COVID-19 Resources for Immigrant Communities - MOIA

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COVID-19 Resources for Immigrant Communities
Health and Disability Access

COVID-19 Resources for Immigrant Communities

Health and Disability Access


COVID-19 Resources for Immigrant Communities

The City of New York is committed to helping New Yorkers significantly affected by COVID-19. Many city services are available to all New Yorkers no matter what your immigration status is and regardless of your ability to pay, although other eligibility requirements may apply.

The information on available services and resources is frequently changing. For updated information, visit nyc.gov/coronavirus and follow @NYCHealthy and @NYCImmigrants on Twitter.

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COVID-19 Guidance and Treatment

New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) regularly updates the guidance on what to do to prevent COVID-19. Visit the DOHMH webpage on COVID-19 Prevention.

To recognize COVID-19 symptoms and learn about what to do if you test positive, visit the DOHMH webpage on COVID-19 Symptoms and Care.

What to Do If You Have COVID-19

COVID-19 Vaccination

For information about who is eligible for vaccines, where you can get it, and what are the accurate facts about different types of vaccines, visit the DOHMH webpage on COVID-19 Vaccines.

NYC COVID-19 Vaccine Finder
If you have questions, call 833-NYS-4VAX (833-697-4829).

COVID-19 Testing

For information about information about when to get tested, the types of COVID-19 tests available and how to interpret tests results, visit the DOHMH webpage on COVID-19 Testing.

To find a testing site near you visit gov/covidtest. You can also call 212-COVID19 (212-268-4319).

COVID-19 and Immigration Concern

As of March 9, 2021, the new Public Charge rule is blocked nationwide. The S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has stated that it will return to using policies in place before the new Public Charge rule.

Many immigrants are not affected by the "Public Charge" test. There is no "Public Charge" test when green card holders apply for citizenship.

All New Yorkers in need of medical care, food assistance, and other benefits and services should seek the help they need without fear. Many health and social services—including COVID-19 testing, vaccinations, and care, food assistance, tenant protection, and free legal help—are available to New Yorkers no matter your immigration status or ability to pay. Information can be found on this page or call 311 to learn about available services and resources in your language.

There are strong privacy protections in place for all health care patients regardless of immigration status. Under federal law, hospitals and clinics do not share patient information without patient authorization, unless required to do so by law.

Health Care and Wellbeing

NYC Health + Hospitals provides care to all New Yorkers, no matter what your immigration status or insurance status is. Visit Visit NYC Health + Hospitals, or call 844-NYC-4NYC (844-692-4692) or 311.

NYC Care is a health care access program that guarantees low-cost and no-cost services offered by NYC Health + Hospitals to New Yorkers who do not qualify for or cannot afford health insurance. Visit nyc, or call 646-NYC-Care (646-692-2273) or 311.

New York City is home to many community health centers that provide medical care on a sliding-fee basis, depending on your income. This care is available to everyone, regardless of immigration status. Visit HRSA.gov to find a location near you.

If you are feeling anxious, stressed or overwhelmed, connect with trained counselors at NYC Well, the City's free, confidential helpline available in 200+ languages. Call 888-NYC-WELL (888-692-9355), text WELL to 65173, or chat online at 888-NYC-WELL (888-692-9355), text WELL to 65173, or chat online at gov/NYCWell.

New Yorkers can access NYC Health Department's COVID-19 Coping and Emotional Wellbeing webpage .

Call the New York State's COVID-19 Emotional Support Helpline at 844-863-9314 to talk to specially trained volunteer professionals. They are available to listen, support and offer referrals from 8 am to 10 pm, seven days a week. Visit 844-863-9314 to talk to specially trained volunteer professionals. They are available to listen, support and offer referrals from 8 am to 10 pm, seven days a week. Visit New York State Office of Mental Health COVID-19 Resources Webpage for more information.

Health Insurance

Many low- to no-cost health insurance plans are available to immigrants, including undocumented children and pregnant people. Medicaid, Child Health Plus, and Essential Plan are available all year around.

Visit the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene website to make an appointment, or call 311. You can also text CoveredNYC to 877-877 to communicate in English. Text SeguroNYC to 877-877 to communicate in Spanish.

Community Health Advocates (CHA) helps New Yorkers navigate the complex health care system by providing individual assistance and education to communities throughout New York State. CHA has a language line that can provide translation services in more than 170 languages. Call the hotline at 888-614-5400, Monday to Friday from 9 am to 4 pm

Food

SNAP: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), or food stamps, helps people with limited income buy food. Benefits are provided on an electronic card that is used like an ATM card and accepted at most grocery stores. Online application and renewal can be done via ACCESS HRA, the city's online portal that allows you to apply for and manage your public benefits case. For more information about SNAP benefits and eligibility, visit the Human Resources Administration (HRA)'s webpage on SNAP or call HRA's Infoline at 718-557-1399.

SNAP recipients in NYC can shop online for groceries at Amazon, Shoprite, or Visit HRA's webpage on SNAP online shopping.

