COVID-19 Assistance Programs

A running list of COVID-19 assistance programs… 

We’re in this together.

Updated May 15, 2020

Unemployment Assistance paper application: For those having trouble completing the State’s unemployment process online (which seems to be just about everybody), there’s now a paper application. Access it here.

More options:

Mailed to your home: The City of Miami Beach will mail unemployment applications along with a prepaid return envelope directly to your home. Simply send your request to ResourceCenter@miamibeachfl.gov. Please allow a few days for the application to arrive.
 
Pick Up Option: Unemployment applications are available for pick up at 26 Miami-Dade Public Libraries. In Miami Beach, the Miami Beach Regional Library (227 22nd Street) and North Shore Library (7501 Collins Avenue) have unemployment applications. Completed applications can be dropped off in the libraries’ book drop off to be sent overnight to the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity.

FedEx is also printing applications and shipping them free. 
 
Print at home: Those with printers can access the paper application here and print from home.


SBA Paycheck Protection Program (PPP): The SBA will forgive loans if all employees are kept on the payroll for eight weeks and the money is used for payroll, rent, mortgage interest, or utilities. It is available through June 30, 2020. Any small business with less than 500 employees (including sole proprietorships, independent contractors and self-employed persons), private non-profit organization or 501(c)(3) veterans organizations affected by coronavirus/COVID-19 is eligible. For more information, click here. 

Business Damage Assessment Survey // SBA's Economic Injury Disaster Loan
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has activated a Business Damage Assessment survey to understand the impact of Coronavirus (COVID-19) on local businesses and determine appropriate relief programs. Surveys submitted by small businesses can be used to access the Small Business Administration’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan made available for COVID-19 through the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act. Click here for more info.

Florida Disaster Loans
These are short-term, interest-free working capital loans to "bridge the gap" between the time a major catastrophe hits and when a business secures longer term recovery resources either from "profits from a revived business, receipt of payments on insurance claims or federal disaster assistance." Applications being accepted through May 8. Click here.

The Save Small Business Fund: This fund is an initiative of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation. Funded by corporate and philanthropic partners, the Save Small Business Fund is a collective effort to provide $5,000 grants to as many small employers as it can. Criteria includes: Businesses that Employ between 3 and 20 people, are e located in an economically vulnerable community, and have been harmed financially by the COVID-19 pandemic. More info and applications here.

Another Round Another Rally: $500 relief grants for hospitality workers who lost their jobs or had their hours cut due to the COVID-19 outbreak. The site is also collecting donations from community members who want to help. Information here.

Oolite Arts Relief Fund: Up to $500 to cover lost income for visual artists who live in Miami-Dade County; compensation for the “cancellation of specific, scheduled employment (whether in the cultural sector or not) or a professional artistic opportunity, including commissions and exhibitions. Funding dispersed on a rolling basis, with applications accepted through April 16, 2020.

USBG National Charity Foundation
“Advancing the lifelong stability and wellbeing of service industry professional through education & charitable activities,” the USBG Foundation has initiated a COVID-19 Relief & Response effort. It includes a Bartender Emergency Assistance Program as well as options to donate and volunteer. Click here for more info.

United Way of Miami-Dade and the Miami Herald/el Nuevo Herald have launched the Miami Pandemic Response Fund to help families and small businesses impacted by the COVID-19 crisis. Support will include rent/mortgage assistance, food, medication, and utilities and issue micro-grants to small businesses. If you are able to give, United Way of Miami-Dade is taking donations through its Operation Helping Hands. If you need assistance, call the United Way’s 2-1-1 switchboard. (Note, the 1-866-211-9966 phone number going around on social media is for Indianapolis only. Call 2-1-1 to be connected to your local resources.)

Aid for Musicians
The Recording Academy and MusiCares COVID-19 Relief Fund. Donate or request relief here.

Sweet Relief Musicians Fund: Access info here.

Billboard's State by State Resource Guide can be found here.

New Music Solidarity Fund is here.

The Restaurant Workers Community Foundation has established a COVID19 Crisis Relief Fund to be distributed as follow: 50% for immediate, direct crisis relief assistance to individual restaurant workers; 25% for nonprofit organizations serving restaurant workers in crisis; and 25% for zero-interest loans for restaurants to get back up and running. Click here to donate or apply for relief.

The Miami Foundation’s Community Recovery Fund provides help to “Miami-Dade nonprofits whose operations are severely impacted and supports their long-term recovery, resilience and financial stability. The Miami Foundation has seeded the Fund with a $200,000 contribution.” Click here for details.

Feeding South Florida’s COVID-19 Response Fund will “provide food and services to all who need it.” Details here.

Meals for Heroes is a South Florida based non-profit providing dinners for hospital emergency rooms and ICUs, EMS and first responder teams, and COVID-19 mobile testing centers that are cooked and prepared by local restaurants and caterers. "When you donate, you're not just giving a frontline medical worker a hot meal, you're also putting a cook back to work." Click here to learn more and to donate.

Miami Diaper Bank needs donations to provide diapers and baby essentials to needy families throughout South Florida. COVID-19 is shrinking household incomes and increasing demand for its services… diapers are not covered by the food stamps or WIC programs. Click here for more information on how to help.

Center for Disaster Philanthropy’s COVID-19 Response Fund focuses on “supporting nonprofit organizations working directly to respond to the pandemic among the most vulnerable populations…” Click here for details.

The One Fair Wage Emergency Fund is supporting tipped workers and other service workers and delivery drivers. Details here.

SOBEWFF & FIU Chaplin School Hospitality Industry Relief Fund “to provide immediate financial support to independently owned and operated restaurants and bars impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic in Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties… The Fund will initially support the hundreds of restaurants and bars that have participated at SOBEWFF within the past five years” then open up to others as it continues to collect donations. More here.

Americans for the Arts has a resource page with a list of relief funds and financial assistance. 

Evictions 
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis suspended all foreclosures and evictions in the state for 45 days from April 2. The order is here. [Updated: The order has been extended to June 2.]

FPL is issuing a one-time bill decrease that will amount to nearly 25% for the typical residential customer bill. The company is using fuel savings to provide the decrease “in order to accelerate savings to customers amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, rather than the standard practice of spreading out savings over the remainder of the year." Details here.



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