Covid-19 resource list for immigrant women

Here are some resources we’ve compiled to help you navigate life in NYC during coronavirus, from food access and financial support to what you need to know and what to do while you’re stuck at home. Stay tuned for more updates on the blog

Allie Ginwala

COVID-19 GUIDANCE AND UPDATES
Find out what you need to know, and make sure it’s coming from a reliable source

For accurate and updated facts about what Coronavirus is, how to prevent the spread of the disease, and what to do if you are sick, stick to the main sources of reliable information like the CDC’s Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) information page and the WHO’s guidance on Coronavirus page. The NYC Health COVID-19 page has information and tips as well, plus links to other city sites.

The New York Immigration Coalition provided advice for folks who might be scared of getting tested or have a loved one get tested because of their immigration status. If you’re experiencing fever, cough, shortness of breath or other cold or flu-like symptoms and do not feel better after three to four days, seek medical help by calling 311 or NYC Health + Hospitals at 844-692-4692. They emphasize that “anyone who is low-income can get free COVID-19 testing, evaluation, and treatment in New York State, regardless of immigration status.” 

For accurate and updated information about COVID-19 in NYC, you can sign up for text alerts. Just text COVID to 692-692. The information ranges from where to get free meals to wellness services that are available to you. You can also call the New York State Department of Health’s coronavirus hotline at 1-888-364-3065. 

The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) page provided by NYC.gov is a good place to go for all things COVID-19 related in New York City. The site is updated frequently to include the latest information, such as the new guidance on face coverings. Even if you’re not showing symptoms, you could still spread COVID-19. Cover your nose and mouth when you go outside using a dust mask, scarf or bandana. 

NYC Health + Hospitals has a Coronavirus Patient & Visitor Policy (available in 14 languages) informing folks about updated visitation policies for hospitals.

When it comes to rumors and misinformation related to the Coronavirus pandemic, one of the best ways to make sure your information is correct is to check the source. Don’t trust messages circulating on social media about alternative treatments and prioritize fact-checked information, like the links included on this page. During this time, the New York Times is providing free access to their content about The Coronavirus Outbreak. All you have to do is create an account.  THE CITY, a non-profit news outlet covering New York City, is also covering all aspects of the pandemic. They’ve written an FAQ addressing any and all Coronavirus-in-NYC questions and also created a Coronavirus in New York City map that tracks the spread of COVID-19, now including a breakdown of positive cases by neighborhood. 

HEALTH & WELLBEING
Resources to help care for yourself and loved ones, plus some ways to enjoy life while social distancing

If you or a loved one are experiencing stress, anxiety or depression, talk, text or chat NYC Well. Just text WELL to 65173 or call 1-888-NYC-WELL. Mutual Aid groups have popped up across the city to help neighbors connect and safely help one another. NYC United Against Coronavirus offers a masterlist of sorts for those looking to find support near them or volunteer to help out. You can also search Mutual Aid NYC to find support in your neighborhood. 

If you’ve experienced anti-Asian or anti-immigration discrimination, you can report it to 311 or the New York State Hate Crimes Task Force hotline at 1-888-392-3644. NYC Hope has a Resource Directory where you can search for information about community-based organizations that work with survivors of domestic and gender-based violence. You can also call the NYC Domestic Violence Hotline 1-800-621-4673 (HOPE).

Immigrants Rising is hosting Virtual Wellness Gatherings for undocumented young people to help them stay connected to each other. The gatherings take place on Wednesdays and Sundays. 

Care for Your Coronavirus Anxiety with this resource that offers free meditations and has a list of questions and concerns answered by experts. For exercising, Down Dog is making on its apps – Down Dog, Yoga for Beginners, HIIT, Barre, and 7 Minute Workout –  free until May 1st. It is also offering free access until July 1st for all students and teachers (K-12 and college) and healthcare professionals. Besides its regular programming, the Youtube channel Yoga with Adrienne prepared a special list of yoga practices for these times of uncertainty.

NYC Department for the Aging Service In-Home Services works with case-management agencies to provide in-home care for people age 60 and older.  A case manager/social worker will do a phone assessment to coordinate services such as home-delivered meals, personal care, housekeeping, and counseling on long-term care issues.

NYC COVID Care Network is a volunteer group providing support specifically for essential workers and their families by offering virtual meetups.

For entertainment during the lockdown, The Met will be releasing a different encore presentation from the company’s Live in HD series for free on-demand streaming beginning at 7:30 p.m. Also, check out NY Phil Plays On to enjoy a collection of free digital content totaling more than 150 hours. Other cultural powerhouses in the city like Lincoln Center, MoMA, MET Museum and even Central Park, prepared online offerings to be enjoyed during this time. The Monterey Bay Aquarium Live cams provide a nice visual to mellow out with (see the Jelly Cam or Kelp Forest Cam) or you can go for a bit more action with the Penguin Cam and Sea Otter Cam. This Cabin Fever collection has hundreds of online experimental films and videos to explore while you’re stuck at home. 

FOOD
Where to find it, and what to do with it when you have some

NYC Department of Education is making three Free Meals available daily for all New Yorkers. You can pick up a meal at any of the 400 Meal Hubs across the city from 7:30 am to 1:30 pm, Monday through Friday. Vegetarian and halal options will be available at all sites and no registration or ID is required. Use the Get Food NYC map to find food pantries and Free Grab and Go meals near you. The city also has a list of COVID-19 Food Assistance Resources including food delivery assistance and ways you can donate food or cash to those in need. 

