COVID-19 Resources
COVID-19 Updates
To get the latest information and health updates on COVID-19
- https://coronavirus.maryland.gov/
- https://governor.maryland.gov/coronavirus/
- https://montgomerycountymd.gov/hhs/rightnav/coronavirus.html
Direct Government Financial Assistance to Families
The CARES Act, passed by the U.S. Congress provides:
- Grants of $1,200 per taxpayer, limited to net income tax liability;
- Grants of $500 per child;
- Grants to taxpayers with no income tax liability; and
- Grants are not available to nonresident aliens, dependents, and estates or trusts. For more information visit: https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus
Other Financial Assistance
If you or someone you know needs emergency assistance, please contact 2-1-1. It is a free service to connect individuals and families to both government agencies and nonprofits that can help in their local communities 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Essential Businesses and Employees
The decision about whether a business is or is not lawfully essential is made exclusively by Governor Hogan. His office has provided us with guidance to help businesses make that determination. If you have additional questions pertaining to this guidance or believe your business should be considered essential, please email psector@maryland.gov. This email is monitored by the Maryland Emergency Management Team.
Child care centers have been ordered closed, except for those serving essential personnel. Essential personnel can find help locating childcare by calling 1.877.261.0060. Here is a list of essential personnel who remain eligible for child care.
**In-home employees providing care for children, the elderly, or people with disabilities are considered essential.
Food Assistance for Families
Manna Food Center is temporarily waiving income requirements to provide food to any Montgomery County resident impacted by the COVID-19 crisis. Residents are encouraged to contact Manna as soon as possible to begin receiving food through regular distribution channels. To receive food, call Manna’s main office Monday through Friday, 8:00am-4:00pm at (301) 424-1130. Click here for more info.
The Montgomery County Food Council’s Online Food Assistance Resource Directory includes information on the location, hours, and eligibility guidelines of more than 100 sites where residents can access food and benefits application assistance.
Food Assistance for MCPS Students
All children may come to any of the food distribution locations to receive a nutritious meal. No appointment is necessary. Meals will be provided in a Grab-and-Go format and will be available Monday through Friday from 11:00am – 1:00pm unless otherwise specified. Backpacks of food for the weekend are also provided. For more details, click here.
Health Care for Uninsured Marylanders
Maryland Health Connection has a new health care enrollment period for uninsured Marylanders. Enrollment began Monday, March 16th and will go through June 15th. Click here for an application. Call 855-642-8572 if you need assistance while enrolling.
Mortgage/Rent/Utilities Assistance
If your ability to pay your mortgage is affected due to the coronavirus pandemic and your loan is owned by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac, you may be eligible to delay making your monthly mortgage payments for a temporary period, during which you won’t incur late fees, won’t have delinquencies reported to the credit bureaus; and foreclosure and other legal proceedings will be suspended.
Property owners who hold non-federally backed mortgages may be similarly covered by their lenders, primarily major banks. Contact your mortgage servicer (the company where you send your monthly payments) as soon as possible to let them know about your current circumstances. The telephone number and mailing address of your mortgage servicer should be listed on your monthly mortgage statement. For more details, see the Federal Housing Finance Agency website.
The Governor, by executive order, has suspended evictions and termination of utilities during the crisis. Please contact your landlord and utility company directly for information.
Mental Health Services
If you, or someone you know, is experiencing a mental health crisis there are 24-hour crisis hotlines in place to connect you to the resources you need.
Maryland Helpline — 1-800-422-0009 State-wide 24-hour crisis intervention and referral hotline for suicide, family and relationship problems, shelter needs, violent or threatening domestic situations, loneliness, depression, chemical dependency issues, and others.
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline — 1-800-273-8255 The Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals.
EveryMind, a local nonprofit that provides mental health services, has a free call or text line 301-738-2255. You can also chat with someone online.
Montgomery County Public Schools
MCPS is providing laptops to students with a need to ensure they can access instructions from home. Devices are in limited supply and are reserved for students who do not have access to a computer or laptop at home. For more info: https://montgomeryschoolsmd.org/coronavirus/chromebooks.aspx
Free WiFi information: Xfinity WiFi hotspots located in businesses and outdoor locations across the country are available to anyone for free – including non-Xfinity Internet subscribers. Comcast is also offering their Internet Essentials package for free for 60 days.
Check the MCPS website for updates on continuity of learning.
Montgomery County Council Assistance
The County Council passed emergency legislation to provide support to local employers and vulnerable residents. The legislation will provide grants up to $75,000 for businesses and nonprofits with 100 or fewer full-time-equivalent employees that can demonstrate financial losses caused by the emergency. Grant funding must be used for employee wages and benefits, taxes, debt, rent or other operating losses during the public health emergency. It will also provide teleworking micro grants up to $2,500 for local businesses and nonprofits to purchase equipment and technology to support teleworking capabilities during the COVID-19 emergency. Visit the County Council website for more information.
Additionally, the County appropriated $5 million for financial assistance to residents and $1 million to support safety net programs designed to assist vulnerable populations.
