SPECIAL RESOURCES EDITION
Dear Friends,
I am sure you receive any number of Covid 19 related emails and I don't want to add to the possible overload, but there are a couple of issues we may be able to help with. This list is hardly complete so if you know of others directly relevant to housing issues please let us know.

Stay well,
John & Carol

The following are resources for people we support who live in the community and who are employed, have been laid off and have no income. 
Stimulu$
Good news the requirement to file taxes for SSI receiving and disabled vets who have not worked or filed taxes in 2018 and 2019 have been removed. The federal government has ordered the involved agencies to share information with the U.S. Treasury to insure that ALL of these people will automatically be included in the direct Stimulus payment. That said the stimulus $ are probably some time away. This site may be helpful.
Unemployment
The people we support are eligible for Unemployment Insurance assuming they have paid in, (in NYS you can receive SSI and UI simultaneously, but the UI is "unearned" and so reduces SSI by $1 for $1 after the General Exemption of $20). Care Design also created a helpful guide.
Food
In NYC people can go to local schools and pick up meals. School locators are linked here for NYC and here for Long Island.

SNAP
If they are not already getting SNAP, they automatically qualify if receiving SSI. Click Here to Read More
EITC
If they are eligible for EITC they can still get free tax help in filing and thence the EITC, check the VITA sites - I don't know whether IRS is issuing checks promptly at this point.
ISS
OPWDD can adjust the rent if a person loses income - however depending on where you are in the State your DDRO may or may not be reachable. Now would be a good time for providers to be asking the State to process these claims as rapidly and liberally as possible. If they can't pay the rent for the moment there is no eviction threat as evictions are suspended.

A listing of ISS Coordinators is linked here. Note that Region 4, Mindi Wapter left OPWDD in December. The new contact is nicole.lopez@opwdd.ny.gov.
Mental Health
NYC Well has 24-7 Talk/Text Chat options for people feeling isolated or with other Mental health needs.
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March 18, 2020
For more information, contact the New York Alliance at 518-795-3590 or nyaii@nyalliance.org.