Resources from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):
- COVID-19 homepage with information for communities, school, and health professionals as well as updates on the disease and helpful resources
- FAQ in information on how the disease spreads, symptoms, and how to protect yourself <--first and foremost follow state & local guidelines!
- Preventing COVID-19 Spread in Communities, Resources for the Home includes cleaning recommendations, planning ahead, and what to do if you're sick
- Communication Resources, including factsheets, posters, and videos
Resources from the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS):
- COVID-19 homepage with information on prevention strategies, symptoms, and what to do if you're sick
- Texas Case Count page has the latest information on the number of confirmed cases in the state
- COVID-19 Local Health Entities has a listing of all county public health facilities across the state
- If you have questions or would like more information about this content, contact the DSHS COVID19 Call Center: 1-877-570-9779; Hours: 7:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m., Monday – Friday
Mental Health Resources:
- CDC: Mental Health and Coping During COVID-19
- PBS Kids: How to Talk to Your Kids About Coronavirus
- Talking With Children: Tips For Caregivers, Parents, and Teachers During Infectious Disease Outbreaks(PDF)
- Coping With Stress During Infectious Disease Outbreaks (PDF)
- Your Behavioral Health: Tips For Social Distancing, Quarantine, And Isolation During An Infectious Disease Outbreak (PDF)
Financial Protection Resources:
- Here is a link to general financial guidance and student loan information from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
- Call your bank or credit union if you are struggling with a loan payment. There may be long hold times, but many are working with people. They are waiving fees and helping make loan payments affordable for people who have lost income due to the crisis.
- If you have an outstanding payday loan, you may want to stop any electronic payment authorization, if you are worried that a payment you cannot afford will be taken out of your account. Here are some helpful instructions from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Once you have stopped the payment authorization, you may want to reach out to negotiate an affordable payment plan. You can contact the state regulator for help.
- If you are concerned about paying your rent, here is helpful information about evictions and lock outs. It is important to know that you will still owe missed payments even though an eviction moratorium is in place.
- If you have a mortgage loan and are struggling with payments, you may qualify for help. Here is a link to some helpful resource. You can also contact the Texas state mortgage lending regulator.
- For information about housing stability policies at the state, federal and local level, here is a helpful resource.
- The Public Utility Commission adopted emergency measures to stop water and electric utility shut-offs for those experiencing hardship due to COVID-19 for the next 6 months.
- If government payments are issued to help families, make sure to watch for scammers! Common scams in past disasters included people promising early access to funds in exchange for fees. Don't fall for these scams! If the payment comes to you as a check, look for free check cashing in your community. Local banks and credit unions may be offering this service.
For General Help:
211 Texas:
Anyone can dial 2-1-1 or (877) 541-7905 and select option 6 to get information and referrals to COVID-19 social services, including testing, community clinics, unemployment benefits and more. Also, Texans can dial 2-1-1 to find information about local community resources such as financial assistance for utilities or rent and food pantries, housing assistance, crisis counseling, utility payment assistance, and senior services.
Coronavirus Resources for Volunteers and Nonprofits: |
United Way Resources:
Union Resources:
- Go to https://aflcio.org/covid-19 to get resources including general guidance, downloadable materials, industry-specific resources, and labor movement relief funds.
- If you have a Union Plus mortgage, credit card, personal loan or supplemental insurance, you may qualify for assistance. Visit Union Plus Hardship Help
- If you need someone to talk to during this crisis, please call the Workers Assistance Program 1-800-343-3822 (First 5 sessions free)
Unemplyment Insurance:
- If you need to file for unemployment and get up information on unemployment benefits go to https://www.twc.texas.gov/news/covid-19-resources-job-seekers#overview