual tours available of their current exhibits. For more information, visit naturalhistory.si.edu/visit/virtual-tour/current-exhibits
Smithsonian Institute
Smithsonian Institute has online resources for kids. For more information, visit www.si.edu/kids.
Scholastic
Scholastic is offering at-home learning resources for children. For more information, visit classroommagazines.scholastic.com/support/learnathome.html.
Childcare Assistance
Childcare Assistance
Finding Child Care During COVID-19
If you need help locating a provider that is open and accepting children of essential employees, you can visit the Frontline Child Care Availability Portal. This website will allow parents who are essential workers to search for available child care near their home or work, and it will display a map of licensed child care centers, licensed homes, and registered homes. It will show each facility’s operating hours, along with the number of open seats for each age group at the facility.
Child care subsidies for essential workers
To help make child care more accessible during this crisis, the income threshold for child care subsidies has been expanded for COVID-19 essential workers to approximately 150 percent of the state’s median income (SMI). This is approximately $118,000 annually or $9,800 monthly or less for a family of four.
Essential workers and businesses include (but may not be limited to):
Pharmacy and health care workers
First responders
Critical local and state government staff
Mail and delivery service staff
Nursing home, child care, home health care, and other direct care providers
Grocery store staff
Gas station staff
Bank staff
Restaurant (with drive-through and delivery) staff
Military personnel
Any other workers deemed essential by TWC or Boards
If you are an essential employee for whom child care is absolutely necessary, please visit Workforce Solutions resources for providers and parents. There you can review and complete the eligibility form to determine if you are potentially eligible for financial assistance. You will then be contact by an eligibility specialist from Workforce Solutions Capital Area to determine if you qualify for financial assistance, and if funds are currently available.
Call 2-1-1 for COVID-19 questions and social services and basic needs resources for individuals, staff and families.
For COVID-19 related early childhood resources in Austin, visit the Success by 6 portal.
Connect to Community Support
Connect to Community Support
The City of Austin has launched a How to Help online hub to connect local nonprofit, faith-based, and government programs with potential donors and volunteers.
If you are part of an organization that needs help meeting needs created or complicated by COVID-19, go to the How to Help User Guide to learn more about participating in the campaign.
If you are a community member who wants to help, visit https://howtohelpaustin.givepulse.com/.
General Information About Services
General Information About Services
Austin 2-1-1 is a free social service hotline available 24 hours a day.
Austin 3-1-1 is a resource to help answer all general questions for more assistance.
Aunt Bertha is a website that matches qualified individuals with food, housing, transit, health/medical, education, and legal help.
Homeless Resources
Homeless Resources
For more information, visit www.AustinTexas.gov/Homelessness.
At this time, the City of Austin is continuing to provide services for people experiencing homelessness. HUD is providing the City additional guidelines to be able to put some measures in place at our emergency shelters as well as any kind of short-term places where people are going through transitional housing.
CDC provided Interim Guidance for Homeless Shelters for which Austin-Travis County are complying.
Housing Needs
Housing Needs
Neighborhood Housing and Community Development (NHCD) offers information and referrals to assist COVID-19 impacted community members with immediate housing assistance, including:
Information on Avoiding Eviction or Preventing Displacement: Lists resources for legal counseling, alternative housing, tenant relocation assistance, and supportive resources.
Information for renters about evictions is available in English (PDF), Spanish (PDF), Simplified Chinese (PDF), Traditional Chinese (PDF), Korean (PDF), Burmese (PDF), Vietnamese (PDF), Arabic (PDF).
Help Paying Rent/Emergency Financial Assistance: Makes available a listing of local programs that provide temporary, emergency financial assistance in the form of grants or loans for utilities, rental expenses and mortgage payments.
Help for Homeowners, Mortgage Assistance and Property Taxes: Offers guidance and information on refinancing or modifying mortgage loans, lowering payments, or other solutions to avoid foreclosure. Also, provides property owners on setting up (or renegotiating) a payment plan for property taxes, or to learn more about available programs, such as homestead exemptions and property tax deferrals for those age 65 and older, persons with disabilities, and veterans.
Internet and Digital Literacy Resources
Internet and Digital Literacy Resources
For more information, visit https://cityofaustin.gitbook.io/decatx/deca-covid-19-community-resources.
This resource list serves to share City & Partner Digital Inclusion information for the Austin community amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic. The City’s Digital Empowerment Community of Austin COVID-19 Community Resource list is organized into four categories: General Resources, Internet Service Provider Information, Computer Access, and Using the Internet and Online Learning Resources.
