UPDATED: Directory of Local Resource Pages in Response to COVID-19

[Lee Cruz]

Changes Log:  Suggestions, corrections or updates may be emailed here.

+ Updated New Haven Food Resources information

+ Hotline for Food insecure people who can't get out during this crisis under urgent needs

+ Direct link to food resources in Hamden

+ Face Mask making with and without sewing moved to Urgent Needs due to multiple Mayoral orders requiring the wearing of face mask in certain public situations.

+ Legal information resources page created by CT nonprofit legal assistance providers, includes link to help in multiple languages.

+ Information about cellphone company offers: source - CTLawHelp.org 

+ Clifford Beers Clinic Warm Line: New Haven residents may may call if they need help during the current public health crisis.

+ NH Schools announcement regarding change to the schedule of food distribution along with New Haven Public Schools page of resources and links.

+ added Clifford Beers tele-health phone number under Urgent Needs. They are accepting referrals focus on children\families in need of support. 

+ moved face mask and face shield making videos to the "How to" section.

+ new CDC guideline regarding use of face covering in public at all times

+ instructional video for making face mask, shield, sewing and non-sewing options.

+ Updated web page  to get most current information about Food Assistance Resources, includes form for agencies to submit or update their program info.

+ added link to Perrin Foundation - resources page for youth, community organizing, communications and more.  

+ How to Prevent "Zoombombing" the ruining of your ZOOM meeting.

+ New Haven and Regional Artist and Arts Resources. How to apply and how to donate.

+ multiple language links for people who are having a hard time understanding English language communications. 

+  Connecticut Food Systems Alliance - Statewide information about food \food system during the pandemic.

+ changed Regional organizations to State and Regional organizations and added.

+ Online crowd sourcing\brainstorming spreadsheet for ideas for help arts and community groups move their event(s) live online.

+ link to YouTube videos: How to participate in a ZOOM meeting.

+ link to YouTube Video: How to host a ZOOM meeting.

+ 14 local government sites for access to local information.

- added link to sign up for alerts, State of Connecticut.

+ mutual aid link: Arabic.

+ section for web-based information by kind neighbors.

+ link to the Spanish version of Clifford Beers Clinic Resources for families and children.

+ Mental Health and Addiction Services resource page: Continuum of Care.  

+ recommendation: sign up for calls, email of text alerts from your local government.

Remember to call any place you need to go before leaving home. 

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Urgent Needs

• Food, shelter, and other Needs statewide: https://www.211ct.org/ OR call 211
• Local Area Food: This listed is updated weekly. Note the tabs on the upper left allow you to see separate pages for soup kitchens, food pantries or client-specific needs programs. Agencies may also submit or update information about their progam through this page:   https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vSLwQq7WlM0po27dnv3... . For the same information in Spanish click on español at the top of the linked page.
• Food Hotline for food insecure people who can't get out during this crisis: 888-910-2960.
• Domestic Violence: 1-800-799-7233 with support in more than 200 languages. Free and confidential.
• Child & Family Support: Clifford Beers Clinic tele-health line is up is accepting families in need of support: 203-772-1270. Clifford Beers Clinic Warm line listed under New Haven.
• Mental Health and Addiction Services: http://www.continuumct.org/coronavirus
• Suicide Prevention: 1-800-273-8255
• Legal Information about court access, work, benefits, housing, and more during the COVID-19 crisis: www.ctlawhelp.org/coronavirus. CTLawHelp.org was created by several nonprofit legal aid organizations whose shared mission is to improve the lives of Connecticut residents by providing free legal help to people with very low income. Help on this page is available in: Español  •  Polski  •  Português  •  中文资讯  •  العربية  •  русском языке  •  한국어 
  • Cellphone Company support: Source - CTLawHelp.org

    Assurance Wireless (Virgin Moblile’s version of Safelink) is giving all of their customers unlimited minutes and texts from now through 5/20 as well as 6 GB of data for free.