Senior Services
Click here for Information for vulnerable populations.
The Senior Call Check program is a free service in Maryland that provides a regularly scheduled call to verify the well-being of those 65 years and older. Call 1-866-50-CHECK or register online.
Food Assistance:
- Senior Connection Shoppers Program: Grocery assistance for senior residents
- The Villages Programs are found at various locations throughout the County, and are offering grocery assistance and other volunteer support to our senior community.
- Prepared Meals are also available for grab-and-go at Senior Congregate Meal Sites for enrolled participants each Wednesday. Local Site: Holiday Park Senior Center 3950 Ferrara Drive, Silver Spring, 20906. 240-777-4999
- Meals on Wheels – Homebound residents may be eligible for home delivered meals. For information and referrals call 240.777.3810
Small Business Support
For Profit Business Emergency Relief Loan Fund: This $75 million loan fund (for for-profit businesses only) offers no interest or principal payments due for the first 12 months, then converts to a 36-month term loan of principal and interest payments, with an interest rate at 2% per annum. LEARN MORE
Business and Non-Profit Emergency Relief Grant Fund: This $50 million grant program for businesses and nonprofits offers grant amounts up to $10,000, not to exceed 3 months of demonstrated cash operating expenses for the first quarter of 2020. LEARN MORE
Emergency Relief Manufacturing Fund: This $5 million incentive program helps Maryland manufacturers to produce personal protective equipment (PPE) that is urgently needed by hospitals and health-care workers across the country. LEARN MORE
Small Business Administration (SBA) Disaster Loan Assistance: SBA.gov/Disaster
- To be connected to a financial mentor to assist you in applying for SBA assistance, visit SCORE.
- To be connected to a local small business development center for additional resources, visit the Maryland Small Business Development Center.
Restaurant Assistance: Restaurants should work with the Maryland Business Express to learn how to apply for SBA loans. For more information, visit Maryland State’s resource page.
NFIB RESOURCES
NFIB’s latest webinar on the CARES Act stimulus plan is available here: NFIB Coronavirus Part III: Financial Resources and Updates for Small Business
NFIB webpage on the Paycheck Protection Program – the centerpiece of the CARES Act. It includes a side-by-side graphic detailing the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program and the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). There are also links to the applications.
NFIB’s Guide to New Federal Lending Options
Small business owners are eligible for a grant up to $10,000 through the SBA’s EIDL program NOW. This money will be disbursed within 3 days of applying. Applicants for the PPP loan may begin to apply on Friday, April 3.
Unemployment Benefits
To apply for unemployment benefits visit the Maryland Department of Labor Division of Unemployment Insurance website.
The Division of Unemployment Insurance has call center hours from 7:30am -6:00 pm at 410-949-0022 or reached by email at ui.inquiry@maryland.gov.
There is currently an exemption from the weekly work search requirement for unemployment insurance. Maryland does NOT have a waiting period to apply for unemployment insurance. You are eligible for benefits if you are temporarily out of work or quarantined due to COVID-19.
The CARES Act creates a tandem Unemployment Assistance program through December 31, 2020 to provide unemployment benefits to workers not typically eligible including self-employed, independent contractors, and those without a long work history who face unemployment as a result of the Coronavirus health emergency. Those receiving unemployment insurance or Pandemic Unemployment Assistance will receive an additional $600 per week for up to four months. An additional 13 weeks of unemployment benefits through December 31, 2020 will be available to those who remain unemployed after their state unemployment benefits end.
General Assembly Assistance
The General Assembly took the following actions before adjourning:
- HB 1661/SB 1079 allows the government to access $50 million from our rainy day fund to pay for the state responses.
- HB 1663/SB 1080 is an emergency bill to provide job protection to anyone who is under isolation or quarantine regardless of employer size, ensures that costs for testing and any future vaccines are covered for consumers and prohibits price gouging on items like food, water and medical supplies. It also expands unemployment insurance to cover workers who need to be quarantined or need to care for an infected family member or whose employer shuts down due to the emergency.
- HB 448: Healthcare Practitioner – Telehealth, an emergency bill allowing healthcare providers to use telemedicine technology in more flexible ways and allows the use of telehealth by a wider variety of practitioners.
WAYS TO HELP
This Washington Post article has links to many organizations that can use your help.
There are many non-profit organizations that are working diligently to support members of our community during this tumultuous time. These organizations and many others are taking donations in order to continue their much needed work:
Montgomery County Coalition for the Homeless
Support for Hospitals:
Hospitals are welcoming the community’s support in responding to the COVID-19 crisis. They are asking for donations of personal protective equipment (PPE) and other medical supplies, as well as monetary contributions. Hospitals in our area looking for assistance include:
- Suburban Hospital: accepting supplies and gifts
- Adventist Healthcare: accepting supplies and gifts
- Sibley Memorial: accepting supplies and gifts
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*This document was compiled by members of the Montgomery County State Delegation and is up to date as of April 1, 2020. Please note that as the situation evolves this information will be updated as soon as possible**