COVID-19 Resources

LATEST UPDATES AND GUIDANCE
LOCAL CRISIS RESOURCES
   Resource lists
   Financial
   Food
   Health – Physical
   Health – Behavioral
   Legal rights
   Transportation
WAYS TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE
   Advocacy
   Volunteering
   Giving
   Civic Engagement

LATEST UPDATES AND GUIDANCE

Michigan: https://www.michigan.gov/coronavirus

Washtenaw County: https://www.washtenaw.org/3095/COVID-19

Ypsilanti: https://cityofypsilanti.com/725/COVID-19

Ann Arbor: https://www.a2gov.org/Pages/COVID-19-Information.aspx

United States: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/index.html

International: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019

LOCAL CRISIS RESOURCES

Resource lists

Washtenaw County essential services and official updates, from the Washtenaw County Department of Community and Economic Development

Washtenaw/Wayne County resource list compiled by Eastern Michigan University

Southeastern Michigan resource list compiled by the United Way for Southeastern Michigan

Washtenaw resource list in English and español, compiled by the public Facebook group Washtenaw County Mutual Aid + Resources

Washtenaw bilingual resource list compiled by the Washtenaw Interfaith Coalition for Immigrant Rights (WICIR)

Michigan resources for immigrants in español and English, compiled by the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center

Michigan COVID-19 Pandemic Resource Guide in English and español and Arabic, compiled by the Poverty Solutions initiative at the University of Michigan

Michigan resource list compiled by Bridge Magazine and Michigan Health Watch; scroll down page for Ypsilanti and other local areas

Financial

COVID-19 finance tip sheet from the United Way of Washtenaw County, in English and español

Economic Impact Payments: The IRS offers tools to apply for or check status of the $1,200 payment (plus $500 per dependent under 17) provided to most Americans by the $2 trillion CARES act. Checks are being mailed in May and June to those who haven’t received the funds by direct deposit. This is automatic (no action needed) for individuals with recent records in the Treasury Department’s database (2018 or 2019 tax return on file, or currently receiving Social Security, SSDI, SSI, or similar benefits).

Unemployment claims in Michigan: Call 1-866-500-0017 or file online

Stimulus package help for community organizations and small businesses to access the federal Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), from Community Building Partners

Loan resources from the Small Business Administration (SBA)

Resources for local businesses in Washtenaw and Livingston counties, compiled by Ann Arbor SPARK

Small business guide to the $2 trillion CARES act (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security) and other resources from the Small Business Association of Michigan

Mortgage relief: 90-day grace periods for payments, and 60-day suspensions of foreclosures and evictions, offered in Michigan by more than 200 financial institutions through the MiMortgage Relief Partnership

Legal protection for evictions: Flowchart “Can I Be Evicted During the COVID-19 Crisis in Michigan?” from Legal Services of South Central Michigan

Energy protections and assistance: The State of Michigan and local energy companies are working to ensure protections for customers, including a broad expansion of the State Emergency Relief (SER) program for energy assistance. For helpful links, see the Michigan Public Service Commission’s COVID-19 page and the state’s March 27 press release.

Food

Meals during school closures: statewide map from the Michigan Department of Education

Food pantries in Washtenaw: map of food pantries sponsored by Food Gatherers

Food and/or daily check-ins for seniors in Michigan: With new crisis funding from Congress, the Michigan Department of Health & Human Services is facilitating food pickups and deliveries and daily wellness phone calls through local agencies. Seniors over age 60 can fill out this form to apply.

Food for seniors in Ypsilanti: Meals are available for pickup from the Ypsilanti Senior Center

Food pantry and housing help in Ypsilanti: SOS Community Services is expanding services to help families with basic needs

Food pantry for Ypsilanti region: Beautiful Gate Food Pantry in Ypsilanti distributes food from Food Gatherers and is expanding for the crisis

Ypsilanti restaurants and cafes still open for takeout and delivery: Facebook post updated weekly by the Ypsilanti Downtown Development Authority

Grocery stores: List of curbside pickup and delivery options in southeastern Michigan by county, from the Area Agency on Aging 1-B (AAA1B)

Health – Physical

COVID-19 Testing: Michigan now offers screening and testing to those with or without symptoms. No appointment, insurance, or healthcare provider referral is needed at public testing sites.

