Starting today, we'll be posting resources, announcements, and news pertinent to our program leaders here on the Episcopal Charities blog. This lets us edit information as it changes, more easily link to our website, and - most importantly - keeps you from having to dig through your inbox to find information! We'll keep these posts up in perpetuity, so if you want to refer back to resources we've linked, you'll be able to find them here.
Going forward, you can also click through the tags at the bottom of this post to find other resources we've linked that have to do with the same topics.
And as always, if you have something to share, contact SK Doyle, our Associate Director of Programs & Volunteers. These posts will be a collaboration between SK and Amalia Vavala, Associate Director of Development and Operations, and you can always reach out to her as well.
This Week's Resources
Finding a Cooling Center Near You
As the current heat wave continues, certain demographics are at high risk for suffering from heat stroke and exhaustion, including those experiencing housing insecurity and senior citizens. Cooling sites and centers help mitigate the effects of high temperatures and provide public places to cool off. You can find New York City cooling centers here. New York State has not published an official list of state-run cooling centers, but you can contact your local officials via the numbers here.
If you have any additional information about cooling centers outside of New York City, please contact SK!
$100 Vaccine Referral Bonuses for Churches [NYC]
Churches that register with New York City are eligible to receive $100 for each person who receives their first COVID-19 shot at a city-run site and says they were referred by the particular church.
You can learn more and apply for the program here.
New York State Emergency Rental Assistance Program
Funding is currently available through ERAP for New York City households who are behind in their rent. Eligible low and moderate-income households can get up to 12 months of their back rent paid, three months of future rent, and other assistance.
Residents of New York City are eligible if they:
Fell behind in rent since the COVID-19 pandemic began in March 2020 AND
Qualified for unemployment benefits or have lost income and/or have an increase in expenses due to the COVID-19 pandemic; AND
Have a monthly gross (before tax) household income at or below 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI).
This is a great resource to share with clients experiencing housing insecurity. Applications and more information can be found here, and if you need iPads to help clients apply onsite, please contact SK!
Bulk Buy Application
Our Bulk Buy program aggregates demand to allow programs to order in-demand foods like fresh produce, proteins, and culturally-relevant foods for free. To apply for this program, fill out the form here.
Sustainability Institutes: SNAP Training and COVID Community Conversations
On August 26th from 2-5 pm, we're partnering with the Food Bank of NYC to provide SNAP Benefits Training as a Sustainability Institute. This training is not city-specific, so all programs are welcome to register. You can do so on our Sustainability Institute page here.
On September 30th from 3:30 to 5 pm, we're partnering with the Department of Mental Health and Hygiene to hold a Community Conversation about COVID-19 and Mental Health. Programs of all types can benefit from this discussion! You can register on our Sustainability Institute page here.
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That's all for this week -- thanks for all you do!