COVID-19 RESource page

Local Resources

If you need assistance finding food, paying housing bills, accessing free childcare, or other essential services, use the search bar at 211 or call 211 to speak to someone who can help. 

Contact 211 Northeast TN

If you are in a DOMESTIC VIOLENCE situation, Safe House is ready to help. Call 844-578-SAFE

FREE Financial Counseling

The United Way of East TN Highlands and Appalachian Opportunity Fund are partnering to offer FREE financial counseling to Northeast TN community members. Let AOF’s coaches come alongside you in this difficult time. If you have a question or would like to schedule an appointment, please contact AOF at: https://appalachianopportunityfund.com/covid-19/

Text/Call: (423) 283-8444

Email: ataylor@appalachianopportunityfund.com

Mental Health Support

Frontier Health is offering telephonic and/or tele-video services for: therapy, Intensive Outpatient programs, medication management, care coordination/case management, and peer support.
If you are seeking services, call (423) 467-3600. There are several other ways to access care:
• Visit frontierhealth.org where there is a listing of locations and contact numbers.
• If you are in crisis or have an immediate need, contact the crisis line at 877-928-9062.
• Visit the Walk-in Center at 208 East Unaka Street Johnson City, which is open twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.

Feeding Sites for School-Age Children 

First Tennessee Development District staff developed an interactive map  showing feeding sites and times being used by school systems around the region. Also included are locations of disaster food pantries working in conjunction with Second Harvest Food Bank of Northeast Tennessee. https://www.ftdd.org/

Jonesborough Resident Helpline 

(423) 753-4781 For any Jonesborough town resident with food needs, transportation, connections to medical information, and any other assistance during the COVID-19 crisis.

Appalachian Highlands Regional Economic Aid Directory (A.H.E.A.D)  

Online directory for businesses to keep the public informed of their operations. Find out is a business is closed, open or has limited hours. Find regional resources, tools, and learn how you can help your neighbor. 

Johnson City – Distance Socially, Support Locally FACEBOOK GROUP

A community resource to find local businesses who are offering delivery, curbside pickup, online gift card options and changes to hours of operation.

State Resources

Department of Labor – Unemployment

My employer closed because of COVID-19 and I am out of work. Can I file for unemployment?

• When a Tennessee business closes to help slow the spread of the virus and temporarily has to lay off employees, those workers can collect unemployment benefits, if they meet other eligibility requirements.

If I do not have a job waiting for me after the COVID-19 emergency, do I still need to do weekly job searches?

• The state of Tennessee is working with the United States Department of Labor to find flexibility of the job search requirement.  As of March 17, if you don’t have a return to work date, you are still required to do job searches. We will update this page if that changes.

My doctor has ordered me to quarantine because of COVID-19. Am I eligible for unemployment?

• If you are quarantined by your doctor, an executive order from Governor Bill Lee allows you to receive unemployment benefits if all other eligibility requirements are met.

For further information and updates regarding unemployment, please visit the web address listed below: https://www.tn.gov/workforce

Department of Human Services – TANF Emergency Benefits

• The Tennessee Department of Human Services will be issuing Emergency Pandemic TANF, which is an emergency cash assistance program for those impacted by COVID-19. Emergency Pandemic TANF will utilize existing Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funds.
• To qualify, a family must: Have children in the household, be at or below the 85th percentile of the State Median Income (below approximately $52,000 a year for a family of three), and be able to show they are impacted by COVID-19 (e.g., job loss due to employer closure for COVID-19).
• The emergency benefits will be available to families in the following amounts: For a family of 1-2, $500; for a family of 3-4, $750; for a family of 5+, $1000.
• These benefits will be available for up to two months.
• TDHS encourages Tennesseans in need to apply online when the application becomes available at https://www.tn.gov/humanservices.html in order to encourage social distancing.

 

National resources

CDC Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

The COVID-19 situation in the United States is evolving rapidly as more becomes known about the virus, how it is spread, and how it effects people. For the most accurate and timely information, visit the CDC’s website or monitor CDC social media channels.

U.S. Small Business Administration 

The US Small Business Administration is offering designated states and territories low-interest federal disaster loans for working capital to small businesses suffering substantial economic injury as a result of COVID-19.
Any such Economic Injury Disaster Loan assistance declaration issued by the SBA makes loans available to small businesses and private, non-profit organizations in designated areas of a state or territory to help alleviate economic injury caused by the Coronavirus.
Call 1-800-659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov
Visit SBA.gov/disaster for more information.

Bankruptcy Information

Upsolve, a nonprofit that helps families file for bankruptcy for free, is offering information and support to those considering or in the process of filing for bankruptcy during COVID-19.

• If you are dealing with severe debt or bankruptcy during COVID-19, you can find information and support at: https://upsolve.org/learn/category/covid-19/
  
• If you need assistance generating bankruptcy forms or finding an attorney, please visit upsolve.org

How can I help?

For Volunteer Opportunities Visit: Volunteer United

A collaborative project between all local United Ways to provide a volunteer search portal to our region. It connects volunteers with opportunities at our nonprofit partners and gives our nonprofit partners an opportunity to recruit volunteers. Those wanting to volunteer can search by subject and location. It’s a free service for all. https://www.volunteer-united.org/

Donate to the Regional COVID-19 Response Fund 

Your regional United Ways are UNITED in a collective response to the pandemic. The Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia Relief Fund will be used to support community organizations who are working to meet the needs of individuals affected by COVID-19 in Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia. https://netnswvarelief.org/

Donate to the local COVID-19 Washington County Response Fund

A coalition of philanthropy, government, and business partners has joined together to create a COVID-19 Response Fund that will rapidly deploy resources to community-based organizations at the frontlines of the coronavirus outbreak in Washington County. https://unitedwayetnh.org/covid-19/