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  • Writer's pictureEpiscopal Charities
    • Sep 5
    • 9 min read

Weekly Resource Round-Up: September 5, 2023

This Week's Resources

If you have resources to share with our network, please contact Tobi Mojeed-Balogun our Associate Director of Programs Support.


2024 Basic Human Needs Application Is Now Open!


We are thrilled to announce that the application for our Basic Human Needs Grant is now open! The deadline for the application is September 29th at 5 pm. We will be having BHN Grant Seekers meetings during the first week of September on the 6th at 6 pm, 7th at 2 pm, and the 9th at 9 am with more information about the application. You can find the link to the application here. To learn about EC's grants (including BHN), see here. Please contact me (Tobi) for more information about the information sessions and if you have any other questions or concerns.


NYS COVID and MonkeyPox Updates (Plus Info about the Flu, RSV, and Norovirus)


A lot of the news around mandates, vaccines and restrictions have been a little confusing so I will list some resources below that might help.

  • Interview with NYC Health Commissioner on COVID bump. Link here.

  • NYS Department of Health COVID website - It's a one stop shop with an info summary at the top. Link here.

  • NYC Department of Health Monkeypox Webpage - lots of information and resources about the virus with pictures of the rash included. Find the link here.

  • With Mpox at Risk of Flaring, Health Officials Advise, ‘Get Vaccinated’ - New York Times - Read here

  • COVID vs Flu vs RSV info - I found a good article from the Washington post that gives information about three viruses that have been spiking this winter. Read the article here.

  • The Time Magazine article on the new variant (XBB.1.5) - Link Here


COVID is back in NY. What to know about schools, nursing homes and more (lohud.)


"The recent resurgence of COVID-19 in New York has renewed focus on infection-control practices at schools, nursing homes and hospitals.

But current public health efforts are less intrusive than earlier in the pandemic, as health officials assert improved medical treatments and vaccinations reduce the virus’ ability to disrupt society.

Still, concerns are mounting that New York could face severe outbreaks and rising death tolls in the fall and winter, particularly if the new BA.2.86 variant, nicknamed Pirola, surfaces here." Read more here.


NYC school bus service will run uninterrupted next week, despite looming strike: union official (Chalkbeat)


"New York City’s yellow school bus services will not face disruptions from a bus worker strike next week as the new academic year begins, union officials confirmed Friday.

The news comes after weeks of tense negotiations between the Amalgamated Transit Union, which represents about half of New York City’s public school bus drivers and attendants, and bus companies that contract with the city.

Public schools in New York City begin Sept. 7." Read more here.


Biden administration knocks New York for issues with migrant influx (Politico)


"ALBANY, N.Y. — The Biden administration pushed back Monday at criticism that it hasn’t done enough to help New York address its migrant crisis, citing two dozen areas where the city can strengthen its migrant operations.

Two letters obtained by POLITICO were sent to Gov. Kathy Hochul and Mayor Eric Adams on Monday from Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas in response to the city and state’s concerns over not getting more help from the federal government.

Mayorkas mentioned structural and operational issues found during a week-long assessment of the city’s operations starting on Aug. 7, but didn’t give specifics, saying the recommendations would be first shared Monday with the city." Read more here.


State officials tell N.Y. schools they must enroll all migrant students (Times Union)


"ALBANY — Public schools must accept school-aged children as students regardless of their nationality or immigration status, state Attorney General Letitia James asserted in new guidance released Monday reaffirming New Yorkers' right to receive free public school education." Read more here.


Migrants Fleeing DeSantis’ Florida Seek Sanctuary in NYC (Documented)


"DeSantis signed Senate Bill (SB) 1718 in May to “combat the dangerous effects of illegal immigration.” The measures included permitting authorities to charge someone with human trafficking if they were to transport undocumented migrants in the state, prohibiting the use of driver’s licenses from other states issued to undocumented immigrants, and increasing penalties for businesses that hire undocumented migrants.

Florida’s anti-immigrant laws took effect in July, and it forced many foreign workers and residents to abandon the state and make their way to places like New York, which is known as a sanctuary city — a locality that does not cooperate with immigration detainers." Read more here.


SNAP remains a target for the GOP even as the farm bill deadline looms and food insecurity rises (Nebraska Public Media)


"Republican lawmakers are eyeing more changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program as part of the farm bill — setting the stage for a contentious fight in Congress.

That’s after lawmakers expanded work requirements for SNAP benefits earlier this summer as part of the debt ceiling agreement.

Several Democrats on the House Ag committee sent a letter to House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-California, earlier this month, asking that GOP members not to seek further changes.

“... (P)laying partisan SNAP politics does nothing to address the needs of our farm and ranch families who depend on the other components of the farm bill, whether it’s the farm safety net, conservation, trade or other titles,” the letter stated.

The 2018 version of the farm bill is set to expire Sept. 30, and Congress will be in session for about three weeks when lawmakers convene after Labor Day." Read more here.


How Will America’s Food Insecurity Surge Affect You? (Wealth Of Geeks)


"In this year's June Consumer Food Insights Report, the United States is confronted with a rise in food insecurity, reaching 17 percent. That matches the rate reported back in March 2022, the second instance within just 18 months that the nation has grappled with such distressing levels of food insecurity.

Food insecurity, as defined by the USDA, refers to the lack of consistent access to enough food for all members of a household to lead an active, healthy life, and it can be a temporary or long-lasting situation. This trend sheds light on the growing number of people who cannot afford adequate sustenance.

According to Ian K. McDonough, an associate professor and Chair of the Department of Economics at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, the primary culprit behind this issue seems to be eroding buying power due to higher inflation, forcing households to make tighter choices between competing needs, particularly between housing and food."

Read more here.


