Coronavirus in Pa. will leave people struggling for money, child care: How to get help

The spreading coronavirus has already sent the stock market tumbling, but it’s also likely to have an impact on people’s finances in a more direct manner.

Governor Tom Wolf has ordered the closing of all Pennsylvania schools for 10 days. He has asked that people throughout the state refrain from non-essential travel, and avoid entertainment venues, gyms, shopping malls and other gatherings of large groups of people.

For many, these steps may mean suffering a financial loss - be it from lost customers at their place of business, canceled shifts, difficulties finding child care, lack of sick leave or any number of similar factors.

Government assistance

Relief from state or federal sources may be one option. The Small Business Administration has announced an economic disaster relief loan program, where impacted businesses can apply for low-interest loans. For details, click here.

Members of Congress are also debating plans for federal assistance, such as the plan cited in this post shared by Representative Madeleine Dean of Pennsylvania:

There is also the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which is designed to supplement the food budget to help needy families with “food stamps.” The program was recently subjected to more stringent work requirements by the Trump administration, which will take effect on April 1.

“There is a resolution being considered in Congress right now that would extend SNAP benefits, food stamp benefits, for kids who might be home because their schools are locked down,” said Amy Hill of the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank. “Where kids usually get their breakfast and lunch from school, getting a few more dollars on their benefits card - little things like that could really make a big difference.”

It is hard to determine how long such assistance plans may take to be enacted, and what forms they may take. But in the meantime, there are several local agencies and organizations focused on assisting people during times of financial hardship.

Food pantries and meal centers

One such group is the aforementioned Central Pennsylvania Food Bank, which helps to coordinate and distribute food to local food pantries and meal centers.

“We are a good sort of place to start for people who are looking for assistance,” said Hill. Though her organization doesn’t deal directly with people in need, it coordinates with many food pantries throughout the area to make sure they are supplied, and can mobilize to assist directly when needed.

Though there are generally certain criteria to be met, Hill made clear that assistance from food pantries was open to anyone who needs help making ends meet.

“We don’t want anyone to go hungry," she said. "I think one of our fears in this situation is that, as business is disrupted, people who have a job or two jobs even, if their company shuts down and they don’t get the shifts, it may temporarily cause someone who is not food insecure to be facing food insecurity. We want to make sure that people know help will still be available for them, until things get resolved with all of this.”

To get that help, she said, it is important that people to reach out ahead of time to whichever food pantry is nearest to them. Many only operate on certain days, and nearly all require arrangements be made in advance.

“We would advise people that they need to call those places to find out what their schedules are, what their process is to receive some of that assistance,” Hill said. “The person can just explain over the phone what their income status is, and that would get them sort of pre-qualified for that sort of assistance.”

In addition to assistance for groceries, the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank also coordinates with meal centers or soup kitchens - “a place where someone can get a fully prepared hot meal, on site,” Hill said. She pointed out, though, that with the concerns of spreading the coronavirus among large groups, many such places may be changing the way they distribute meals to more of a take-out model.

Financial and employment resources

Keeping food on the table in the event of lost jobs or income is obviously a big concern, but there are others. Even when programs are in place to assist people who are struggling, navigating them can be difficult.

Organizations such as the United Way, New Hope Ministries and the Salvation Army can help, according to Eric Saunders, executive director of New Hope Ministries.

“We are best known as a local food pantry,” said Saunders. “Whether that’s a loaf of bread or fresh vegetables, or a full week’s supply of food, we’re there to make sure people get through the month. But beyond that, we help with basic needs like rent, mortgage assistance, we help with transportation needs, we help with heat and utilities, even medical care.”

If there is a need that the group doesn’t meet, Saunders said, then "we’ll get creative. We’ll try to find a way to either meet the need, or help them find someplace that can serve their need. We can’t do everything, but we do a lot.”

Among those additional resources, Saunders said, were programs such as the Pennsylvania Career Link, SNAP and WIC, the Women, Infants and Children special supplemental nutrition program. He said that staff and volunteers at New Hope Ministries can assist with financial council and navigating programs like county assistance, or even helping to negotiate or mediate with landlords, as well as help with job placement.

“We do nurse assistant training and things like that," he said. "We’re going to be -- because of our position as a work force program -- able to place some people who need some work into jobs right now.”

Saunders stressed that while his organization is a faith-based Christian mission, there are no requirements or expectations from anyone to take advantage of their services.

Child care, clothing and shelter assistance

The United Way of the Capital Region serves Cumberland, Dauphin and Perry counties, helping to connect those in need with resources that can help, particularly in areas of child care, health care and basic needs of food, clothing and shelter.

“Our focus is on helping individuals and families become financially self-sufficient, through access to health care, school readiness, work force development and basic needs,” said Raelynn Cox, vice president of communications and marketing at the United Way of the Capital Region.

The United Way acts as an intermediary to help people connect with the services they need, such as assistance navigating the health care and insurance system, guidance for application processes, and even providing translation services.

And with the sweeping changes to our society in the wake of the coronavirus, Cox said that certain groups are particularly likely to require assistance.

“We’re going to see our entire community impacted,” she said. “But certainly those families that fall into what we call ALICE.”

ALICE stands for “asset limited, income constrained, employed” - a demographic of people that comprises 37 percent of Pennsylvanians, according to Cox. These individuals and families are, she said, perhaps only one crisis away from going into “a state of peril, where they are not able to afford something that is really essential to the family.”

“Our focus is really about helping all families succeed,” Cox said. “That’s our goal with pooling our community together. These families that fall into the ALICE category are working very, very hard - often working multiple jobs. They’re part of the fabric of our community which helps us all be successful. Maybe it’s childcare or providing us transportation. When we can help another family or individual succeed, it helps lift up our entire community.”

Navigating the numerous systems of health insurance, county assistance, job applications or child care options can be daunting even in the best of circumstances. Add in food insecurity, unemployment or underemployment, or lack of other basic needs, and it can seem impossible.

So for help with any and all of those issues, the United Way helps to support a single phone service: 211.

“That is a local resource for non-emergency issues," Cox said. "That could be the connection if they need help with child care, or a basic need service for food, clothing and shelter. We’re continuing to promote that as we work with partners to develop other ways to support local people impacted.”

Calling 211 connects those who need assistance with a statewide referral service, available 24 hours a day and seven days a week.

“They have a whole database of local partnerships that can help make connections, based on your circumstances and geography,” Cox said.

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