Find Food from Food Bank for NYC using their map to locate soup kitchens, food pantries, senior centers, and SNAP enrollment sites near you.

Hunter College NYC Food Policy Center made a Coronavirus NYC Neighborhood Food Resource Guide for each neighborhood. The guides include information about food access within the community, delivery services for people with disabilities, and resources for immigrants. 

Invisible Hands is a volunteer-based service where folks deliver groceries and supplies to the most at-risk members facing COVID-19.

If you need some inspiration for what to make with the items you have on hand, check out this Cook from the pantry guide to help you turn those pantry items you’ve had in your kitchen cabinets forever into a fun meal. Also, make the most of your produce by taking a look at Jerry James Stone’s guide to storing food and avoiding food waste on Twitter.

TRAVEL
Inside and outside of NYC

The MTA Essential Service for the Coronavirus Pandemic page has updated info about service, customer service facilities, and Paratransit Access-a-Ride service. You can also read about precautions the MTA is taking during the pandemic and what you can do to help.

The WHO has released a guide about Travel advice during the Coronavirus pandemic that includes recommendations for international travel and self-quarantine guidelines. 

EDUCATION & KIDS
Get the latest info about schools in NYC and tips for adapting children (and parents) to this new normal

Access to online resources for homeschooling/children activities is available from the NYC Department of Ed. The Coronavirus Update includes school closing updates and information about remote learning tools.

The New York Public Library has shared Remote Learning Resources: Kids & Teens & Remote Learning Resources for Educators . Kids and adults can enjoy virtual programming from Brooklyn Public Library. Check out the Events Calendar  for story times, writing groups, and more. MoMA has suggestions of art-making activities that families can do at home in both English and Spanish.

The New York Immigration Coalition COVID-19 Community Resources update states that the Department of Ed has 70 “Regional Enrichment Centers” and child care sites open across the city for children of healthcare, emergency services, transit workers, supermarket and pharmacy employees, REC and feeding staff, and other frontline workers, regardless of whether they go to public or private school. Children of other “essential” service workers may be allowed at these sites as space permits. They will be open from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. for children in 3-K up to 12th grade. Parents should fill out this survey to find out if they qualify for childcare at this time.”

For parents who’ve had to transition to working from home, here’s a list of ideas to help keep your kids engaged (and occupied) while you work. You can also check out this resource that includes links to 30 virtual field trips you can take with your kids, from the San Diego Zoo to Mars.

Even though you may be concerned yourself, it is important to model calmness when talking about the virus with children. Here are links on how to do that from Harvard Medical School and New York Times

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
Learn about unemployment, funds for workers, and small business support

You can file for Unemployment Insurance through the NYS Department of Labor. Due to a high demand, if you’re able to file online, do so by following the link on the website. If you’re filing a new unemployment insurance claim, file on the day that applies to the first letter of your last name (A – F file on Monday, G – N file on Tuesday, O – Z file on Wednesday). If you missed your day, you can also file on Thursday through Sunday. For the best way to file a claim, check out the step-by-step process. 

Make the Road NY has made available information about paid sick leave, including employee rights and how to find out if you’re covered. They created a one-sheeter with information from NYC Consumer Affairs. 

The U.S. Small Business Administration has a Coronavirus (COVID-19): Small Business Guidance & Loan Resources with information about the CARES Act, providing financial relief for workers and small businesses.

The city has launched the NYC Employee Retention Grant Program to help small businesses deal with the impact of COVID-19. Eligible businesses will receive a grant covering up to 40% of their payroll for two months.

The NYC Freeze Your Rent Program helps those eligible stay in affordable housing by freezing their rent. They’ve set up a dedicated FAQ page about the program and COVID-19. 

A Freelancers Relief Fund has been set up to support freelance workers impacted by COVID-19. The Fund offers financial assistance of up to $1,000 per freelance household to cover lost income and essential expenses not covered by government relief programs, including food, utilities and cash assistance to cover income loss. 

CoronaMetro is an exchange service to help redistribute metro cards from work from home folks to essential workers. Fill out the form and you’ll be matched with someone in your neighborhood. 

Service industry, freelance, gig, contract and part-time workers can request financial help from the grassroots #Solidarity4Service form. 

One Fair Wage Emergency Fund is providing cash assistance to restaurant workers, car service drivers, delivery workers, personal service workers, and other tipped workers and service workers who are seeing their income decline during the pandemic.

Citizens Committee for New York City compiled a list of Resources to Help With the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Crisis, available in English, Spanish and Chinese, that includes information about accessing financial resources. 

IMMIGRATION
Information and related resources

New York Immigration Coalition’s COVID-19 Community Resources has one pagers about NYC updates, testing and treatment, social service, education and more resources and information, available in English, Spanish, Arabic, Bengali, Korean, Chinese (Simplified), Haitian Creole, Russian.

The Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs published a list of Resources for Immigrant Communities During COVID-19 Pandemic including immigration and legal assistance, resources for supporting harassment or discrimination, and education and childcare.

Informed Immigrants has a resource toolkit for immigrants during this crisis. The New York specific content includes links to various departments and organizations with answers about food resources, paid sick leave, mutual aid and more.

The New York State Youth Leadership Council compiled a list of resources, particularly open to undocumented people, in NYC around COVID19 support efforts. 

A community resource about Knowing Your Rights During COVID-19 covers questions like the role of the national guard during a state of emergency, how ICE raids will be affected by COVID-19 and how to support someone arrested while sheltering in place.