Helping Friends in Need Access Coronavirus Assistance Programs

Tom Mulloy

National Director of Poverty Programs

National Council of the United States Society of St. Vincent de Paul

Opening Prayer

For all who have contracted coronavirus,

We pray for care and healing.

For those who are particularly vulnerable,

We pray for safety and protection.

For all who experience fear or anxiety,

We pray for peace of mind and spirit.

For affected families who are facing difficult

decisions between food on the table or public

safety,

We pray for policies that recognize their

plight.

For those who do not have adequate health

insurance,

We pray that no family will face financial

burdens alone.

For those who are afraid to access care due to

immigration status,

We pray for recognition of the God-given

dignity of all.

For our brothers and sisters around the world,

We pray for shared solidarity.

For public officials and decisionmakers,

We pray for wisdom and guidance.

Father, during this time may your Church be a

sign of hope, comfort and love to all.

Grant peace.

Grant comfort.

Grant healing.

Be with us, Lord.

Amen

Covid-19: A Prayer of Solidarity. United States Conference of Catholic Bishops: usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/prayers-and-devotions/prayers/covid-19-prayer-of-solidarity.cfm

National Council Coronavirus Response: svdpusa.org/COVID-19

Legislative Responses

March 6- HR 6074 Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act

March 18- HR 6201 Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA)

March 25- S 3548 Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act

National Council Coronavirus Response: svdpusa.org/COVID-19

Cash Assistance• Individuals receive $1,200/Married Couples $2,400/ Additional $500 per

child

• Benefits phase down at $75,000 individuals and $150,000 couples

• Benefit will go out as tax rebates and issued through Treasury Department direct deposit.

• Social Security beneficiaries--will use SSA-1099

• Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients? Veterans? Nonfilers and the unbanked?

Resources

IRS Economic Impact Payments home page

National Council Coronavirus Response: svdpusa.org/COVID-19

Unemployment Assistance• Additional 13 weeks of benefits (Pandemic Emergency Unemployment

Compensation)

• Expand eligibility to ‘gig’ workers and others left out for up to 39 weeks (Pandemic Unemployment Assistance)

• Additional $600/week for all UI beneficiaries (Pandemic Unemployment Compensation)

Find your state’s unemployment benefits

• Worksharing: 28 states have programs that reduce employee hours in lieu of layoffs. CARES provided $100 million to states.

Find out if your state has a program

Additional Resources

National Employment Law Project Summary

National Council Coronavirus Response: svdpusa.org/COVID-19

Hunger & Nutrition

• $15.5 billion for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

• $8.8 billion for low-income student meals while schools are closed

• $200 million for food assistance to Puerto Rico and other territories

• $450 million for food banks

USDA Food Finder

Feeding America

National Council Coronavirus Response: svdpusa.org/COVID-19

Housing

Homeowners

• Moratorium on mortgage foreclosures and related evictions

• Halts current foreclosure actions and evictions related to foreclosures

• Does NOT apply to rental evictions

• Is NOT a suspension of mortgage payments

• Encourage borrowers to contact lenders or, if appropriate, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac

• $900 million for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) to help households with utility assistance

Find your local LIHEAP program here

National Council Coronavirus Response: svdpusa.org/COVID-19

HousingRenters

• NO national guidance on renter protections or evictions.

National Low Income Housing Coalition list of foreclosure moratoriumsand other resources to help renters

Homeless and At-Risk

• $3 billion for low-income households currently assisted by Housing and Urban Development programs (including Section 8 voucher and public housing recipients, elderly and persons with disabilities, people with AIDS, and Native Americans).

• $5 billion for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program for states and local communities.

Find your state agency here.

• $4 billion for Emergency Solutions Grants to assist individuals and families who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.

Find your community provider here

National Council Coronavirus Response: svdpusa.org/COVID-19

Protecting Against Fraud & Abuse

• $50 million for Legal Aid Societies and other organizations that provide free and low-cost legal assistance and/or representation.

Find information for free legal aid in your community

• Wage Theft: US Department of Labor Wage and Hour Complaints

• Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has a comprehensive resource page for scams and predatory practices.

National Council Coronavirus Response: svdpusa.org/COVID-19

Especially Vulnerable Populations

• $45 million for programs that respond to family and domestic violence.

Find programs in your community here.

• Immigrants: National Immigration Law Center

National Council Coronavirus Response: svdpusa.org/COVID-19

State Advocacy

Fiscal Note (VoterVoice)

State Advocacy

“Coronavirus job losses for the past two weeks could match two years of the Great Recession’s job losses”

April 3, 2020 Economic Policy Institute

Stay Active and Stay Tuned!

Sign up for our Informational Bulletinsand Action Alerts

National Council Coronavirus Response: svdpusa.org/COVID-19

Stay Active and Stay Tuned!

Check out upcoming webinars everyThird Thursday at 3:00 PM ET

“Civility in a Time of Political Strife”Thursday, April 16 at 3:00 PM ET

Register Here!

Archive: svdpusa.org/members/Programs-Tools/Programs/Voice-of-the-Poor/What-Has-Been-Accomplished

Jack Murphy: jack.murphy@att.net

Tom Mulloy: tmulloy@svdpusa.org