Select Page

Helpful Resources During Pandemic

This page offers practical resources to help you cope with disruptive hardships during the crisis phase of this pandemic and beyond. The occasional links to commercial websites are for information purposes only and not to promote any products or services. More community assistance may be found on https://covid19.sanantonio.gov/Assistance.

24/7 Mental Health Support Line

Texas Health and Human Services launched a 24/7 statewide mental health support line to help Texans experiencing anxiety, stress or emotional challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Call toll-free at 1.833.986.1919 anytime to speak to a counselor. 

CoSA COVID-19 Emergency Housing Assistance Program

Approved by City Council on 4/23/2020, this new program provides eligible residents with rent, mortgage, utility and internet access assistance. In addition, cash funds are paid directly to residents for groceries, medicine and fuel in an amount not to exceed $300. Apply at https://www.sanantonio.gov/NHSD/Programs/FairHousing or call 311.

How to Apply for Unemployment

You can learn how to complete, submit, and confirm an Unemployment Insurance application online at the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) website. ​

To apply for Unemployment Benefits, check claim status, and general Unemployment information: ui.texasworkforce.org or call 1-800-939-6631 M-F 8-5​

See more Covid-19 related jobs information at https://guides.mysapl.org/Unemployment and https://guides.mysapl.org/jsbc.

Protect Your Health at Work

Risk to US workers

Controlling exposures among workers with risk

Concerned about health and safety on the job? Learn about your rights under OSHA law, and how to take action if you think something is wrong https://www.osha.gov/workers/index.html

Employees have a right to file a safety and health complaint or a whistleblower complaint. Here’s how https://www.osha.gov/workers/file_complaint.html

Paid Leave under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/pandemic

Domestic Violence Protection

Family Violence Prevention Services offers emergency shelter and legal assistance. Crisis hotline 210-733-8810.

National Domestic Violence Hotline (800) 799-7233  is available 24/7 to talk confidentially with anyone experiencing domestic violence, seeking resources or information, or requesting assistance with unhealthy aspects of their relationship.

See also ChildSafe and other domestic violence resources.

Food Assistance

            San Antonio Food Bank https://safoodbank.org/cvresponse/ 

            Call 211, a free social service hotline that helps people find information about local resources in their community.

Education Assistance

Explore online courses and educational content for adults and K-12 students https://www.everyoneon.org/digital-learning

Region ESC-20 https://www.esc20.net/apps/news/ 

Computer and Internet Access

Public computers are available for one-hour appointments at nine SAPL locations: Bazan, Carver, Collins Garden, Cortez, Johnston, Mission, Pan American, Schaefer, Westfall. See https://guides.mysapl.org/covid-19/how-to for more information or call 210-207-2500 M-F 9-5. Public Wi-Fi is freely available outside all SAPL locations (except Briscoe Portal and Pruitt Branch), daily from 7:30 a.m. -10:30 p.m.

Public computers, printing, scanning, faxing also available at BiblioTech, Bexar County’s All-Digital Public Library, at three locations: South (3505 Pleasanton Rd, 210-631-0180), East (1203 N Walters St, 210-631-0230), West (2003 S Zarzamora St, 210-631-0190), M-F 9-5. To check out a hotspot or tablet, please call ahead to reserve the device.

Guide to low-cost Internet https://www.everyoneon.org/find-offers

From AT&T https://www.att.com/shop/internet/access/#!/ 

From Spectrum https://www.spectrum.com/browse/content/spectrum-internet-assist.html

Coronavirus Tax Relief and Economic Impact Payments

Tax deadline extended to July 15. More tax relief info https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus-tax-relief-and-economic-impact-payments

IRS has started sending payments to most Americans in April: What you need to know about payments

Managing Debt

The The National Consumer Law Center (NCLC) Digital Library has made one of their most popular works Surviving Debt available to all for free during the COVID-19 emergency https://library.nclc.org/node/184511

Also available to the public for free is Appendix G from NCLC’s Collection Actions: a state-by-state summary of protections from judgment creditors   https://library.nclc.org/ca/ag01

Voices for Children

Voices for Children of San Antonio expands our community’s capacity to respond to current and emerging needs of children through purposeful and strategic advocacy that improves programs, practices and policy. They have compiled a list of COVID-19 Resources which can be found at https://www.voicessa.org/covid-19-resources

Voices for Children also offers many Early Childhood training events. Registration and more information can be found at https://www.voicessa.org/

Start Your Recovery

StartYourRecovery.org is an important resource for individuals who may be struggling with substance use disorder. This groundbreaking website was developed by bringing together experts in substance misuse treatment from leading nonprofit, academic, and government institutions. Through this important resource, individuals can hear stories from people with similar life experiences, discover the answers they need for recognizing and dealing with substance misuse, and locate support. You can learn more about us here https://startyourrecovery.org/

Expertise.com – Assisted Living Facilities 

 Expertise.com has a new resource for senior citizens. This company is passionate about supporting local businesses and services and they conduct extensive research to find and highlight the best of the best. They have compiled a list of 2021’s 18 Best Assisted Living Facilities in San Antonio and hope this resource will help seniors find the right place to call home. You can find the list here https://www.expertise.com/tx/san-antonio/assisted-living