External Resources Responding to COVID-19

Last updated 11/23/2020 at 5:00 PM

The below are resources available to residents and business owners throughout Providence and Rhode Island to support them during this time. As a reminder, all essential City services, including Providence Water and City-contracted trash and recycling collection, are scheduled to go on uninterrupted but City buildings are partially open.

What if I Feel Sick and Need to be Tested?

  • Have COVID-19 symptoms? Refer to our one-pager and get tested.
  • For a complete list of COVID-19 testing locations in Providence, please visit www.PVDCOVID19.com.

Legal Resources

For legal resources related to housing, please visit our Housing Resource Guide

The Rhode Island Supreme Court has issued an administrative order outlining COVID-19 court procedures, in effect through September 7th. For a FAQ on current court practices, click here. For the Court’s COVID-19 landing page, click here.

Essential Utility Services

For information on utility services during COVID-19, please visit our Housing Resource Guide

Resources for Aging Adults

Providence has several meal sites dedicated to serving older adults throughout the city. Please contact each site directly as information may change daily.

Grocery stores throughout Rhode Island are providing dedicated shopping hours to promote the safety and wellness of older adults.

RESOURCES FOR PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS & SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

For resources related to homelessness, please visit our Housing Resource Guide

RESOURCES FOR HOMEOWNERS SEEKING MORTGAGE FORBEARANCE

For resources related to mortgage forbearance, please visit our Housing Resource Guide

Resources for Food Access

  • Rhode Islanders seeking food assistance may locate their local food pantry online through the Rhode Island Food Bank or by calling the United Way of Rhode Island by dialing 2-1-1. Residents seeking food assistance are asked to please call ahead to confirm a program is still open during their regularly listed hours.
  • Farm Fresh Rhode Island manages farmers markets and a Market Mobile wholesale service to get fresh food from local farms delivered to your home. Farm Fresh Rhode Island’s farmers markets and Market Mobile Service accepts PayPal in addition to SNAP and EBT.

Food Donation Opportunities for Residents and Businesses

Resources for Recently Unemployed Rhode Island Residents

  • The City has created a resource guide to serve as a centralized resource for employers, employees and businesses to help ensure they have access to the resources they need in response to the challenging business climate created by COVID-19. See more via: Review External Resources page
  • To better serve the public during the public health crisis, Workforce Solutions of Providence/Cranston, a partner of the American Job Center network, has launched an online appointment portal dedicated to connecting job-seekers to employment opportunities and resources. New job-seekers or employers can make a program intake appointment to review job training services. Existing clients can also schedule an appointment to meet with their counselor. Appointments can be made via https://wspc.providenceri.gov/
  • The State Department of Labor and Training has worked to increase the flexibility and manageability of the Temporary Disability Insurance (TDI) and Unemployment Insurance, including by waiving the seven-day minimum amount of time and previously-required medical certification to process your claim. Employees can view resources from the Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training here.
  • Affected businesses with questions on Unemployment Insurance, Paid Sick and Safe Leave, or other work-related programs should contact the Department of Labor and Training by emailing dlt.covid19@dlt.ri.gov or calling (401) 462-2020.
  • Fact sheet on Paid Leave and Unemployment Insurance from Economic Progress Institute.
  • Residents seeking employment can learn more about who is hiring in their communities by visiting EmployRI.org.

Resources for Low-Income Residents

The Comprehensive Community Action Program (CCAP) is conducting Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) appointments by phone and is also available to help clients receiving assistance from the Low Income Home Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and other emergency services. To contact, call 401-467-7013 during regular working hours or email at info@comcap.org.

Resources for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Residents

The State of Rhode Island Commission on the Deaf and Hard of Hearing now has a website dedicated to COVID-19 with specific information that is critically important to members of the community with hearing loss including videos presented in American Sign Language.