    TracFone/Straighttalk (Walmart's minute plan): Partnering with Safelink Wireless to enroll clients in free minutes, assistance with bill pay, waiving reactivation fees, setting clients up with data and texting packages. Can visit safelinkwireless.com/enrollment of contact 1800 723 3546 for details.

    Verizon: suspending late fees/re-connection fees, bill assistance, and getting extra minutes with proof of poverty, unemployment due to COVID. Best way is to apply online through the account. We could probably help clients do this!

    AT&T: free/reduced cost wifi/hotspots through your phone, unlimited data for all existing clients, and providing services at $10 per month for families with no income, low income, or financial strain due to COVID. Will extend the $10 per month plan after COVID crisis. Online is the most officiant way to apply due to the high number of callers (per info on website).

    Cricket: dial 611 to enroll in any COVID relief programs. Waiving re-connection fees, and all service fees on payments. Can use Bridge Pay to pay current bills in future months, over a longer period of time, and/or smaller payments per billing cycle. Includes minute plans. To call 611 you must call off of the Cricket issued phone, if someone else is calling for the client the number is 1 800 274 2538.
• Face mask without sewing: https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=511791376164596&id=...
• Do it Yourself face mask:  https://www.popsci.com/story/diy/make-diy-face-masks/
• Instructional video for people with sewing experience:   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BnhePGv0gmQ&list=PLFmfBXEzoOPXznkrI9VzJUTqVxYYPNMkM&index=3

Please suggest other services in the comments below or via email and we will add them.

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As the situation with COVID-19 escalates the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is now recommending face mask or face covering when you are in any public space. Following the instructional videos below you can make mask for yourself then share the videos with a friend. Remember to sterilize you mask before every use, including the first use. You can do this by placing the mask in boiling water for at least 10mins. Allow  the mask to dry completely, if possible in sunlight. Also do not forget to cover the rest of you face. The second video below shows how to make a basic face shield. Cloth masks do not protect you from COVID-19,  they reduce your likelihood of spreading COVID-19 if you have it. Wearing a mask is done in addition to, not in substitution of social distancing.

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Local Government COVID-19 Info and other Information: It is highly recommended that you sign up for alerts from your city or town (call, email or text) to get the latest local information if your local government is not providing this service get information from the State of Connecticut. 

• New Haven: https://covid19.newhavenct.gov/
  • Arts and Artist Resources: Department of Cultural affairs in partnership with The Arts Council of Greater New Haven launched a new haven creative sector relief fund for low income artists and small arts organizations. For eligibility and to apply:  https://lnkd.in/exNpybf. To donate: https://lnkd.in/eV6tysy
  • Food Resources during COVID-19: https://covid19.newhavenct.gov/pages/food. This site will be updated as additional food resources become available. Please check back regularly.
  • New Haven Public Schools: Resources and mails: https://www.nhps.net/coronavirus

  • Clifford Beers Clinic “warm line” is a place to call if you need information about the current public health crisis, if you need food or if you need to talk to someone. The line is open from 9am to 7pm Monday through Thursday, 9am to 6pm Fridays. [phone].

• Ansonia: https://www.cityofansonia.com/news/?FeedID=865
• Bethany: http://bethany-ct.com/
• Branford: https://www.branford-ct.gov/community/covid19-community-updates
• Cheshire: https://www.cheshirect.org/
• East Haven: https://www.townofeasthavenct.org/covid-19
• Guilford: http://www.ci.guilford.ct.us/coronavirus-information-updates/
• Hamden: http://hamden.com/695/Hamden-Coronavirus-Information-Center
  • Free Meal Sites: http://hamden.com/704/Free-Meal-Sites-in-Hamden
• Madison: https://www.madisonct.org/CivicAlerts
• Milford: https://www.ci.milford.ct.us/2019-novel-coronavirus-covid-19
• North Branford: http://www.townofnorthbranfordct.com/
• North Haven: http://www.town.north-haven.ct.us/alertupdate.php
• Orange: https://www.orange-ct.gov/
• Oxford: https://www.oxford-ct.gov/home/urgent-alerts/town-of-oxford-covid-1...
• Seymour: http://www.seymourct.org/ 
• Shelton: http://cityofshelton.org/
• West Haven https://www.cityofwesthaven.com/332/Coronavirus-Disease-2019-COVID-19
• Woodbridge: https://www.woodbridgect.org/

Add other local government sites including city/town specific resources from our region in the comment section below or email them and we will update this section.  

