top of page

Healthcare​

​

​

Mental Health

​

​

Heating Assistance

  • The Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP)

    • Help those with low-income pay their heating cost. HEAP is federally funded and overseen by the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance.

    • The 2020-2021 Regular HEAP benefit opens November 2, 2020. Eligibility and benefits are based on income, household size, the primary heating source, and the presence of a household member who is under six years old, ages 60 years or older, or permanently disabled.

    • The 2020-2021 Emergency HEAP benefit opens January 4, 2021. Households may be eligible, based on income, available resources, and the type of emergency, if they are in danger of running out of heating fuel or having their utility service shut off. Call Department of Social Services’ HEAP office.

    • HEAP benefits were extended until April 30, 2021

    • Cooling Assistance Benefit

    • Financial help to cover the cost and installation of an air conditioner or fan

  • Paying ConEd bills

    • If experienced a change in financial circumstances as a result of Covid-19 starting on or after March 7, 2020 may be eligible for special protections for electric bills. ConEd will not disconnect service for non-payment before March 31, 2021

    • Eligibility available for payment agreement or a new agreement that requires no down payment, late fees, or penalties.

    • To self-certify, you must attest as follows: “I attest that due to the COVID-19 state of emergency, which began on March 7, 2020, I have experienced a change in financial circumstances.

    • 1-800-75-CONED (1-800-752-6633)

​

​

Food Access

  • SNAP

    • Please contact CHLDC if you have any questions or need assistance applying for SNAP and using the Access HRA portal Healthy@cypresshills.org, (‪732) 860-8589

    • COVID-19 Relief Bill

      • Boosts SNAP benefits by 15 percent for six months (through June 30, 2021)

      • Excludes federal unemployment compensation (extra $300 per month) from being counted as income or a resource. Anyone rejected because of this should reapply.

      • College students can apply for SNAP

        • Students attending an institution of higher education (SUNY or CUNY) at least half-time or enrolled in qualifying career and technical education programs of study can now apply for SNAP. All EOC and CTE, remedial courses, basic adult education, literacy, ESOL

  • Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) benefits

    • Families of public school (or participating private school) children between the ages of 5-18 are eligible for the one-time benefit and added to existing EBT cards. No application required.

    • Farmers Market Health Bucks

      • For every $2 spent at farmers markets using SNAP on an EBT card, you can get $2 in Health Bucks up to $10 per day. Health Bucks are available year-round at NYC farmers markets that accept EBT.

    • Find a farmers market

    • The P-EBT helpline (Translation services available) (833) 452-0096 8:30am – 5:00pm Monday-Friday or otda.sm.eisp.pebt@otda.ny.gov

    • P-EBT flyers in multiple languages

    • Free NYC Summer Meals

      • No registration, documentation, or ID is required to receive a free breakfast or lunch 

  • Farmers Market Health Bucks

    • NYC Farmers markets accept Health Bucks, $2 coupons to purchase fresh fruit and vegetables, and many accept SNAP. For every $5 spent at farmers markets using SNAP on an EBT card, individuals can receive $2 in Health Bucks. Find a farmers market.

    • For additional information on how individuals can access and use Health Bucks, please refer to this video: How People with SNAP Benefits Use Health Bucks.

  • Food Pantries and Soup Kitchens

    • Call the Emergency Food Hotline at (866) 888-8777 or 311 to find a local pantry or kitchen. There is no income guideline for emergency food. Find a pantry/ soup kitchen here.

    • Lemontree hotline 888-489-7212 or text FOOD to 90847

    • Before visiting any of the food pantries listed below, please contact them ahead of time to verify availability of resources.

  • Free Meal Delivery   

    • GetFoodNYC

      • Meal delivery program created by the City of New York for seniors and homebound New Yorkers who cannot access or afford meal or grocery delivery, Apply here by creating an account. Call 311 if you need help creating an account.

      • Households may place an order once every two days.

      • Each order contains 4 meals per person in the household. No household will receive more than 8 meals per delivery.

    • Criteria for receiving meal delivery:

      • No members of the household can go out and get food because they are at increased medical risk or homebound

      • No neighbors or family members can go out and get food for you

      • Do not receive meal assistance from other providers (such as: Meals on Wheels or God’s Love We Deliver); and

      • You are unable to afford meal delivery or grocery delivery

    • Invisible Hands

    • Corona Couriers

      • Volunteer-run home-delivery program providing free deliveries to New Yorkers

      • To request delivery: coronacourier@protonmail.com, (929) 320-0660

​

​

Cash Assistance

  • Economic Impact Payments and FAQs

  • Good Shepherd Services’ Single Stop

    • Single Stop centers provide individuals and families with hands-on assistance in applying for public benefits.

