COVID-19 RELIEF
LOCAL AID RESOURCES — AUSTIN
Southern Smoke has set up the Austin Relief Fund to support workers affected by SXSW and recent closures, with 90 percent of donations go to the Emergency Relief Fund, accessible to restaurants, bars, and their employees in need.
Supports nonprofits that help those affected by SXSW (think Health Alliance for Austin Musicians, etc.)
Travis County announced programs to help businesses and individuals affected by the quarantine, including the Texas Workforce Commission for unemployment benefits for those who have been laid off or furloughed.
Will not shut off utilities
Apply for unemployment benefits
News on foodbanks and access to a map of all food banks in your area; search by zip code
List of all food pantries in Austin, TX with location, contact and hours listed
Customers on low or fixed incomes who participate in certain state, federal, or local assistance programs can benefit from the City of Austin's Customer Assistance Programs (CAP) utility discounts. CAP Utility Bill Discounts can help reduce utility bills an average of $650 a year. Qualifications and applications on page
Comprehensive Energy Assistance Program
The Comprehensive Energy Assistance Program (CEAP) is a utility assistance program. CEAP is designed to assist low income households in meeting their immediate energy needs. There is also aid for long term rental payments
The Plus 1 fund helps by providing emergency financial aid to customers who are having a temporary problem paying their utility bills. Qualifications and instructions on how to apply are included
If you are a renter and need assistance with landlord issues, the Austin Tenants Council provides a Renters’ Rights Assistance Program (RRAP) for counseling and technical assistance to low-income renters on tenant-landlord issues, mediates disputes, provides workshops, and identifies fair housing issues to resolve or minimize discriminatory housing practices.
Texas Attorney General Tenant Rights
Texas Attorney General Tenant Rights website lists your rights as a tenant and lets you file a complaint with the Texas Attorney General’s Office.
Texas RioGrande Legal Aid Texas
RioGrande Legal Aid, Inc. is a non-profit organization that provides free legal services to low-income residents for renter-landlord disputes, home foreclosures, fair housing, and federally subsidized housing.
City of Austin Affordable Housing
City of Austin Affordable Housing Listing is a comprehensive database that includes affordable, income-restricted housing units in Austin that were either funded by the City of Austin, or created through development incentives or agreements with the City.
People with no insurance and no established provider experiencing coronavirus-like symptoms (e.g. fever, cough, shortness of breath) should call CommUnityCare at 512-978-8775. CommUnityCare will triage people over the phone and send them to the appropriate location. We are following Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) rapid-response protocol.
Kick Butt Coffee - Industry Free Coffee
Kick Butt Coffee is giving free coffee to those who were laid off.
Tso Chinese - Industry Free Meal
Tso Chinese Delivery is offering free meals for those in need
Vic & Al's - Industry Free Meal
Free food for those who need it, you just have to make an appointment
Amazon said 3/16 that it needs to hire 100,000 people across the U.S. to keep up with a crush of orders as the coronavirus spreads and keeps more people at home, shopping online.
Dollar General hiring
Crema Bakery & Cafe Free Meals
Crema Bakery and Cafe in South Austin is providing brown bag lunches free of charge to families or individuals who need a meal during spring break.
See today's schedule for times and locations of Mobile Loaves & Fishes' free meal trucks. This social outreach ministry also provides clothing and hygiene products. Learn more about MLF.
Angel House Soup Kitchen (Austin Baptist Chapel)
908 E. Cesar Chavez | 512-643-2327
Breakfast 9:30 AM Monday–Friday, 9 AM Saturday and 8:45 AM Sunday. Lunch daily 11 AM–12:30 PM.
The Meals on Wheels Texas website allows Texans to search for local Meals on Wheels chapters that are providing meals