COVID-19 Hotline for health-related questions: 1-888-535-6136 (seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.). Sponsored by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.

Personal protective equipment (gloves, reusable masks), and household supplies (soap, toilet paper, etc.) are being obtained on request by the Washtenaw County Racial Equity Officer for community distribution.

Face coverings: Frequently Asked Questions are answered by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS).

Health – Behavioral

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA):

  • National Helpline: Call 1-800-662-HELP (1-800-662-4357) for 24/7/365 treatment, referral and information service for individuals and families facing mental and/or substance use disorders (English and español)
  • Disaster Distress Helpline: Call 1-800-985-5990, or text TalkWithUs or Hablanos to 66746, for 24/7/365 crisis counseling and support for emotional distress related to natural or human-caused disasters (English and español)
  • Recovery – virtual resources

Mental health resources: For Michiganders who are feeling emotional distress due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) Stay Home, Stay Well initiative offers free options including a counseling hotline, crisis text line, and stress-reducing meditation exercises.

Peer-run Warmline: Michiganders living with persistent mental health challenges such as anxiety, depression or trauma, or substance use challenges, can call 888-PEER-753 (888-733-7753) (seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 2 a.m.). Sponsored by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and by Justice In Mental Health Organization.

Legal Rights

Legal help guide for legal problems related to the crisis: relief benefits, foreclosures, scams, child custody, the governor’s “Stay Home, Stay Safe” order, and more, from Michigan Legal Help

Legal protection for evictions: Flowchart “Can I Be Evicted During the COVID-19 Crisis in Michigan?” from Legal Services of South Central Michigan

Rights for people with disabilities: “Know your Rights” guidance from the National Disability Rights Network

Transportation

TheRide – Ypsilanti/Ann Arbor temporary bus schedule

WAYS TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE

Advocacy

How to command the narrative: a National COVID-19 Messaging Document from ASO Communications

Join the Michigan COVID-19 Community Response coalition to advocate for healthy, safe and equitable public policy.

Advocate for health equity: The Washtenaw County Health Department has published updating case breakdowns by zip code and racial group, and an analysis of how COVID-19 in the county is “highlight[ing] health disparities that are deeply rooted in our society”.

Pledge to continue paying any cleaner, childcare worker, or caregiver you employ who is no longer entering your home during this crisis. Join the campaign of Hand in Hand: The Domestic Employers Network to care for the workers who care for us.

Volunteering

Washtenaw organizations need volunteers to respond to the crisis. The United Way of Washtenaw County keeps a list of in-person and remote volunteer needs.

The State of Michigan is calling for crisis volunteers including heathcare professionals.

Community organizers are sought for contact tracing in Michigan. From Robert Gordon, Director of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services : “If you’re ready to use your cell phone to trace infections to their source, please volunteer”.

Giving

Donate to local organizations helping our neighbors who are hungry or don’t have shelter – list compiled by the Washtenaw County Office of Community and Economic Development

Donate to the COVID-19 Community Recovery Fund. Sponsored by the United Way of Washtenaw County, the fund will support the continuing waves of critical basic needs and will help provide financial navigation services, workforce support, and education to stabilize individuals and families. This is Phase II of the COVID-19 Community Relief Fund which has now met its one million dollar goal.

Give blood: The American Red Cross is urgently seeking blood donations. A free COVID-19 antibody test is available to all blood donors.

Give plasma: Recovered COVID-19 patients can donate convalescent plasma to the Red Cross to help save patients with serious or life-threatening COVID-19 infections.

Donate personal protective gear such as masks, disposable gloves, and sanitizers that are urgently needed for medical staff and patients in southeastern Michigan:

  • Michigan Medical (University of Michigan) is collecting protective gear (opened containers are accepted, but no homemade masks), and food donations for community members in need

If you know of any resources that we should add to this list, please email Betsy Duren at betsyd1@dakotacom.net. We’re seeking both crisis help for Washtenaw County residents, and local ways to take action.