    • PJACC Single Stop: East New York, 876 Schenck Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11207, (718) 708-4910

​

​

Housing

​

​

Education/ Remote Learning

​

​

Child Care

  • Licensed providers in the Cypress Hills Family Day Care Network are still open and considered essential businesses. If you are looking for care in a licensed family day care setting, contact Ethel Cordova at ethelc@cypresshills.org

​

​

Debt Collection

  • The New York State Attorney General's office is taking applications for the suspension of debt collection activity. Apply here. The Attorney General has already temporarily halted medical and student debt collection, no application necessary.

  • Student Loans Relief Extended through at least Sept. 30, 2021

    • Suspend loan payments

    • Stop collections on defaulted loans

    • Set interest rates to 0%

​

​

Employment

​

​

Small Business Assistance

  • If you have questions about any of these programs or need assistance, please contact Hugo Espinal at hugoe@cypresshills.org or (929) 333-5825

  • NYC Small Business Continuity Loan Program

  • Businesses with fewer than 100 employees who have seen sales decreases of 25% or more will be eligible for zero interest loans of up to $75,000 to help mitigate losses in profit.  Eligibility Criteria for the NYC Small Business Continuity Loan Fund Businesses must:

    • ​Be located within the five boroughs of New York City

    • Demonstrate that the COVID-19 outbreak caused at least a 25% decrease in revenue

    • Employ 99 employees or fewer in total across all locations

    • Demonstrate ability to repay the loan

    • Have no outstanding tax liens or legal judgements

    • As part of the applications, you will be required to demonstrate a revenue decrease by providing documentation such as: point-of-sales reports, bank statements, quarterly sales tax filings, 2019 tax returns, or CPA-certified profit & loss statements.

  • U.S. SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program for Small Businesses in New York

  • SBA’s Customer Service Center: (800) 659-2955, disastercustomerservice@sba.gov

  • Applying through SBA is the first step in the process for getting grants and the large loans with loan forgiveness in the new Act.  If your business is in need further assistance in the process, local Small Business Development Centers are here to help:

  • Brooklyn - SBDC at City Tech: 718.797.0187  sbdc@citytech.cuny.edu

  • Resources for Small Businesses Impacted by the Coronavirus (COVID-19)

​

​

Immigration

  • Resources for Immigrant Communities During COVID-19 Pandemic available in multiple languages

  • You should not be afraid to seek medical care because of your immigration status. There is no ICE presence in hospitals, and you do not need to disclose your immigration status when going to the emergency room to access services. They may ask for this information though for benefit enrollment purposes BUT you cannot be denied emergency services even if you cannot pay.

  • Remember that your home is a safe place. ICE cannot enter your home without a signed warrant by a judge. If you hear a knock at your door and you believe that it is ICE DO NOT OPEN THE DOOR. A good practice is to always ask who is behind the door before opening it. If you hear a knock and then hear “police” it very well could be ICE. Always ask to see a warrant.

  • See Make the Road New York’s 5-step Know Your Rights Infographic

  • Make the Road New York (Bushwick office), (718) 418-7690

  • Selected Immigration Legal Service Providers in New York City

​

​

Discrimination/ Harassment

​

​

Digital Resources​

  • Free/ Reduced WiFi at home

    • Verizon Lifeline, a government assistance program that offers discounts to qualified low-income customers

    • Spectrum - households with K-12 students can get free Spectrum Wifi for 60 days (including free installation for new customers). Call 1-844-488-8395 for set up.

    • Comcast -Essentials internet service designed for low-income families free for 60 days for new qualifying customers. Call 1-855-8-INTERNET for set up

 

 

Other Information

  • Avoid Scams​

    • Ignore online offers for vaccinations. There currently are no vaccines, pills, potions, lotions, lozenges or other prescription or over-the-counter products available to treat or cure Coronavirus disease” Administration for Community Living Guidance on Coronavirus Resources and Warnings about Consumer Scams from Attorney General Tish James

  • Coronavirus Legal Planning

    • What Documents do I Need? In light of the coronavirus, it is important to know about the different legal planning documents and how they can be used to document wishes and empower loved ones to help should something happen.

  • Burial Assistance

  • HRA

  • COVID-19 FEMA Funeral Assistance Helpline

    • 844-684-6333 | TTY: 800-462-7585

  • Brave Heart Fund a direct grant to individuals who have lost a family member who was a health care worker to COVID-19. "Health care worker" is defined very broadly and covers most people who work in health care settings.

healthcare
Mental health
Heating
Food Access
Cash Assistance
Housing
Education
Child Care
Debt
Employment
Small Business
Immigration
Discrimination
Digital
Other
bottom of page