T-Mobile Hometown Grants Program


Here is a capital grant we found. If you're thinking abut applying and need help, let me know.


T-Mobile Hometown Grants Program

Application deadline: Applications are reviewed on a quarterly basis; the upcoming deadline is September 30, 2023. Grant amount: Up to $50,000 Description: The T-Mobile Hometown Grants Program is providing up to $25 million over five years, through 2026, to fund community projects in small towns across the United States. Each quarter, 25 grants of up to $50,000 are provided for shovel-ready projects to build, rebuild, or refresh community spaces that help foster local connections in small towns. Examples of eligible projects include, but are not limited to, adaptive uses of older and historic buildings into community gathering spaces, improvements to outdoor parks or trails, and technology projects for public libraries. Applications are accepted from elected officials, town managers or employees, tribal leaders, or nonprofit community leaders from small towns with populations of less than 50,000.

Funder Profile Available to Members of GrantStation


MTA says fare evasion crackdown coming to all NYC buses (Gothamist)


"MTA officials said on Thursday that a strict fare evasion crackdown is coming to the city’s buses — and warned riders across the five boroughs they’d be hit with tickets if they don’t pay.

Starting next month, officials will deploy unarmed MTA guards known as EAGLE teams onto local buses. They’ll issue tickets between $50 to $100 to those who can’t prove they swiped a MetroCard or tapped to pay on the agency’s OMNY readers.

The agency will also be sending NYPD officers to 20 bus hubs around the city to help support enforcement by the EAGLE teams, officials said." Read more here.


Documented's Immigrant Resources and Job/Housing Discrimination Guides


"Documented has gathered all of the resources we can find to help immigrant New Yorkers. New links will be added and the following pages will be constantly updated. If you would like us to add information to this list or have questions, please reach out to us at info@documentedny.com."


Find the guide here.


"The New York City Human Rights Law is one of the most comprehensive anti-discrimination laws in the country, prohibiting discrimination in employment, housing and public accommodations based on race, color, religion/creed, age, national origin, immigration or citizenship status, gender (including sexual harassment), gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, military service, marital status and partnership status. As a newsroom that serves immigrant communities, Documented has written a comprehensive guide for immigrants."


Find this guides here.


Free ride: MTA to nix fares on 5 NYC bus routes by late September (Gothamist)


"Free rides are coming to five city bus routes by Sept. 24, the MTA said on Monday.

MTA officials said during a committee meeting that fares won’t be collected on one route in each of the five boroughs for at least six months as part of a program mandated by the state.

  • The B60, which runs in Brooklyn between Williams and Flatlands Avenue, in Canarsie, and Williamsburg Bridge Plaza.

  • The M116, which operates across Manhattan, primarily along 116th Street, Manhattan Avenue and W 106 Street.

  • The Q4 LCL/LTD, which runs in southeast Queens between Cambria Heights and Jamaica Center.

  • The S46/96, which runs in Staten Island between the St. George Ferry Terminal and West Shore Plaza.

  • The BX18 A/B, which runs in a loop in the western Bronx between Undercliff Avenue or Sedgwick Avenue and Grand Concourse"

Read more here



Hudson Link Employer Toolkit


Our friends at Hudson Link for Higher Education in Prison put together an employer toolkit for hiring formerly incarcerated people. Thank you to Sean Pica, Eldredge Blalock, Elisabeth Santiago, and the rest of the team at Hudson Link for this important resource. The toolkit can be found here. If you have any questions about hiring formerly incarcerated people, please contact Elisabeth Santiago from Hudson Link's Alumni Services at esantiago@hudsonlink.org.


Community Food Funders Newslink


Community Food Funders has opened up their newsletter to a wider audience (so not just food funders). "Each month, CFF compiles a newsletter with news, articles, reports, and events for those in our region interested in an equitable and sustainable food system." Highlights on this month's newsletter include:


  • Study: Food insecurity among households with children during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic - Understanding impacts of the COVID-19 pan­demic among households with children is neces­sary to design appropriate public health responses that protect food and nutrition security. The objec­tive of this research was to understand predictors of food insecurity during the COVID-19 pandemic among households with at least one child. Con­sistent with other data collected and analyzed dur­ing the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, this study contributes findings that emphasize the need for enhanced public health responses and emer­gency preparedness measures that protect food and nutrition security.

  • Food Forward NYC: 2-Year Progress Report - Food Forward NYC is the City’s first ever 10-year food policy plan, laying out an comprehensive policy framework to reach a more equitable, sustainable, and healthy food system by 2031. Food Forward NYC emphasizes the importance of equity and choice - enabling a food system where everyone should be able to access the food they want wherever they may want it. To enable this choice, we need to support both our food workers and our food businesses. To strengthen the sustainability and resiliency of our food system, we need to rethink our food infrastructure and deepen our connections with the region.

  • NY Healthy Food, Healthy Lives Match Program - This ioby match opportunity may be of interest to BIPOC-led organizations using grassroots fundraising approaches to support food justice work in New York State. For approved participants, donors are matched up to $1,000 and projects may access up to $5,000 in matching, until the program ends. Learn about eligibility requirements and share your idea.

  • Dyson Foundation Mini-Grant Program - The Dyson Foundation’s mini-grant program funds capacity-building projects that improve a nonprofit’s administrative, governance, or programmatic functions. Mini-grants enable nonprofit board, staff, and volunteer leaders to develop new skills through specific consultant-led capacity-building activities, or through conferences, seminars, and other relevant training opportunities. Mini-grants are available to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations and libraries in the Mid-Hudson Valley. Grants are available on a rolling basis.

I will continue to include highlights from each month's newsletter on our weekly resource round-ups but if you would like to subscribe yourself, the link is here. The link to last month's newsletter is here and their archive is here.


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That's all for this week -- thanks for all you do!


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