Resources for Child Care Services

  • Rhode Island has partnered with Care.com to increase childcare access to Rhode Islanders. In addition to providing 90 days of free, premium access to their website, Care.com has created portals specifically for frontline workers and caregivers in Rhode Island. Frontline workers looking for child care can visit www.care.com/rineed to find a local caregiver. Rhode Island residents interested in becoming caregivers can visit www.care.com/rigive to register. Potential caregivers are subject to Care.com’s extensive background and safety checks. While child care services are not typically free of charge, the Rhode Island portal gives residents the ability to waive their fees and volunteer as caregivers, providing additional support to frontline workers.
  • There’s a complete listing of reopened child care providers on Reopening RI that is updated weekly for consumers.
    Link Here: https://reopeningri.com/child-care-youth-activities *Go down to the Covid-19 Childcare center directory. Is updated weekly
    1. DHS also mentioned for school-age child care, Districts/schools should be coordinating care for children if they are not offering full day, in-person instruction.

Medical Supply Donations Opportunities for Residents and Businesses

To donate personal protective equipment and other needed medical supplies, please visit the Rhode Island Department of Health COVID-19 medical supply donations form.

Blood Drive

  • The Rhode Island Blood Center has a critical need for donations and expects the demand to remain high for the foreseeable future. It is safe to donate at any of the center’s six sites: Providence, Middletown, Narragansett, Warwick, Westerly, and Woonsocket. Visit www.ribc.org or call (800) 283-8385 to make an appointment.
  • For more info on how to help organize a blood drive and why it’s important, visit the Georgetown University School of Nursing & Health Studies’ website.

Resources for Immigrants

Immigrant Community Resource Guide

  • Testing for COVID-19 is available to every Rhode Islander, regardless of immigration status.
    • To learn more about Rhode Island-specific healthcare, housing, food, COVID-19 testing locations, public charge, and Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), Temporary Protected Status (TPS), and Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) matters during the COVID-19 response, please visit the Rhode Island Economic Progress Institute’s COVID-19 resource page.

 

  • Public Charge:  USCIS announced that the agency will not consider any “testing, treatment, nor preventative care (including vaccines, if a vaccine because available) related to COVID-19 in a public charge determination, even if such treatment is provided or paid for by one or more public benefits.” The Protecting Immigrant Families (PIF) campaign developed a quick reference guide on Immigrant Eligibility for Public Programs During COVID-19, outlining whether public programs will be taken into account for public charge purposes (last updated 4/6).  The National Immigration Law Center (NILC) has also created a FAQ on COVID-19 Assistance Eligibility Based on Immigration Status that includes information on whether applying for and receiving such assistance would trigger public charge implications.

 

  • ICE Enforcement: On March 18, 2020, ICE announced that it would “temporarily adjust its enforcement posture” and focus enforcement on “public safety risks and individuals subject to mandatory detention based on criminal grounds.” For all others, the agency “will exercise discretion to delay enforcement actions until after the crisis or utilize alternatives to detention, as appropriate.” The agency also stated that Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) will continue to carry out their mission, and that DHS would not make any arrests near hospitals, doctor’s offices, or health clinics “except in the most extraordinary circumstances.” It remains unclear how this additional guidance will be implemented. On April 17th, ICE temporarily suspended in-person check-ins at their local field office and has instructed individuals scheduled for check-ins under Alternatives to Detention (ATD) and Intensive Supervision Appearance Program (ISAP) to reach out to their specialists in advance of their scheduled appointments. Information on ICE and COVID-19 can be found here.

 

  • Immigration Courts: While immigration court hearings were previously postponed for people not detained, some immigration courts have begun conducting hearings for non-detained people. USDOJ announced reopening dates for some courts and stated that hearings for people not detained in courts with no announced date are postponed through and including July 10, 2020. For people who are detained, hearings are continuing for now. Stay informed about updates by visiting Justice.gov/EOIR (which contains a chart with announced reopening dates), calling the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) hotline at 800-898-7180, and checking EOIR’s Facebook page.

