2018 School Spending Survey Report
When No Public Means No Paycheck
When my library closed on March 17 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, I was told there would be no work for me until we reopened. I left work early that day so that I could go home and apply for unemployment before the website shut down at 6 p.m. I had received no information from my employer about my financial options in the wake of the closure, only a list of numbers to call for mental health services. I didn’t know what my options were other than applying for unemployment and hoping I would qualify. I am not alone.
When my library closed on March 17 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, I was told there would be no work for me until we reopened. I left work early that day so that I could go home and apply for unemployment before the website shut down at 6 p.m. I had received no information from my employer about my financial options in the wake of the closure, only a list of numbers to call for mental health services. I didn’t know what my options were other than applying for unemployment and hoping I would qualify.
I am not alone.
Unemployment is skyrocketing in the wake of COVID-19, and applications for unemployment benefits have increased by more than 33 percent in the past week, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. Historically, people eligible for unemployment benefits must be able to prove one of the following:
- They lost their job “through no fault of their own,” or;
- They quit their job for a “qualifying reason,” which may vary from state to state.
Furthermore, applicants must prove week to week that they are seeking new employment in order to receive payments.
Due to the massive uptick in COVID-19 related layoffs, however, state governments throughout the United States are expanding eligibility for unemployment benefits in a number of ways. California and Ohio have waived the requirement to be actively searching for a new job; New York and Minnesota have waived the “waiting week” period between filing for unemployment and when one can request benefits; Michigan has extended eligibility to workers who have “unexpected family care responsibility,” such as children at home during the day as a result of school closures.
I’m a librarian. I like making lists and sharing resources. So after I applied for unemployment, I started compiling a list of financial resources for myself and other out of work friends and coworkers.
So, from one librarian to so many others, whether you’re in financial need yourself or looking to make contributions, the following is an incomplete list of mutual aid and other financial resources available to you throughout the United States, many of which were sourced from It’s Going Down, a digital community center for anarchists and anticapitalists. If you have others to suggest, please add them in the comments!
NATIONWIDE
United Way Community Resources:
211 COVID-19 OR call 211 for information on how to get help in your area
COVID-19 Relief Fund for Military Veterans
Find Childcare and Childcare Assistance
Where to Find Financial Relief During Coronavirus COVID-19
What do I do if I lose my job-based health insurance?
How can I apply for food stamps?
How do I apply for Medicaid and CHIP?
ALABAMA
ARIZONA
Covid19 Mutual Aid Phoenix (#covid19mutualaidphx)
ARKANSAS
CALIFORNIA
California Childcare Resource and Referral
South Bay Mutual Aid Volunteer Intake
East Bay Disabled Folks COVID19 Support Request Form
San Francisco Disabled/Seniors COVID19 Support Request form
Contra Costa County - COVID19 Mutual Aid
COVID19 Monterey Peninsula Mutual Aid Project
Antelope Valley Mutual Aid form
San Diego (county-wide) COVID-19 Mutual Aid form
COVID Santa Cruz County Aid Fund
Shasta Regional Community COVID-19 Relief Fund
Covid 19 Mutual Aid Network - Los Angeles
COLORADO
The ShareHouse Community Food Center
CONNECTICUT
DC
DC Mutual Aid spreadsheet (check all tabs)
FLORIDA
GEORGIA
IOWA
Neighbors Helping Neighbors Des Moines
ILLINOIS
Brave Space Alliance - Covid19 Response
INDIANA
KENTUCKY
OneLouisville COVID-19 Response Fund
LOUISIANA
MARYLAND
Baltimore Mutual Aid and Emergency Relief Fund
MASSACHUSETTS
Boston Community Support Network
Mutual Aid Jamaica Plain & Roxbury
MICHIGAN
Grand Rapids Mutual Aid Spreadsheet
MINNESOTA
Twin Cities Queer and Trans Mutual Aid Fund
MISSOURI
MONTANA
NEBRASKA
NEVADA
NEW HAMPSHIRE
Seacoast Mutual Aid Spreadsheet
NEW JERSEY
NEW MEXICO
NEW YORK
NYC United Against Coronavirus
NORTH CAROLINA
Covid 19 Mutual Aid in Durham, NC
OHIO
OREGON
Lane county Mutual Aid Network - COVID19 response
PDX COVID-19 Mutual Aid Network
PENNSYLVANIA
Philly Mutual Aid - Neighbors Helping Neighbors
RHODE ISLAND
TENNESSEE
First Aid Collective of Knoxville
TEXAS
Covid 19 Resources for San Antonio Residents
UTAH
Covid19 Mutual Aid - Salt Lake Valley
VERMONT
Peace & Justice Center Vermont
VIRGINIA
Northern Virginia Supply Exchange
WASHINGTON
Employment Security Department of Washington State
COVID 19 Resources for Community
WISCONSIN
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Michael Golrick
The first link under Louisiana, properly belongs under Kentucky - Louisville and Louisiana are named for the same person, but are very different places.
Posted : Mar 31, 2020 07:36
Zoe Rath
Thanks for sharing these resources they will be very useful to Brockton residents. I'm so sorry you got laid off and hope you get rehired as soon as it is safe to be back at work.
Posted : Mar 30, 2020 11:02