WIC: The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) provides free healthy food and other services to low-income women and children. Visit ACCESS NYC (for Spanish, visit ACCESS NYC Español) or call HRA's Infoline at 718-557-1399.

New York City's food pantries provide groceries, and community kitchens provide hot meals. There is no income limit. Find locations near you and hours using the interactive map of Food Bank NYC. You can also call 311 and say "food pantries."

Housing and Utility

Tenant Resource Portal: The New York City Tenant Resource Portal is an online tool to help renters in New York City navigate public and private resources that can stabilize their housing situation. A tenant seeking help will be taken through a series of questions and directed to the most useful resources, including rental assistance, non-payment and holdover options, as well as the rights and protections they have based on their responses.

The latest information for NYC tenants impacted by COVID-19 and rental assistance resources can be found on the Mayor's Office to Protect Tenants' webpage.

Other Languages: Spanish/Español | Chinese (Traditional)/繁體中文 | Chinese (Simplified)/简体中文 | Russian/Русский | Arabic/العربية | Haitian Creole/Kreyòl Ayisyen | Korean/한국어 | Bengali/ বাংলা | Urdu/اردو , Polish/Polski | French/Français

For more information, visit the Mayor's Office to Protect Tenants website or the NYS Attorney General's page on COVID-19 and housing rights.

Education and Childcare

For the latest information on school operation, such as in-person classes and vaccination, visit NYC.gov

Worker Support and Financial Assistance

Workers' Rights

The NYC Department of Consumers and Worker Protection (DCWP) created a summary of City labor laws for employers and employees as you deal with the impact of COVID-19 on your workplace. Visit the DCWP website to download the summary in your preferred language.

Workers are entitled to working conditions that do not pose a risk of serious harm. What this means varies from job to job. Federal standards and directives that may apply to worker exposure to COVID-19 can be found on the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) COVID-19 webpage.

DCWP enforces the City's workplace laws and may initiate investigations against a business in response to worker complaints. File a workplace complaint if you believe a business is not in compliance with the City workplace laws mentioned above. DCWP will treat all information received as confidential and will not disclose it without your permission or unless required by law. For more information and questions about the process, call 311 or visit gov/workers. You can also email ￼OLPS@dca.nyc.gov.

Sick Leave

Even if you are undocumented, you can take sick leave and still get paid so long as you meet other eligibility requirements. Visit the DCWP website to learn more.

You may also be eligible for emergency paid sick leave for COVID-19 under New York State's law no matter what your immigration status is. Find out more by visiting the New York State Department of Labor's New Paid Leave for COVID-19 webpage or call the state's COVID-19 hotline at 888-364-3065.

Unemployment Insurance

Those seeking unemployment insurance must generally meet the following requirements:

have lost employment through no fault of your own;

have enough prior earnings from employment to establish a claim;

be ready, willing and able to work immediately;

and be actively seeking work.

For more information about unemployment insurance eligibility, application process, and payment options, visit the New York State Department of Labor Unemployment Insurance Assistance webpage and the ACCESS NYC Unemployment Insurance webpage.

If you believe you are eligible, apply online at ny.gov/signin. You may also call the New York State Department of Labor Unemployment Insurance Telephone Claim Center at 888-209-8124 if you do not have access to a computer.

Financial Support

DCWP provides financial education and counseling, safe and affordable banking options, and income-boosting tax credits. Visit the DCWP website to find out more.

Resources for LGBTQ+ New Yorkers

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the NYC Unity Project surveyed hundreds of LGBTQ program and service providers across New York City to develop a resource page. Visit the Unity Project's COVID-19 resource page for more information.

A list of food pantries and soup kitchens that have explicitly reported commitment to welcoming LGBTQ community members can be found on the Growing Up NYC Food Assistance webpage.

To make an appointment, call 212-925-5000 (after the language prompt, press 3 to speak with a nurse). Visit NYC Health + Hospitals LGBTQ Health Centers website for more information.

Burial Assistance

For the latest information about financial assistance to help you prepare for the death of your loved ones who passed away due to COVID-19, visit the HRA Office of Burial Assistance webpage.

Public Safety and Protection Against Harassment or Discrimination

Hate and discrimination against anyone on the basis of their race, national origin, or other status is not tolerated in New York City. The NYC Commission on Human Rights, Mayor's Office for the Prevention of Hate Crimes, and NYPD are monitoring and responding to reported hate and bias incidents resulting from fear and stigma related to COVID-19.

Call 311 to report harassment or discrimination.

Call 911 if you are the victim of a hate crime or witness what you believe to be a hate crime. NYPD officers will not ask about the immigration status of anyone seeking help.

Visit gov/StopCOVIDHate for information on how to report hate and bias incidents related to COVID-19, and access victim and mental health support.

Additional Resources

Questions about immigration or how to access City services? Call the MOIA hotline at 212-788-7654, Monday to Friday from 9 am to 5 pm, send an email to AskMOIA@cityhall.nyc.gov, or reach out to a MOIA Neighborhood Organizer.