Information about COVID-19

General Information about COVID-19 – City, County, State, and Federal

Dallas County Health and Human Services

972-692-2780; 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM, Monday – Friday.

City of Dallas

Texas Department of State Health Services

US Center for Disease Control

Help for Individuals:

Employment: 

• Unemployment Benefits Services – If your employment has been affected by the coronavirus (COVID-19), apply for benefits either online using Unemployment Benefits Services or by calling TWC’s Tele-Center at 800-939-6631 from 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Central Time Monday through Friday; and from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. on Saturday. Please note that per the Workforce Commission, “a delay in filing will not impact the benefits you receive, your benefits are tied to your date of layoff, not filing date.”
  • The Texas Workforce Commission has launched a new automated virtual assistant to help Texans sign up for unemployment insurance. The artificial intelligence-enabled chatbot can instantly answer many of the most common questions about the UI process
  • Anyone whose job has brought them into direct contact with someone with coronavirus (for instance, a first responder or a health care worker) and has become ill or is required to quarantine can file for WORKERS’ COMP. File for that here.
• Disaster Licensing for Out of State Nurses – Learn More Here.
• The North Texas Food Bank has announced it is partnering with a flexible-work company to employ hospitality industry workers who have lost their employment due to restaurant and business closures. Apply online at Get Shift Done.
• Workforce Solutions of Greater Dallas has resources for job seekers. Those seeking employment can register at workintexas.com.
• The Dallas Regional Chamber has launched a virtual job board that offers listings to individuals who need leads for in-demand jobs; access to online courses to upskill into high-demand, well-paying jobs; childcare resources for parents involved in essential work; and links to help workers to file for unemployment claims.
• Frito-Lay Job Postings: https://fritolayemployment.com/
• Pepsi Jobs Postings: https://pepsifrontlinecareers.com/
• Kroger Job Postings: https://jobs.kroger.com
• Amazon Job Postings:  https://www.amazon.jobs/en/location/dallasfort-worth-area-tx
• You can email Goodwill at jobs@goodwilldallas.org with your name, city/zip code, contact number and any additional information. A Goodwill Job Connection Center Manager or Specialist will contact you directly and set up an appointment for virtual employment services. You can also contact a Job Connection Center by phone at the location nearest you:
  • 3020 N. Westmoreland Rd, Dallas, TX 75212: 214-638-2800 x185
  • 1661 E. Northwest Hwy., Garland, TX 75041: 214-227-5549
  • 919 W. Main Street, Lewisville, TX 75067: 972-436-3681

Housing:

• Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins’ Order states that Dallas County Justices of the Peace cannot proceed with evictions until May 18, 2020 (date subject to change). If you have concerns, volunteer attorneys are on stand-by to assist. Send an email to: DallasEvictions2020@gmail.com, and a volunteer lawyer will get back with you. Include your name, contact and landlord information, and other pertinent facts. The service is free.
• The federal government announced they are suspending all HUD foreclosures and evictions until May 18, 2020.

If you don’t have enough money to pay, contact your lender or landlord immediately. Help includes:

• If you are a Dallas Housing Authority client, please immediately report any loss of income in order to reduce your portion of rent and inspections will be restricted to health and safety only.
• Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center Social Services – 214-670-8416
• West Dallas Multipurpose Center Social Services – 214-670-653
• Texas Health and Human Services Commission has resources available. There may be vouchers to assist those in need with paying their rent. Also get government assistance with other needs, including lease application fees, information on low income housing and security deposits. Dial 1-877-541-7905 to find additional ways to get rent help.
• Texas offers programs that can help you with paying your mortgage and also avoid foreclosure. Local resources, including government and non-profit assistance, can help qualified homeowners
• Homeowners have other resources too. Also click here for a listing of Texas HUD counseling agencies that provide free foreclosure counseling.
• Information from the City of Dallas on eviction and foreclosure can be found
• Information from the City of Dallas on Housing and Urban Development COVID-19 Funding Allocation can be found
• The Entrepreneurship and Community Development Clinic at The University of Texas School of Law has launched a new website that tracks housing policies adopted by the federal government, State of Texas, and local jurisdictions to help Texas residents stay in their homes during the COVID-19 pandemic and accompanying financial crisis. The site covers renter protections, foreclosure protections, and utility access protections. 
• The City of Dallas Fair Housing and Human Rights Office has information here.
• Eldercare – Older adults who need assistance can contact the Eldercare Locator to find services available in their community. The Eldercare Locator can be reached at 1-800-677-1116. Learn more here.

