RESIDENTS

ECONOMIC IMPACT PAYMENTS

IRS has deposited into individuals account a one-time payment during the week of 4/13/2020. For individuals that did not have bank account information on file with the IRS, checks are being mailed. If you want to check on the status of your payment, click here https://sa.www4.irs.gov/irfof-wmsp/notice

COVID-19 SCREENINGS

Governor Brian Kemp Secured Access to Augusta University Virtual Screening
Fulton County COVID Hotline has new EXTENDED HOURS of operation.  All Fulton County residents can call (404) 613-8150 with questions about coronavirus or to schedule an appointment fo free testing.  You will first need to be screened and second, receive a doctor’s order with a Person Under Investigation (PUI) number.  This is the only way to be able to gain access to testing is with a PUI Number.
https://www.augustahealth.org/expresscare/covid-19-virtual-screening

Walgreens Drive-Thru Rapid COVID-19 Testing Site in North Fulton Opening
The site is located 11855 Jones Bridge Road in Johns Creek on the Alpharetta border.   Testing will be conducted outdoors where Walgreens pharmacists will oversee patients’ self-administration of the COVID-19 test, using Abbott’s ID NOW COVID-19 test. Testing at this location is available by appointment only, and only to individuals who meet eligibility criteria established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In order to receive a test, individuals must first complete an online health assessment to determine eligibility available at Walgreens.com/coronavirus.
Testing will be available at no cost to eligible individuals who meet CDC criteria.
All drive-thru testing is being conducted outside and patients are instructed to not leave their vehicles.
The testing site will be open seven days a week, by appointment only, 9 AM to 5 PM.

RENT

Worried about paying rent today? What states are doing, and not doing, to help
With millions of rent payments due on April 1, some states have issued eviction moratoriums. Meanwhile, landlords are worried about their future.
Read in USA TODAY: https://apple.news/AiJ_yUFtpS_q9KY7Disakjg

UTILITY ASSISTANCE

• Georgia Power suspends utility shut offs for 30 days
• Atlanta Gas Light offers resources
• Comcast offers free internet for low-income households, enables free Xfinity wifi hot spots around the county and has no disconnections or late fees for 60 days.
• AT&T is not terminating any wireless, home phone or broadband service, is waiving late payment fees, removing data caps and is keeping wifi hotspots open for free. Full details available here.
• Charter Spectrum – no disconnects or late fees https://www.spectrum.com/
• Cobb EMC https://cobbemc.com/
• Sawnee EMC https://www.sawnee.com/

FOOD ASSISTANCE

• Fulton County Schools Students – https://www.fultonschools.org/
• Cherokee County Schools Students – https://www.cherokeek12.net/
• SNAP/Food Stamps – https://dfcs.georgia.gov/food-stamps
• Women, Infants & Children SNP – https://dph.georgia.gov/WIC
• North Fulton Community Charities – https://nfcchelp.org
• Cherokee Services –https://www.needhelppayingbills.com/html/cherokee_county_food_pantries.html
• The Giving Kitchen. Offering financial help to food service workers in crisis due to an unexpected illness, injury, death of an immediate family member or housing disaster in Georgia.
• Meals on Wheels. Delivers meals to seniors.
• Aunt Bertha. Find food pantries, housing assistance and cash assistance programs in Georgia.
• Student Meal Pick-Up Information by School District – Many Georgia families will be able to pick up school meals for their children during state-mandated closures. This a list of how each school district is handling meal pick-up procedures. If you are a school district and your information is not listed or has been updated, email bboswell@gpb.org.
• School Meal Service Flexibilty for Students—GaDOE – Food insecurity for students who rely on school meals is a major concern if extended school closures become necessary. GaDOE has received approval from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for alternate meal service flexibility in the case of extended closures. This will allow schools to serve students meals through USDA-approved meal service options, at approved sites within the community.
• Local Food Banks—Georgia Food Bank Association – Your community is served by one of Georgia’s eight Feeding America affiliate Food Banks. Find yours here to donate or get help.
• Food Finder – Food Finder is a mobile app and website created by a Georgia high school graduate that helps students and families find free food assistance programs quickly.

UNEMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE

The Georgia Department of Labor is providing online access to unemployment services, partial claim access for employers, and resources for other reemployment assistance. Find your local career center.

GEORGIA GATEWAY

Apply for Food Stamp and Medicaid benefits. Download an application.
Go to connectebt.com for Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) or call 888-421-3281 for updates.
You can also contact the DFCS Customer Contact Center at 877-423-4746 for additional information or to request a paper application. Find your county office.

HOUSING

Evictions. Some courts have stopped hearing eviction cases during the crisis. If you have been served with an eviction notice, contact the local court to see what their policy is at this time.
People with FHA-insured single-family mortgages cannot evict their tenants for 60 days starting March 18, 2020. If you are served with an eviction notice and you rent a single-family home, it may be worth asking whether our landlord has an FHA-insured mortgage.

Foreclosures. Several government agencies have announced that they will not move forward with evictions or foreclosures for a period of time.

FHA-backed mortgages. Beginning March 18, 2020, the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) announced that it will stop foreclosure and evictions for single family homeowners with FHA-insured mortgages for the next 60 days. This means, if you have an FHA-insured mortgage:

• A foreclosure cannot happen for 60 days.
• You cannot evict your tenants for the next 60 days.

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac mortgages. Starting March 18, 2020, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) has directed Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (the Enterprises) to suspend foreclosures and evictions for at least 60 days. This applies to Enterprise-backed single-family mortgages.

FINANCIAL SUPPORT

COVID-19 Ancillary Costs
https://www.healthwellfoundation.org/patients/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI4Y6D6qrw6AIVFozICh2wZQI_EAAYASAAEgILKvD_BwE
The HealthWell Foundation just announced a COVID-19 Fund that provides up to $250 in assistance with ancillary costs associated with COVID-19. Grants awarded through the fund will provide reimbursement assistance to at risk or quarantined individuals for delivered food, medication, telehealth copays and transportation costs associated with COVID-19.

INTERNET AND WIFI SERVICES

Georgia Public Libraries
While many public libraries across Georgia are closed to slow the spread of COVID-19, some are still offering limited services to help kids keep learning while schools are closed, provide wi-fi for local residents, and more.

Comcast—60 Days of Free Internet
Effective Monday, March 16, 2020, anyone who signs up for Internet Essentials will receive two free months of Internet service. Comcast is also increasing the speed of the program to 25 Mbps downloads and 3 Mbps uploads for all new and existing customers.

Xfinity WiFi Free for Everyone
Xfinity WiFi hotspots across Georgia are available to anyone who needs them for free—including non-Xfinity Internet subscribers. The site includes a map of Xfinity WiFi hotspots.