All local sources have been vetted. This list will continue to be updated as resources are confirmed. If you need assistance or would like to help, please reach out to one of the sources below.

Food Pantries

Feeding Powhatan
Celebration Church Food Pantry – 804-651-3067

Social Services

Chesterfield County
Goochland County – 804-556-5880
Powhatan County – Phone only – 804-598-5612

Student Meals

Amelia County Public Schools
Chesterfield County Public Schools
Fluvanna County Public Schools
Goochland County Public Schools
King William County Public Schools
Powhatan County Public Schools
Prince Edward County Public Schools

Other

Financial Assistance Hotline – 434-234-4490
(for households in Charlottesville and the counties of Albemarle, Buckingham, Fluvanna, Greene, Louisa, Nelson, and Orange)

Virginia Employment Commission

Rent

• The Supreme Court of Virginia has suspended all new eviction cases in the Commonwealth of Virginia for tenants unable to pay rent as a result of COVID-19 through October 1. A federal moratorium on evictions has been issued through the end of the year.

Utilities

• The State Corporation Commission (SCC) has issued an order directing utilities it regulates, such as electric, natural gas, and water companies in Virginia, to suspend service disconnections for 60 days to provide immediate relief for any customer, residential and business, who may be financially impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak. Read the order. This order ends on October 5.

Find out what your particular electric company is doing:
In many cases, you must call in to request extensions – be sure to check with your particular utility provider.

• Dominion Energy
• Southside Electric Cooperative
• Rappahannock Electric Cooperative

Cell Phone / Internet

• Comcast will not disconnect or add late fees for customers who contact the company. Customers will have unlimited data for 60 days, and Xfinity Wi-Fi hotspots will be free for anyone.
• Comcast is also offering FREE internet to qualifying low income households for 60 days (25 Mbps).

Employment Relief

• Virginia Employment Commission

Business Resources

• Virginia Retail Federation
• Central Virginia Partnership – Small Business Development Center
• Small Business Administration

Budget

• If you haven’t looked at a budget in a while, now’s the time to do so. Every Dollar is a great free app to use to get a budget together.
• Get clarity from your income sources as to what the reality will look like over the coming weeks.

Defer Payments

• If you’re still not able to cover all of your expenses, identify payments that can be deferred:
  • Call creditors to explain your situation. You can ask for temporary relief on your monthly payments. If you offer to still send some money, even if it’s a smaller amount than your typical payment, they might be more willing to work with you.
  • If you have federal student loans, you can forbear (interest accrues) or defer (interest doesn’t accrue on subsidized federal loans) your loan payments.
• If you’re paying extra on debt(s) right now and have less than one to two months’ worth of expenses in an emergency fund, it might not be a bad idea to temporarily stop extra payments and then restart them once things settle down.
• Enroll for health insurance, if you can.
• Use this week to get a game plan together and gather information, as there may be more changes coming.
• Reach out to our Financial Assistance Administrator HERE if you want to talk.

Measures Still in Effect

• As of Aug. 8, 2020, an order was put in place to suspend student loan payments, stop collections, and waive interest on ED-held student loans until Dec. 31, 2020. Learn more…
• Foreclosures and evictions will be suspended for 60 days on all HUD-owned properties and mortgages backed by the FHA, Fannie Mae, or Freddie Mac. Additionally, homeowners are eligible for a forbearance plan to reduce or suspend their mortgage payments for up to 12 months. Borrowers should contact their loan servicer to ask about this.
• Emergency paid leave  – you may be eligible for up to two weeks if you are sick, quarantined, or taking care of a sick family member. Visit the U.S. Department of Labor for more information.
• Paid sick leave for two weeks (employers with fewer than 500 employees).
• Bank of America, Wells Fargo, and Ally Bank have all said that if customers are having trouble making payments on loans (mortgages, credit cards, personal loans, auto loans, etc.) to call them to find out what options are available.

Virtual Recovery Resources
How to Find a Virtual Recovery Meeting
Connections App
NIMH – Coping with Coronavirus: Managing Stress, Fear, and Anxiety
NIDA COVID-19 Resources
NAMI COVID-19 Resource & Information Guide
AA Updates
Addiction and Recovery: How Mindfulness May Help
Depression Resources