Food, Clothing & Other Basic Needs:
- Austin Independent School District is providing breakfast and lunch for students under the age of 19, Mondays through Fridays while schools are closed. Bus drivers will deliver meals to 54 community locations between 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Curbside meals will also be available for pickup from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 16 school sites. More information and pickup locations can be found here
- The Society of St. Vincent de Paul’s food pantry at the Vincentian Family Center is distributing meals Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon at 901 West Braker Lane.
- Feeding Texas has a website where people can find 21 member food banks that can provide free groceries and a place to sign up for SNAP benefits.
- The Meals on Wheels Texas website allows Texans to search for local Meals on Wheels chapters that are providing meals to elderly individuals that can be picked up or home delivered.
- The Texas Education Agency launched the Texas Students MealFinder Map with a list of local education agency facilities serving meals in their communities.
- Austin Baptist Chapel 908 East Cesar Chavez Austin, Texas 78702 512-474-2666 Lunch is served 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m., every day except Christmas and Thanksgiving. Provides lunch for anyone in need.
- City of Austin Health and Human Services Department
- Montopolis Neighborhood Center 1416 Montopolis Dr. Austin, Texas 78741 512-972-5710 Center hours by phone or walk-in: Tuesday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, clients with appointments are seen at the East Austin Community Center. Provides an emergency food pantry, clothing closet, and food distribution programs such as HOPE and Fresh Foods for Families.
- St. John Neighborhood Center 7500 Blessing Ave Austin, Texas 78752 512-972-5159 Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Provides a food pantry and carries baby formula. Provides a clothing closet and blankets for people with low income. Provides limited transportation for medical or employment needs.
- South Austin Neighborhood Center 2508 Durwood Ave. Austin, Texas 78704 512-972-6840 Neighborhood Center Hours: Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Closed 2nd Wednesday of month, 2:30 p.m.-5 p.m. Provides a food pantry, clothing closet, and case management services, including employment support. Provides information and referral to community services, assistance with paperwork completion, home visits, crisis intervention, brief counseling, and childhood lead information.
- Holy Cross Catholic Church Society of St. Vincent de Paul 1610 East 11th Street Austin, Texas 78702 512-472-7210 Tuesday, Thursday, 9 a.m.-11:30 a.m. Provides emergency financial assistance with rent and utilities (gas, water, electricity).Provides vouchers for clothing, food, and furniture to be used at the St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store.
- Lake Travis Crisis Ministries 107 South RR 620 Suite 112 Austin, Texas 78734 512-266-9810 Wednesday, 5:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. Thursday, 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Provides limited financial assistance for rent, mortgage, utilities (electric, water, and gas), gasoline, eyeglasses, long-distance bus tickets, and the cost of a GED test.
- Diapers & Period Supplies: Texas Diaper Bank is sending diapers to babies, seniors and others who need them. They also provide Period Supplies for women.
- Intellihelp: A Facebook Group for individuals to provide Amazon Wishlists that anonymous donors can purchase basic needs for individuals affected by COVID: https://www.facebook.com/groups/Intellihelp/
Financial
- Small Businesses & Non-profits: Small businesses and nonprofits hurt by the pandemic can now apply for emergency loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration. The loans became available in Texas after the state received a federal disaster declaration over the coronavirus.
- Service Industry: The nonprofit Southern Smoke is offering charitable assistance to those who’ve lost their jobs in the service industry. https://form.southernsmoke.org/smoke/application/
- Artists: The Artists Emergency Relief Fund allows artists to apply for up to $500 to replace lost income due to event or project cancellations. Applications will be reviewed every day on an ongoing basis.
- Bartenders: USBG National Charity Foundation has grants for bartenders and their immediate family members who have been affected by COVID. Application is found here: https://www.usbgfoundation.org/beap
- Find Help: a website dedicated to finding resources for those affected by COVID:
- University of Texas Students: The University’s Student Emergency Support fund provides financial resources for students affected by COVID. The University was just granted federal aid to provide for more funding for students. Application is found here.
- Caritas of Austin 611 Neches Street Austin, Texas 78701 512-472-4135 Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, 8 a.m.-4:45 p.m. Tuesday, 8 a.m.-6:45 p.m. Friday, 8: a.m.-11:45 a.m. Provides financial assistance with rent for eligible people who have lived in their housing for a minimum of 30 days. Assistance with current month only.
- Greater Mt. Zion Church Community Assistance Center, 1809 Pennsylvania Avenue Austin, Texas 78702 512-469-9020 Must Schedule an Appointment. Tuesday, Thursday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Provides limited financial assistance with rent, water, gas, and past due electric bills. Also assists with single-use bus passes on a case by case basis.
- Holy Cross Catholic Church Society of St. Vincent de Paul 1610 East 11th Street Austin, Texas 78702 512-472-7210 Tuesday, Thursday, 9 a.m.-11:30 a.m. Provides emergency financial assistance with rent and utilities (gas, water, electricity).Provides vouchers for clothing, food, and furniture to be used at the St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store.
- Lake Travis Crisis Ministries 107 South RR 620 Suite 112 Austin, Texas 78734 512-266-9810 Wednesday, 5:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. Thursday, 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Provides limited financial assistance for rent, mortgage, utilities (electric, water, and gas), gasoline, eyeglasses, long-distance bus tickets, and the cost of a GED test.
- Car Insurance support: Several auto insurance companies are providing discounts to families due to COVID and reduction in driving. Details of several insurance companies are found here.
- Student Loans: The CARES act allows for those with student loans to defer payments without penalty or interest. More information can be found here.
- Childcare assistance for essential employees https://frontlinechildcare.texas.gov
Some Businesses have opened temporary job positions.
- HEB, Whole Foods and Randalls
- Capital Metro
- Amazon
- More current job postings can be found at Austin Chamber of Commerce.
General Resources
- Texans can call 2-1-1 and select option 6 for questions about symptoms, travel concerns, unemployment insurance, emergency food assistance, city and state orders, and more. Various counties across Texas also have websites with public health information and local hotlines for COVID-19 questions and virtual screenings.
- Aunt Bertha is a nationwide website with a searchable index of a variety of free support services, such as food banks and health care. Texans can search for services in their area by typing in their ZIP code.
- Charter Communications is offering free Spectrum broadband and Wi-Fi access for 60 days to households with K-12 and/or college students who don’t already have a Spectrum broadband subscription. To enroll, call 1-844-488-8395. Installation fees will be waived for new student households
- Comcast is providing free Xfinity Wi-Fi hotspots around the nation. People can find hotspots here and then select the “xfinitywifi” network. Charter Communications is also announced it would providing free Wi-Fi hotspots and broadband to students without a subscription for 60 days starting March 16. Students can enroll by calling 844-488-8395.
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