Financial Relief

401K Hardship Distribution under the CARES Act

Up to $100,000 may be available without early withdrawal penalty and with 3-year repayment option by a participant: (i) who is diagnosed with COVID-19; (ii) whose spouse/dependent is diagnosed with COVID-19; or (iii) who experiences adverse financial consequences as a result of being unable to work because of COVID-19.

Mortgages, Rent, Auto Loans, Housing Credit

Information about deferrals: https://www.bankrate.com/banking/coronavirus-list-of-banks-offering-help-to-customers-financial-hardship/

Rent Assistance: Georgia Rent Assistance

Fannie Mae Homeowners Assistance: Certain Fannie Mae homeowners who have lost income/jobs due to the coronavirus outbreak may be eligible to have their mortgage payments reduced or suspended for up to 12 months.

The United Way of Greater Atlanta and Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta have started a Greater Atlanta COVID-19 Recovery Fund which will support the most vulnerable populations during the coronavirus pandemic, including seniors, families with children who receive school lunch, families who usually receive childcare, and hourly workers.

Bartenders: Local bar Church has closed their doors for the COVID-19 outbreak and have started a Church Staff Relief Fund to support their bartenders and bar-backs who rely heavily on tips.

Restaurant workers: https://www.garestaurants.org/covid-19-resources-for-restaurant-workers#%23

Evictions Suspended in Fulton County: https://waok.radio.com/articles/radiocom/chief-magistrate-judge-kirk-suspends-evictions-in-fulton?fbclid=IwAR3vPzpgTPFwt3AnuSxoSPVwqYhfMKU_H5qRaXQyOpDoU9p8VLkOK-JrZmY

Credit Card Financial Assistance:

https://www.cnbc.com/select/credit-card-issuers-offer-customer-assistance-amid-coronavirus-financial-hardship/

Car Payments:

https://www.edmunds.com/car-news/coronavirus-car-payment-relief-programs.html

Utilities

Georgia Power has suspended utility shut offs for 30 days.

Comcast is offering free internet for low-income households, enables free Xfinity wifi hot spots around the county and has no disconnections or late fees for 60 days.

AT&T is not terminating any wireless, home phone or broadband service, is waiving late payment fees, removing data caps and is keeping wifi hotspots open for free. Full details available here.

Georgia Utility Assistance

Taxes & Student Loans

The deadline to file federal and Georgia taxes has been extended to July 15, 2020.

Student loans payments have been suspended for 60 days. Learn more.

Hospitality Workers

Another Round, Another Rally: Hospitality financial resource nonprofit Another Round, Another Rally is offering $500 relief grants for hospitality workers who lost their jobs or have had their hours slashed due to coronavirus. Anyone in the hospitality industry is eligible and grants are distributed via a variety of cash apps and services.

Food & Beverage Industry Workers

Giving Kitchen: This Georgia nonprofit provides relief to food and beverage industry workers in crisis. They are accepting donations of any amount and have a list of resources for restaurant workers on their website.

Lift Your Spirits: The National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation is operating a “tip your bartender” campaign that will raise cash for foodservice industry workers whose livelihoods are significantly impacted by COVID-19. Those who wish to participate must make a video of themselves mixing their favorite drink and toasting those affected in foodservice and hospitality; post the video to social media with #LiftYourSpirits; challenge friends to participate as well; and send a “tip” donation to the Association’s Educational Foundation.

Restaurant Workers’ Community Foundation: This emergency fund is geared towards individual restaurant workers undergoing financial hardship due to the coronavirus. The fund is also providing zero interest loans for businesses to maintain payroll during closures or reopen once the virus begins to recede.

One Fair Wage: One Fair Wage’s Emergency Coronavirus Tipped and Service Worker Support Fund serves to give cash assistance to any service industry employee who needs it. The program is open to restaurant workers as well as delivery drivers and others. Workers who are already members of One Fair Wage or who sign up and participate in a confirmation interview will be qualified to receive assistance.

Unite Here Education and Support Fund: Unite Here is amassing funds to cover vital needs for hospitality workers who have been laid-off or made underemployed by covid-19. The group’s funds are used for maintaining family health insurance; food, rent, and utilities; replacing lost wages; and retraining for new jobs during the business downturn.

Go Tip ‘Em: Go Tip ‘Em gives people the chance to help a bartender affected by the coronavirus by donating to a virtual tip jar. All donors need to do is post a photo of a beer, wine, spirit, or cocktail on social media with #gotipem, select a bartender from a list on the Go Tip ‘Em site, and then send any amount to that bartender’s preferred payment service.

Spill the Dish: Spillthedish was designed to assist foodservice workers in locating healthy and supportive restaurant work environments. Now, the service is redirecting its efforts to support restaurant owners, donors, and employees with a database of funding opportunities available to those in the industry. Users can search specific results and even break them down by state.

USBG Bartender Emergency Assistance Program: The U.S. Bartenders Guild is running a covid-19 relief campaign that awards bartenders and their families with grants. The funds are available to even those who are not USBG members and bartenders, bar backs, bar servers, or anyone else engaged in the service of alcoholic beverages can apply.

Assistance for those who have tested positive for COVID-19:

• Giving Kitchen
• CORE (Children of Restaurant Employees)