This page offers practical resources to help you cope with disruptive hardships during the crisis phase of this pandemic and beyond. The occasional links to commercial websites are for information purposes only and not to promote any products or services. More community assistance may be found on https://covid19.sanantonio.gov/Assistance/Residents.
CoSA COVID-19 Emergency Housing Assistance Program
Approved by City Council on 4/23/2020, this new program provides eligible residents with rent, mortgage, utility and internet access assistance. In addition, cash funds are paid directly to residents for groceries, medicine and fuel in an amount not to exceed $300. Apply at https://www.sanantonio.gov/NHSD/Programs/FairHousing or call 311.
How to Apply for Unemployment
Workforce Solutions Alamo is your local navigator to unemployment resources. You can learn more about how to complete, submit, and confirm an Unemployment Insurance application online at the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) website.
To apply for Unemployment Benefits, check claim status, and general Unemployment information: ui.texasworkforce.org or call 1-800-939-6631 M-F 8-5
How to Apply for Unemployment Benefits Online
How to create a user ID and password
Video Tutorial: How to Apply for Texas Unemployment Benefits
Wondering how to change your payment information or file an appeal? Find the answers to these questions and more at the TWC website.
See more Covid-19 related jobs information at https://guides.mysapl.org/Unemployment and https://guides.mysapl.org/jsbc.
Protect Your Health at Work
Risk to US workers https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/covid-19/hazardrecognition.html#spread
Controlling exposures among workers with risk https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/covid-19/controlprevention.html
Concerned about health and safety on the job? Learn about your rights under OSHA law, and how to take action if you think something is wrong https://www.osha.gov/workers/index.html
Employees have a right to file a safety and health complaint or a whistleblower complaint. Here's how https://www.osha.gov/workers/file_complaint.html
Paid Leave under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/pandemic
Domestic Violence Protection
Family Violence Prevention Services offers emergency shelter and legal assistance. Crisis hotline 210-733-8810.
National Domestic Violence Hotline (800) 799-7233 is available 24/7 to talk confidentially with anyone experiencing domestic violence, seeking resources or information, or requesting assistance with unhealthy aspects of their relationship.
See also ChildSafe and other domestic violence resources.
Food Assistance
San Antonio Food Bank https://safoodbank.org/cvresponse/
Call 211, a free social service hotline that helps people find information about local resources in their community.
Education Assistance
Explore online courses and educational content for adults and K-12 students https://www.everyoneon.org/digital-learning
Region ESC-20 https://www.esc20.net/apps/news/
COVID-19 Remote Education Credit https://www.spectrum.net/support/internet/covid-19-internet-offer-students-msa/
Computer and Internet Access
Public computers are available for one-hour appointments at nine SAPL locations: Bazan, Carver, Collins Garden, Cortez, Johnston, Mission, Pan American, Schaefer, Westfall. See https://guides.mysapl.org/covid-19/how-to for more information or call 210-207-2500 M-F 9-5. Public Wi-Fi is freely available outside all SAPL locations (except Briscoe Portal and Pruitt Branch), daily from 7:30 a.m. -10:30 p.m.
Public computers, printing, scanning, faxing also available at BiblioTech, Bexar County's All-Digital Public Library, at three locations: South (3505 Pleasanton Rd, 210-631-0180), East (1203 N Walters St, 210-631-0230), West (2003 S Zarzamora St, 210-631-0190), M-F 9-5. To check out a hotspot or tablet, please call ahead to reserve the device.
Guide to low-cost Internet https://www.everyoneon.org/find-offers
From AT&T https://www.att.com/shop/internet/access/#!/
From Spectrum https://www.spectrum.com/browse/content/spectrum-internet-assist.html
Coronavirus Tax Relief and Economic Impact Payments
Tax deadline extended to July 15. More tax relief info https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus-tax-relief-and-economic-impact-payments
IRS has started sending payments to most Americans in April: What you need to know about payments
Managing Debt
The The National Consumer Law Center (NCLC) Digital Library has made one of their most popular works Surviving Debt available to all for free during the COVID-19 emergency https://library.nclc.org/node/184511
Also available to the public for free is Appendix G from NCLC's Collection Actions: a state-by-state summary of protections from judgment creditors https://library.nclc.org/ca/ag47