Bill & Utility Payment Assistance:

• FindHelp.org – provides a list of local entities who may be able to provide some assistance. Learn more here.
• The Salvation Army is offering financial assistance for rent/mortgage, utilities and prescription medication; and food delivery for seniors and veterans. Income verification and other typical requirements for assistance have been suspended to serve anyone that is in need. Check here for the location nearest you.
• The Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUC) has ordered that water and sewer providers to suspend disconnections across the state until further notice. The PUC also requested that electricity providers suspend disconnections and offer deferred payment plans to customers. Learn more here.
  • Dallas Water Utilities has suspended water service disconnects until further notice. Customers whose ability to pay utility bills has been impaired by COVID-19 should contact Water Customer Service at 214-651-1441 to make payment arrangements.  Learn more here.
  • Garland Residents – the City of Garland will not disconnect electric or water service for late or lack of utility bill payment. Contact Utility Customer Service at 972-205-2671 or CustServ@GarlandTX.gov Learn more here.
  • Rowlett Residents – Utility disconnects for non-payment are suspended and late fees on water bills are also suspended. Learn more here.
  • Vistra, on behalf of TXU, Ambit, and Tri-Eagle electric is going to: waive late fees; extend payment due dates with no down payment required; reduce down payments and deferring balances over five equal installments.
  • TXU customers – TXU is providing additional bill payment assistance to customers in need through its TXU Energy AidSM program.
  • Atmos Energy may be able to provide assistance. Learn more here.
  • Reliant Customers – if you’ve been financially impacted by COVID-19, learn about their CARE program, payment extensions and deferred payment plan options via online chat, at 866-222-7100 or on the Reliant app.

Internet Access

• Charter Communications is offering free access to Spectrum Broadband and Wi-Fi for 60 days for new K-12 and College Student households. Residents should call 1-844-488-8395. Charter continues to offer Spectrum Assist for households without school-aged children and they are also opening Wi-Fi hotspots for public use.
• AT&T will continue to offer internet access for qualifying limited income households at $10/month through its Access from AT&T program. They have expanded eligibility to Access from AT&T to households participating in the National School Lunch Program and Head Start.

Food Assistance and Donation

• Here is a list of open food pantries inclusive of hours.
• North Texas Food Bank has shifted to box distribution model with partner agencies. Food4Kids and School Pantry programs remain fully functional, and they are partnering with the City to deliver snack/hydration kits to the homeless.
• The Salvation Army of North Texas is operating 13 drive-through grocery service locations in Collin, Dallas, Denton, Ellis and Tarrant counties to support families experiencing a loss in income or lowered wages due to the coronavirus outbreak. Income verification and other assistance requirements have been suspended. Food pantries will continue to operate without disruption. To find a list of drive-through grocery service locations and hours of operations, please visit salvationarmydfw.org/.
• Dallas County Health and Human Services Older Adult Services Program is currently providing meals delivered to homebound seniors. There is a drive-thru for hot meal pick-up service set up at each senior center location. Seniors needing these resources can call 214-819-1860 to enroll.
• Crossroads Community Services food pantry details can be found here.
• The City of Dallas WIC Program will be offering WIC benefits by phone only from  March 21, 2020 to April 3, 2020. Please contact us using one of the following:
  • If you need benefits for the first time, please enroll at www.texaswic.org, and you will be contacted. Call 214-670-7200. Or call 1-800-942-3678. Update your contact information by emailing olga.sauceda@dallascityhall.com. Breastfeeding questions? Call 214-670-7222.

