Resources During COVID-19

Check out the community resources available for San Antonio residents.

Healthcare & COVID-19 Testing

Federally Qualified Clinics for Uninsured Persons

Housing and Rental Assistance

• Neighborhood and Housing Services is offering emergency rent and housing assistance during this time. Click the link to access the application or call 210–207–5910 for further assistance.
• Rental Assistance — The Salvation Army assists individuals and families who are struggling to pay their rent. They are often able to assist those facing eviction.
• SAMMinistries — Offers rental assistance, utility support and long-term housing assistance.
• Fair Housing and Emergency Assistance — Effective March 18, 2020, the City’s Fair Housing Division is accepting emergency rent and mortgage assistance referrals.
• Fair Housing Council — The Council’s programs and services, such as complaint investigation, advocacy, and education & outreach are available to consumers living in this South Texas service area.
• COVID-19 in Texas: State and Local Housing Stability Policies
• To see which local properties are subject to the federal CARES Act protection for tenants, review the best available data here. For more information on tenant protections during COVID-19, click here.
• The Federal Housing Finance Agency has released two tools that help renters check if their properties are financed by federally backed mortgages. To learn if your property is covered, visit KnowYourOptions.com or Freddie Mac’s website.
• The City of San Antonio and Bexar County want to remind the community of renter protections during this time. Click on the link to access resources available to you.
• City of San Antonio and Bexar County remind renters of their protections amidst the COVID-19 pandemic:
• Federal Tenant Protections: A 120-day moratorium on evictions for any residential property that receives federal housing funds, including both public housing and mixed income housing beginning March 27, 2020 and ending on July 24, 2020.
• Tenants who have experienced harassment in the form of illegal lockouts from their home can find self-help packets here. Frequently asked questions on your rights as a tenant or landlord can be found here.

Utility Assistance

• Request for Utility Assistance — This program assists with utility assistance for CPS Energy and assists with an Affordability Discount Program Application. Seniors, families with young children, individuals with disabilities, and individuals using critical medical care equipment are eligible to apply.
• Residential Energy Assistance Partnership — Are you in need of utility assistance? You may qualify for the Residential Energy Assistance Partnership (REAP) by CPS. Click here to find out more on qualifications.
• AT&T is providing 60 days of free internet service

Food Resources

• San Antonio Food Bank — Network of food pantries and mobile food distributions remains fully operational and open to the public for help.
• School Meals Map — shows students where they can find breakfast and lunch near them for free. Please check with your school district for regular updates.
• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program — provides money for food, and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children provides resources for pregnant women and people with children younger than 5.
• Meals on Wheels — is providing meals to at-risk senior’s in the community.
• Little Free Pantry — is a grassroots, crowd sourced solution that facilitates feeding neighbors and bringing attention to food insecurity.
• Jefferson Outreach is providing no cost food delivery to seniors 60+

Family & Childcare Assistance

• Childcare Assistance — The United Way of San Antonio and Bexar County are providing emergency childcare assistance for residents who qualify.
• United Way Helpline -2–1–1 is a social service hotline that helps people in the region find information about local resources in their community.
• COVID-19 Emergency Childcare Assistance — Financial assistance for those in need of childcare assistance.

Financial Assistance

• Endeavors — is offering immediate financial assistance for qualifying veterans. If you are a veteran in need of assistance can call (210) 469–9664 or email SSVF-SA@endeavors.org.
• VITA is offering 5 locations to help with tax services — Free tax services for the community.

Small Business Assistance

• LiftFund — Small, minority, and women-owned businesses may qualify for 0% interest loans from between $500 to $100,000.
• San Antonio Apartment Association (SAAA) Resident Resource Page
• Coronavirus (COVID-19): Small Business Guidance & Loan Resource

Employment and Workforce Development

• The Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) is issuing guidance to unemployment claimants concerning their continued eligibility for unemployment benefits should they refuse rehire.
• Career in Focus — UTSA has launched workforce initiatives for San Antonio citizens. Programs such as Job Jumpstart and Career Builder Badges are being offered online and many are completely free of charge.
• Bartender Emergency Assistance Program

Consumer Protection

• Beware of price gouging. It is illegal to raise the cost of necessary supplies at any point during a declared disaster. Call the Office of the Attorney General’s toll-free complaint line at (800) 621–0508 or file a complaint online.

Libraries and Digital Access

• Senior Planet — Senior Planet harnesses technology to change the way we age. Our courses, programs, and activities help seniors learn new skills, save money, get in shape, and make new friends.
• Bibliotech- BiblioTech features several collections of downloadable ebooks and audiobooks for all ages, including best sellers, classics, graphic novels, indie picks and much more.

Physical and Mental Well-Being

• Hearts Need Art, a community non-profit, is offering digital support for caregivers and patients in the medical community in an effort to reduce social isolation. If interested, you can schedule one-on-one zoom sessions with artists free of charge without the need for prior experience.
• Texas Health and Human Services has launched a 24/7 statewide mental health support line to help Texans experiencing anxiety, stress or emotional challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This new resource offers COVID-19-related mental health support for all Texans. People can call the Statewide COVID-19 Mental Health Support Line 24 hours a day, 7 days a week toll-free at 833–986–1919.
• Crisis Text Line — Are you feeling anxious about COVID-19? To get free confidential, 24/7 support for anxiety, text “HOME” to 741741.
• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA’s) Disaster Distress Hotline: 1–800–985–5990 or text TalkWithUs to 66746.
• Free, confidential 24/7 support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for oneself and others Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1–800–273-TALK
• San Antonio Clubhouse — provide community, opportunity and hope for adults diagnosed with mental illness.