COVID-19 Community Resources

COVID-19 Pandemic Information

For information regarding the global pandemic and the latest guidance from Virginia public health officials,

Communicating about COVID-19

Unemployment and other Public Benefits

Online Connectivity for Students Who Lack It

Minimizing Your Risks of Getting COVID-19

COMMUNITY RESOURCES BY REGION

Food, Housing, Goods, Transit, Health, Money, Care, Education, Work, and Legal

ALL AREAS

Utilities

  • Utilities– State Corporation Commission (SCC) 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.
  • Washington Gas waiving late fees and suspending disconnections.
  • Virginia Natural Gas suspends service disconnections

Power

  • Dominion Energy– Temporarily not shutting off power for nonpayment. Reconnecting residential customers whose services were shut off.
  • American Electric Power temporarily suspends non-payment disconnections ○ Appalachian Power is also temporarily suspending all disconnections for non-payment as the coronavirus (COVID-19)
  • Atmos Energy has temporarily suspended natural gas disconnections.

Housing

Unemployment

  • No waiting for unemployment benefits. Governor Northam has directed the Commissioner of the Virginia Employment Commission to waive the one-week waiting period to ensure workers can receive benefits as soon as possible.
  • Enhanced eligibility for unemployment. Workers may be eligible to receive unemployment benefits if an employer needs to temporarily slow or cease operations due to COVID-19.
  • Fewer restrictions. For individuals receiving unemployment insurance, Governor Northam is directing the Virginia Employment Commission to give affected workers special consideration on deadlines, mandatory re-employment appointments, and work search requirements.

Internet/Phone

Comcast, Charter, Verizon, Google, T-Mobile and Sprint have signed a pledge to keep Americans internet-connected for the next 60 days, even if people cannot afford to pay.

  • Comcast
    • No Disconnects or Late Fees
    • Xfinity WiFi Free For Everyone. Xfinity WiFi hotspots across the country will be available to anyone who needs them for free – including non-Xfinity Internet subscribers. For a map of Xfinity WiFi hotspots, visit www.xfinity.com/wifi.
    • Pausing data plans for 60 days giving all customers Unlimited data for no additional charge.
    • Internet Essentials Free to New Customers- New customers will receive 60 days of complimentary Internet Essentials service. The deadline to apply to that program is April 30.
  • AT&T
    • The cable, phone and media giant is suspending the termination of wireless, home phone or broadband service when customers can’t pay their bills because of coronavirus disruptions. The company is also waiving related late fees. Like Comcast, AT&T is also providing free access to its public WiFi hot spots. The company also said its consumer home internet wireline customers and fixed wireless internet customers would receive unlimited data.
  • Verizon
    • Verizon said it is waiving late fees and suspending service termination for customers “negatively impacted by the global crisis.”
  • T-Mobile
    • The mobile phone service provider is providing unlimited data to all current customers who have plans with data for the next 60 days. It will also provide additional data to mobile hotspot users.
  • Charter Communications
    • ○ The telecommunications company is providing free Spectrum broadband and Wi-Fi internet for the next 60 days to households with K-12 students or college students who don’t already have a subscription. Like Comcast and AT&T, it’s also offering its Wi-Fi hot spots for free to the public.

Education (all schools closed at least until March 30th)

  • RVA learning at home resources
  • ABCmouse.com is offering its lessons in different subjects like math, science, and art for free thanks to UNICEF. All you have to do is go to ABCmouse.com/redeem and type in the code “AOFLUNICEF”
  • Scholastic Learn at Home is also offering its lessons for free. You can choose activities within from grade levels between PreK and 6+. These include e-books kids can read along with and educational videos under their “Watch and learn Library.”
  • Google is offering free virtual tours of more than 1,200 museums across the globe through its Arts and Culture platform.

Health and Wellness

Automotive

  • GRTC (RVA bus system) is suspending all onboard fare collection and enforcement. Effective March 19th 2020.
  • Department of Motor VehicleOffice Closures
    • For those who cannot renew online, or whose license or registration expires before May 15, DMV will grant a 60-day extension.
  • U-Haul has announced 30 days of free self-storage to all college students who have been impacted by schedule changes at their universities.
  • Hyundai:
    • The automaker is reviving its Hyundai AssuranceJob Loss Protection Program to give owners “peace of mind in uncertain times” as the coronavirus outbreak leads to concerns that Americans will stop buying new cars and trucks. Hyundai said the program will provide up to six months of car payments to new buyers if they lose their jobs involuntarily. It will also provide 90 days of payment deferral on new purchases.
  • Ford Motor
    • Ford is offering customers”potential delay of payments to provide relief.” It’s also providing new-car buyers the chance to delay their first payment by 90 days.
  • Enterprise
    • The rental car company is reducing the minimum age for renting a car to 18 through May 31 “to make it easier for students to get home to their families”due to the suspension of college courses.

CENTRAL VIRGINIA & LYNCHBURG

NEW RIVER VALLEY

ROANOKE VALLEY

SHENANDOAH VALLEY & CHARLOTTESVILLE

SOUTHSIDE