• Meals will be provided to all children at most district middle and high schools and will be distributed twice a week, on Monday and Thursday between 10 AM and 1 PM. On Monday you will receive Breakfast, Lunch, and Supper for Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. Thursday will have Breakfast, Lunch, and Supper for the rest of the week, including Saturday. For pick up locations and menus, visit this link.
• KIPP charter schools providing healthy, ready-to-heat breakfast and lunch to any student 19 or younger in our communities, not just to students enrolled at a KIPP Texas campus. Our meal pickup details are all available through the Texas Education Agency’s new meal finder website.
• Pet food resource – any family, community organization, or rescue group who needs help with dog food; please feel free to reach out to Ninfa Beltran with the SPCA at nbeltran@spca.org. She will be coordinating and facilitating the distribution of dog food.

Misc.

• SNAP and Medicaid recipients will see their program coverage extended without needing to reapply. Also, households can now apply for SNAP, the federal food assistance program, without needing to complete an interview, as long as they verify their identities. Learn more here.
• 211 Texas– Dial 2-1-1 to for a list of local financial and in-kind resources available in your area. This Texas Health and Human Services Commission program has a specific COVID-19 option, and specialists across the state are available 24/7 to answer the most frequently asked, non-medical, questions based on material provided by DSHS and CDC.  Learn more here.
• Driver’s License Renewal– The Department of Public Safety is waiving the expiration dates of all DLs, CDLs, and IDs. It is recommended to postpone non-essential trips to government offices. Learn more here.
• Vehicle Registration and Disabled Parking Placards– Texas has suspended penalties for failure to timely title and register a vehicle and renew disabled parking placards. Learn more here.
• Garland Residents – Public WiFi is now available at most City buildings, including libraries, recreation centers, City Hall, theaters and more. Even while the buildings are closed, the GarlandPublic WiFi coverage extends outside and is available for free. Find a list of locations here.
• Student Loans – the US Department of Education has suspended federal student loan payments and waived interest. Learn more here.
• Price Gouging is illegal. Please report to the Texas Attorney General if you witness it happening.

Addison residents – Restaurants with to-go dining options.

Coppell residents – Restaurants with to-go dining options.

Dallas residents – Restaurants with to-go dining options.

Help for Parents

Due to COVID-19, YMCA branches are currently closed; however, they continue to offer limited childcare programming on a daily basis, supporting the childcare needs of first responders, medical professionals, government officials, and those that must continue their work in this challenging time. This care will be offered until further notice, at 11 YMCA branches across the Dallas Metroplex, in accordance to state guidelines.  Learn more here.

STAAR Testing – The state has waived the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) testing requirements for the 2019-2020 school year. Learn more here.

The Texas Education Agency (TEA) continues to work with the Office of the Governor, Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) and the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) to coordinate and plan the state’s response to COVID-19.  Learn more here.

Food Service: The Texas Education Agency is working in concert with various third parties to provide meals for school children. Learn more here.

School District Coronavirus Update Webpages:

– Dallas ISD

– Carrollton-Farmer Branch ISD

– Coppell ISD

– Garland ISD

– Highland Park ISD

– Irving ISD

– Richardson ISD

The Texas Workforce Commission’s subsidized childcare program is making changes to their requirements in light of the COVID-19 crisis. Please check their website regularly for announcements coming soon.  Learn more here.

Childcare providers – The Texas Health and Human Services Commission published new rules for child care facilities during coronavirus outbreak. Learn more here.

Help for Small Business Owners

Financing Resources:

Help for Small Business Owners – If COVID-19 has created a cash flow emergency for your business, you may be able to obtain an emergency loan from the Small Business Administration through a program created specifically to address these circumstances. The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has approved the state of Texas for access to its Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program, which will provide long-term, low-interest loans to qualifying businesses across the state. Click here to apply.

How to Apply:

1. You can apply online for an SBA disaster assistance loan.
2. You must submit the completed loan application and a signed and dated IRS Form 4506-T giving permission for the IRS to provide SBA your tax return information.
3. For additional information, please contact the SBA disaster assistance customer service center.  Call 1-800-659-2955 (TTY: 1-800-877-8339) or e-mail disastercustomerservice@sba.gov.

