1. COVID-19 Resource Hub
2. Emergency Social Services

Emergency Social Services - COVID-19

Patients of NYC Health + Hospitals may be encountering new challenges in meeting their daily needs. Restrictions on regular operations in NYC have led to changes in social service delivery. This page has updated information on available social services to support staff to meet their patients’ social, financial, and legal needs.

Contact the Social Determinants Team at socialdeterminants@nychhc.org with any questions.

Resources for Patients

This Emergency Social Services List for NYC Health + Hospitals Patients is a curated inventory of resources for frontline NYC Health + Hospitals staff on a range of topics, including food, burial assistance, and financial assistance. Here are some highlights:

Food:

• Patients can visit certain public schools to pick up food for themselves and their family members Monday through Friday. Text “FOOD” or “COMIDA” to 877-877 to find the nearest school.
• Call 311 and say “GetFood” or visit nyc.gov/getfood for information about the closest food pantry or to determine eligibility for free meal delivery.

Legal Services:

• The COVID-19 crisis has generated many new legal questions for NYC Health + Hospitals patients. LegalHealth attorneys are available to speak with staff and patients at (929) 333-2264 or legalhealthtriage@nylag.org. All legal services are conducted telephonically at this time, and are completely free, confidential and voluntary.

Free Financial Services for New Yorkers Currently Offered Through the Government:

• New York State is guaranteeing Paid Sick Leave and Paid Family Leave for individuals who must miss work because of COVID-19
• For those that have not yet received the federal Economic Impact Payment and have questions the IRS can help.
• Patients experiencing job loss can apply for Unemployment Insurance (UI) and Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) through the NY Department of Labor (DOL).
• NYC Financial Empowerment Centers offer free financial counseling by phone in various languages and can help with questions, such as accessing the stimulus payment, opening bank accounts, or contacting creditors. Visit nyc.gov/TalkMoney to book an appointment. They run NYC Free Tax Prep, which provides free assistance to file taxes online or by phone to ensure patients who are eligible access the Earned Income Tax Credit.

COVID-19 Emergency Financial Hardship Grant:

• An "Emergency Financial Hardship Grant" is available for COVID-19 patients at NYC Health + Hospitals. Eligible patients will be awarded a one-time, unconditional grant of $1,000 from New York Disaster Interfaith Services for living expenses (e.g. food, bills) to address financial challenges related to a COVID-19 diagnosis. Please consult with social workers on your team about referring patients to this program. Eligibility criteria and program details are outlined in the online referral form. Please note, you must use your H+H credentials (user name and password) to access this form.

Mental Health:

• Contact NYC Well for free confidential support available 24/7: Call 1-888-NYC-WELL (1-888-692-9355), text “WELL” to 65173, or chat through the website.

Burial Assistance:

• The NYC HRA Office of Burial Services is offering expanded funds to cover burial costs for low income New Yorkers who do not have resources to pay for their funeral. There is no longer an immigration restriction. Loved ones can access the application in various languages and submit it online, by mail, or in person within 120 days from the date of the decedent’s death.
• Beginning in April 2021, FEMA will provide financial assistance for funeral expenses incurred after Jan. 20, 2020 for deaths related to COVID-19 to help ease some of the financial stress and burden caused by the pandemic. To determine eligibility for FEMA funeral assistance and gather needed documents, visit FEMA COVID-19 Funeral Assistance​.

Resources for Immigrant New Yorkers:

• Many city services are available to all New Yorkers regardless of immigration status or ability to pay, although other eligibility requirements may apply. The Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs has created a website with detailed information in many languages on resources available for immigrants in NYC.

Mutual Aid Societies for New Yorkers

• Mutual Aid NYC is a collection of mutual aid societies across the five boroughs. Created and run by community members in specific geographic areas, New Yorkers have come together to help one another. Patients can ask for assistance from mutual aid societies in a variety of areas. These may include, but are not limited to: help with grocery shopping, picking up prescriptions, transportation assistance, friendly visits (virtual options), help with pets, etc. Patients can call the Mutual Aid NYC Hotline at 646-437-8080 in multiple languages.