 

Resources for People Experiencing Homelessness & Survivors of Domestic Violence

The Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence has a full list of resources available on their website for anyone who is or knows someone who is experiencing abusive behavior. To connect to their 24-hour HelpLine, dial (800) 494- 8100.

The State of Rhode Island has organized all of the meals, hygiene, and shelter sites in Providence and throughout the state in an interactive map.

For those in our community experiencing homelessness, the Rhode Island Coalition for the Homeless has developed a COVID-19 response webpage in addition to their comprehensive general resources.

You can also call the Rhode Island Coalition for the Homeless coordinated entry system hotline by dialing (401) 277-4316. Please help share this information with folks who you know may need it.

Many shelters are moving to reserved beds to limit transmission or are making changes to their normal operation in other ways. It is best to check directly with shelters to learn how they are adjusting services. Expect to be screened for symptoms at all shelters and other service sites.

HomesRI has released a fact sheet on evictions and utility assistance during COVID-19. It is available in English and Spanish.

For survivors of domestic violence, assistance with relocation expenses is available through the state’s Crime Victim Compensation Program. Find more information and apply here.

Resources for Homeowners Seeking Mortgage Forbearance

The City of Providence has created this housing resource guide to serve as a centralized resource for housing-related information and resources related to COVID-19. The guide will be updated with new resources as they become available. To suggest an addition, email Hkahn@providenceri.gov with the subject line, “Housing Resource Guide.”

Relief Funds Available to Local Businesses

  • The City has created a resource guide to serve as a centralized resource for employers, employees and businesses to help ensure they have access to the resources they need in response to the challenging business climate created by COVID-19.
  • We know there is a real and serious impact on our local business community at this time. While we encourage people to support local businesses as much as possible, we know that this might not be enough. Rhode Island’s Small Business Administration is taking steps to mitigate those challenges. There will be small loan help and an economic disaster loan program. We will work in concert with the Governor’s Office to identify businesses and non-profits in need. To learn more, business owners can visit sba.gov/disaster.
  • In response to the impacts of COVID-19 on the Providence small business community, the Providence Business Loan Fund has announced temporary modifications to the Fund to provide access to capital for eligible small businesses and immediate relief for existing borrowers.
  • On April 1, 2020, the Governor announced a short-term bridge loan program for restaurants and micro-businesses (business with up to 10 employees). Eligible businesses must first apply for a federal Small Business Administration emergency disaster loan. Businesses can then apply for the bridge loans through the Local Initiative Support Corporation website.
  • You may also call 521-HELP or visit Commerce Rhode Island’s COVID-19 website for more information.

Resources for Businesses

  • The City has created a resource guide to serve as a centralized resource for employers, employees and businesses to help ensure they have access to the resources they need in response to the challenging business climate created by COVID-19.
  • During an infectious disease outbreak, such as the current outbreak of COVID-19, small business owners must prepare for disruption in their business as well as prepare to protect their employees’ health and safety in the workplace. The US Center for Disease Control has recommended steps to protect employees and your business for disruption.

Resources Available to Local Nonprofit Organizations

The Rhode Island State Council on the Arts has compiled a comprehensive list of resources available to artists, arts and cultural organizations.

Resources for Delivery Services

  • Green Line Apothecary is offering free delivery of prescriptions, over-the-counter medications, and other supplies such as over-the-counter medication, bath and body products, and more. Services are available seven days a week.
  • GoProvidence has compiled a comprehensive list of the Providence area restaurants that are offering takeout and delivery. Please note that some restaurants use a delivery service that may add a fee. Check with the restaurant for more details.
  • DoorDash is providing commission relief, marketing to businesses, and food delivery service in Providence.

Behavioral Health and Substance Use Disorder Resources

 

Online Library Resources for Youth and Adults

The Providence Community Libraries maintain digital resources for youth and adults including educational presentations, ideas for craft making and digital storytimes with beloved storytellers. The State’s Office of Library & Information Services is also offering online learning programs and other services.