The SBA is also offering Express Bridge Loans, which are designed to supplement the Economic Injury Disaster loan program. Express Lenders can provide expedited SBA-guaranteed bridge loan financing on an emergency basis in amounts up to $25,000 for disaster-related purposes while businesses apply and wait for long-term financing.

Community Development Financial Institution Funds that work in Texas are providing disaster relief programs during the coronavirus outbreak.

• LiftFund will help plan and forecast for the foreseeable future as well as discuss options for finding capital. 
• PeopleFund is offering coaching and preparedness planning, in addition to financing options. 

The Product Development and Small Business Incubator Fund (PDSBI) is a Texas economic development program. The fund provides asset-backed financing to companies doing business in Texas through loans with competitive lending rates. Loans can be amortized up to the life of the asset. More information on the loans can be found here.

Alliance Lending Corporation can provide fixed-rate loans to for-profit, owner-occupied businesses across the state. The corporation specializes in commercial real estate financing up to $5.5 million. More information, including contact numbers, can be found on the organization’s website.

Facebook also has a $100 million Small Grants Program. Learn more here.

Carrollton Business Owners – Economic Development Staff is available by phone at 972-466-3299 or by email at ecodev@cityofcarrollton.com to assist local businesses and offer guidance. Learn more here.

Shared Work Program – As an alternative to layoffs, the Texas Workforce Commission is encouraging employers to enroll in the Shared Work program. A voluntary program, it was developed as a way to help Texas employers and employees withstand a business slowdown, such as occurred due to COVID-19. Under this program, an employer can supplement an employee’s lost wages because of reduced hours worked with partial unemployment benefits. Learn more here.

Healthcare Resources

The best resource is the U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention. Below is a summary of things to keep in mind. 

Where can I get Tested?

Criteria for testing sites is as follows:

• Shortness of breath
• Cough
• Must show a temperature of 99.6 or higher

The sites operate daily from 8am to 8pm and are located at:

• American Airlines Center, Parking Lot E, 2500 Victory Plaza, Dallas
• Ellis Davis Field House, 9191 S. Polk St., Dallas

What are the symptoms of COVID-19?

Much like the flu, COVID-19 causes fever, cough, body aches, fatigue, etc.; it may also cause shortness of breath.

What should I do if I feel ill?

Stay home. Call your primary care physician, and he or she will ask you questions to determine whether you should be tested for COVID-19.  If you do not have insurance, please call a physician’s office or hospital, and if appropriate, you may be referred for testing. At present, the state and counties do not have resources sufficient to test people on the basis of curiosity. However, within a matter of days commercial labs will be able to provide testing on demand.

Get a free tele-health assessment here.

How do I know if I was exposed? 

COVID-19 is transmitted by close contact with a person who has contract the virus, which includes:

• Living in the same household as a sick person with COVID-19
• Caring for a sick person with COVID-19
• Being within 6 feet of a sick person with COVID-19 for more than 10 minutes, OR
• Being in direct contact with secretions from a sick person with COVID-19 (e.g., directly through coughing or sneezing, or indirectly through sharing utensils, contact with affected surfaces, etc.).

Mental Health Resources:

The Texas Health and Human Services Commission launched a 24/7 statewide mental health support line to help Texans experiencing anxiety, stress or emotional challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Texans can call 833-986-1919 toll free. Learn more here.

The North Texas Behavioral Health Authority has opened a dedicated line to provide support within our community as we work through this difficult time. Individuals can contact the 24/7 COVID-19 Mental Health Support Line at, 833-251-7544 beginning Monday, March 23, 2020 at 12pm CST. Those needing support outside of the COVID-19 crisis can still contact our NTBHA 24/7 Crisis Line at, 866-260-8000. Learn more here.

The Metrocare Coronavirus Support Line is available during our normal business hours Monday through Friday for those Dallas County residents experiencing high anxiety or depression during these turbulent times. The Metrocare Coronavirus Support Line for Dallas County is 214-743-1215.

For Veterans in crisis – please call the Veterans Administration Crisis Line at 1-800-273-8255.