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Facebook Mutual Aid Groups 

• New Haven Area Mutual Aid: https://www.facebook.com/groups/639466263512268
• Apoyo Mutuo New Haven (Spanish): https://www.facebook.com/groups/apoyo.mutuo.new.haven
• Mutual Aid in Arabic:  المساعدة المتبادلة في ووتربيري، بريدجبورت، نيو هافن

If you are aware of other mutual aid groups, especially those communicating in other languages, please list them in the comments below and we will update this section.

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Regional and State Organizations

• Agency on Aging of South Central CT: https://www.aoascc.org/news/coronavirus-where-to-go-for-information/ 
• Clifford Beers Clinic (for Families with Children):  https://www.cliffordbeers.org/covid-19-resources. En espanol: https://www.cliffordbeers.org/covid-19-en-espanol
• The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven: Response and Resources Page for COVID-19
• Connecticut Food Systems Alliance: Resources regarding the spread and containment of COVID-19 as it relates to food access and the food supply in CT: https://ctfoodsystemalliance.com/coronavirus-food-and-connecticut/?... 
• Perrin Foundation: Resources for youth serving, community organizing, communications and more:   https://docs.google.com/document/d/1DebcMaXLhU4_1K7DepaE2G3DyrRl2eW...
• United Way of Greater New Haven
  • Individual and Family needs: https://uwgnh.org/community-resources/
  • Volunteering: https://uwgnh.org/volunteer-needs/

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State Portals 

• Connecticut: https://portal.ct.gov/coronavirus
• New York: https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/home

Please suggest other statewide portals that should be listed in the comments section below.

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Your Kind Neighbors:

• New Haven Relief Resources: https://newhavenreliefresources.com/

• 10 Selden Board of Directors: online brainstorming document - anyone can submit their ideas to help arts and community groups move their events live online. Remember in brainstorming there are no bad ideas so put them all down!

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Useful "How to" links:

• Face Mask Making: Moved up to urgent needs because of the number of recent Mayoral Orders requiring the wearing of face mask in certain public settings.
• Basic face shield:  https://www.facebook.com/100003209936388/posts/2779089395541364/ 

• So many meetings are happening on ZOOM. Here is a simple 1 minute video explaining how to join a zoom meeting that you can use or if you are running a meeting you can send to other ahead of time to encourage them to participate: https://youtu.be/hIkCmbvAHQQ.
• If you need to run a ZOOM meeting here is a 15 min. video on how to do this: https://youtu.be/fMUxzrgZvZQ
• How to Prevent "Zoombombing" the ruining of your ZOOM meeting:  https://www.adl.org/blog/how-to-prevent-zoombombing?fbclid=IwAR3zuL...

Do you have a neighbor who speaks limited English or is Deaf? Thanks to Western New York State Occupational Safety and Health below is  information on the response to coronavirus (COVID-19), and what workers can do to protect themselves, their coworkers and families. Not everything will be relevant but there is good information here for people having a hard time understanding English.

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[Dan Camenga]

I can attest to this site's efficiency and ability to recruit new volunteers.  Since listing with them, we have gotten over 20 new helpers, and the organizers are extremely responsive and helpful.  Two thumbs up!

[Continuum of Care, Inc.]

Awesome directory Lee! Would you mind adding Continuum of Care, Inc's Coronavirus Resource Page?

http://www.continuumct.org/coronavirus

Done.