Mental Health Services
Mental Health Services
Integral Care’s Psychiatric Emergency Services Update
Starting Tuesday, March 24th, Integral Care’s Psychiatric Emergency Services (PES) will provide all visits by telephone and telehealth. Face-to-face visits will be by appointment only as needed. PES provides urgent mental health care. PES is not accepting walk-in visits at this time.
Please call 512-472-4357 for telephone and telehealth services.
Hours: Monday – Friday, 8am to 10pm; Saturday, Sunday and Holidays, 10am to 8pm.
Adult & Children Mental Health Services Update:
Most Integral Care adult and child mental health services are now being provided by telephone or telehealth.
Please call 512-472-4357 for telephone and telehealth services.
Hours: Monday – Friday, 8am to 5pm
24/7 Crisis Helpline
Our 24/7 Crisis Helpline continues to provide immediate support to people experiencing a mental health crisis 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. For help, please call 512-472-4357.
Integral Care’s Mobile Crisis Outreach Team Update
Starting Tuesday, March 24th, Integral Care’s Mobile Crisis Outreach Team (MCOT) will provide all visits via telephone and telehealth with face-to-face visits by appointment only as needed. MCOT provides mental health crisis care in the community.
Relief in State of Emergency (RISE) Funds
Relief in State of Emergency (RISE) Funds
Austin City Council passed resolution #20200409-81 to allocate $15 million to provide immediate direct services and assistance to people suffering financial hardship due to COVID-19. Austin Public Health is partnering with social services agencies to ensure funds are distributed equitably and help vulnerable Austinites impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. social services providers can go to www.AustinTexas.gov/RISE to apply to distribute funds. Organizations need to be a registered vendor with the City of Austin and submit applications through PartnerGrants to be considered for the funds.
Utility Services
Utility Services
The City of Austin has taken steps to ensure customers have uninterrupted access to utility services. Immediate assistance is available to all our customers.
Customers experiencing hardships due to COVID-19 can get immediate utility bill relief. Apply now at austinbillhelp.com. Austin Energy, which manages customer care and billing for all City of Austin utilities, also offers several programs that help customers stay on track with their utility bills:
Deferred payment plan: This will ensure the customer receives uninterrupted utility services as they work with utility representatives to develop a long-term plan that meets their financial needs. Customer Assistance Programs: Limited income customers and medically vulnerable customers may receive assistance for immediate and lasting utility bill relief for customers.
The following companies have temporarily suspended natural gas service disconnections due to non-payment for Coronavirus situation:
Both City of Austin Utilities Payment Centers are closed as of March 18. Click here to learn more about other ways customers can pay their utility bill.
Residential and commercial customers can contact the Customer Care Contact Center at 512-494-9400 with any questions.
Neighborhood Services is providing rent and utility assistance. The individual neighborhood centers remain closed to the public. Clients can call 512-972-5780 Monday – Friday 8 am – 12pm and 1pm – 4:30 pm. For assistance with emergency food delivery service call 512-972-5133.
Workforce and Business Resources
Workforce and Business Resources
Local Assistance
The Austin Economic Development Department is offering funding programs and emergency planning resources for businesses who may find themselves struggling in the coming weeks.
For general resources, the Economic Development Department Small Business Division offers free business coaching, free online classes, and connections to community partners.
Workforce Solutions Capital Area is available to help jobseekers find employment. Call them at 512-485-3792. There is also a Job Seekers page for immediate openings.
State Assistance
Texas Workforce Commission is where individuals can apply for unemployment benefits, including a tutorial to guide you through the process.
Federal Assistance
Small businesses and nonprofits in Travis County can apply for an U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Disaster Assistance Loan, which provides loans up to $2 million for fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills that cannot be paid because of the disaster’s impact.
Small businesses and nonprofits can also apply for the Paycheck Protection Program at any lending institution that is approved to participate in the program. You can call your bank or find SBA-approved lenders in your area through SBA’s online lender match tool. You can call your local Small Business Development Center or Women’s Business Center and they will provide free assistance and guide you to lender.
Additional Resources
Visit www.atxrecovers.com for the latest updates and resources directly in support of recovery efforts for Austin businesses, entrepreneurs, and non-profit organizations.
Visit the Economic Development Department’s Small Business Resource Directory and filter by “Disaster Relief” to find immediate support including a list government and community resources for small businesses and non-profits impacted by COVID-19.
Updated AISD COVID-19 Information
Updated AISD COVID-19 Information
Click on the images below to get more resources in English or Spanish
Page updated
Report abuse