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211- When you dial 211 on your phone, a nonprofit organization will connect Marylanders to the health and human services they need to achieve a more stable life for themselves and their families. You can call about food assistance, referals to health providers, crisis help, emergency assistance, homelessness, foreclosure prevention, and more.
Substance Abuse - HARBEL Community Organization's Prevention and Recovery Center. HARBEL is a local caring multipurpose organization that works to build and support our communities through service, advocacy, and empowerment.
Behavioral Health System Baltimore Here 2 Help Hotline is (410) 433-5175. This service is available 24/7/365, and is free and confidential.
- Harford Road has a variety of mental health providers, medical services and dentists. Visit our Directory of Businesses for a listing.
New unemployment insurance benefits and how to get them: More workers now qualify for unemployment insurance, including self-employed and gig economy workers. Regular unemployment benefits in Maryland range from $50 to $430 per week, and the legislation increases everyone’s benefit by $600 per week through July 31. Additionally, workers can claim up to 39 weeks of unemployment benefits – a 13-week increase. Click here to apply.
Full funding is also provided for Maryland’s “work sharing” program, and workers covered by this program as a result of having their hours cut by their employer will also be eligible for the $600 boost in weekly unemployment benefits.
New paid sick leave benefits and who gets them: Most Marylanders who work full-time for businesses with fewer than 500 employees, as well as government employees, get two weeks paid sick leave at full pay (up to $511/day) for coronavirus-related reasons, or two weeks at two-thirds pay (up to $200/day) to care for someone else affected by coronavirus. In addition, most Marylanders at businesses with fewer than 500 employees get up to 12 weeks of leave at two-thirds pay (up to $200/day) to care for children whose schools or daycares are closed due to coronavirus.
Direct cash payments: Each adult gets $1,200 ($2,400 for couples), and families get $500 for each child. The amount begins to be reduced for people whose adjusted gross income was above $75,000 ($150,000 for couples). You can use this tool to calculate your direct payment. An automatic payment will be sent to households that filed a tax return for 2018 or 2019, and recipients of Social Security or Railroad Retirement benefits – others can claim their payment by filing a tax return.
Keeping people in their homes: Federally-backed mortgages, including those guaranteed or insured by the Department of Veterans Affairs, are protected from foreclosure for 60 days beginning on March 18, 2020. Additionally, borrowers should be able to suspend or reduce payments for up to six months without penalties or late fees, and the lender cannot report the loan as late. Foreclosure or eviction proceedings against renters and homeowners cannot start until at least April 1, 2021 if the landlord has a government-backed mortgage.
Student loan relief: Payments and interest accrual on federal student loans are suspended through September 30, as are collections on overdue loans. Loans for any semester interrupted by the virus are forgiven, and those loans and Pell grants don’t count against a student’s limit. Schools can continue to pay work-study students who can’t work and make other emergency grants to cover students’ virus-related expenses.
Personal tax breaks: Withdrawals of up to $100,000 from retirement accounts without the normal 10% penalty are allowed this year for hardships related to COVID-19. A $300 charitable giving deduction without itemizing deductions is available for 2020. For those whose employers help repay their student loans, up to $5,250 of this assistance is tax-free for you in 2020. And separately from the CARES Act, state and federal income tax filing and payment deadlines have been postponed.
Having financial challenges?? Check with your local financial institutions and credit unions they are there to provide assistance. Operation Hope is a national non-profit offering free financial coaching and programs.
Click here for additional tips from St. Ambrose Housing Aid Center.
Official website for city resources for small businesses- https://www.baltimoretogether.com/covidresources
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