Hello everyone,
Our organization has had to make some very difficult decisions in the last few days, as have many others in our community and state. We are gathering a list of resources for people who have been laid off or are working with significantly reduced hours or wages so they can start navigating other sources of income, ways to get help with rent/mortgage and bills, coverage for medical expenses, ways to connect with others, the list goes on. Here is what has been gathered so far, we intend to update it as much as we can.
Feel free to share this with anyone whom it might be useful to, and also share any resources you are aware of that you aren’t reflected here.
Vestalia Hospitality team members, guests, and the communities we serve have always been good at coming together to share love and support for one another. Let’s widen the circle and double-down on our care and compassion. We can do this!
Find Help During Covid-19*
(Scroll down for Spanish translation/Desplácese hacia abajo para leer en Español)
Wages & Unemployment
Minnesota Unemployment Insurance:
https://www.uimn.org/?fbclid=IwAR2t2c57eUvEl0r6WOyvzVqkCDfLsFr-IuocaP_y2KgrrsA-UX6Mh81BEto
US Bartender’s Guild Emergency Relief Grant Application:
https://www.usbgfoundation.org/beap
Modest Needs is offering donations to hourly workers who won’t get paid during the COVID-19 outbreak
Medical
Medical Assistance:
Medicaid: Medicaid provides health coverage to millions of Americans, including eligible low-income adults, children, pregnant women, elderly adults and people with disabilities. Medicaid is administered by states, according to federal requirements. The program is funded jointly by states and the federal government.
https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/index.html
Health Access MN: Expands access to health care insurance, they can help you enroll for coverage and answer questions about health insurance policy. This could be a good place to start if you are feeling overwhelmed and want help deciding your best next step forward.
MNsure: Shop for individual coverage from many different plans. Many people who lost coverage due to COVID-19 layoffs will be qualified to sign up for a plan during a Special Enrollment Period (usually you can only sign up through MNsure during year-end open enrollment).
NeedyMeds: Helps patients find assistance with the costs of medication https://www.needymeds.org/questions-faqs
HealthWell: Assistance for underinsured patients living with chronic or life-altering diseases https://www.healthwellfoundation.org/patients/
National Association of Free and Charitable Clinics
https://www.nafcclinics.org/find-clinic
HRSA: Health Resources and Services Administration
https://www.hrsa.gov/get-health-care/affordable/hill-burton/facilities.html
Utilities & Household
Rent Assistance:
https://www.needhelppayingbills.com/html/minnesota_eviction_prevention_.html
Minnesota Energy Assistance:
https://mn.gov/commerce/consumers/consumer-assistance/energy-assistance/
Major Cell Phone Carriers:
LIHEAP: Low Income High Energy Assistance Program helps with energy costs https://www.acf.hhs.gov/ocs/programs/liheap
Internet for low-income applicants, you must be new to Comcast (no existing account or bills in the last 90 days)
https://www.internetessentials.com/covid19
Augrented Blog: List of some emergency tenant protections enacted during the COVID-19 outbreak
https://blog.augrented.com/renting-during-the-novel-coronavirus-outbreak/
Lifeline: Lifeline is the FCC’s program to help make communications services more affordable for low-income consumers. Lifeline provides subscribers a discount on monthly telephone service, broadband Internet access service, or voice-broadband bundled service purchased from participating providers. You may also qualify for a free phone and wireless service. https://www.lifelinesupport.org/how-to-get-lifeline
Food & Meals
Feeding America:
https://www.feedingamerica.org/find-your-local-foodbank
SNAP: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (formerly known as food stamps) https://www.benefits.gov/benefit/361
Hope Breakfast Bar: Supplying families in need with a free meal https://www.hopebreakfast.com/?fbclid=IwAR2Y5px0-rS82CH1GYYuwIBzCR-SIdDsa9MxkU1sWs6W9UKWuU0Ni3cAYAY
General Assistance
Dial 211: This is a free and confidential service that helps people find local resources
TANF: Temporary Assistance for Needy Families
https://www.acf.hhs.gov/ofa/programs/tanf
EFSP: Emergency Food and Shelter Program
(https://www.efsp.unitedway.org/efsp/website/index.cfm)
Unemployment Help
A list of help resources available for unemployed or underemployed
https://www.usa.gov/unemployment
Gig Workers Collective: An online resource to assist gig workers in times of need, link to MN specific help
https://www.gigworkerscollective.org/covid-19-resources#h.r7hz9al6o2yq
Serving Those Serving: Extensive list of online resources for assistance
http://servingthoseserving.org/help.html
How to Offer HELP – Supporting Our Industry Family
Crooked Water Spirits: All profits from March will go to support the local hospitality industry:
https://www.instagram.com/p/B91zhMqnqC3/
Hope Breakfast Bar: Volunteer or donate to help the team supply free meals to families in need https://www.hopebreakfast.com/?fbclid=IwAR2Y5px0-rS82CH1GYYuwIBzCR-SIdDsa9MxkU1sWs6W9UKWuU0Ni3cAYAY
USBG Foundation: Donate to the fund, and Jameson® Irish Whiskey is committing to give a 1:1 dollar match for every donation made to the USBG Foundation’s COVID-19 relief campaign from March 16-31, 2020 up to a maximum of $100,000.
https://usbgfoundation.networkforgood.com/projects/95524-covid-19-relief-campaign
Eater: Article on how to help our industry
*A heartfelt thank you to Amie Bresnahan, Rachael Crew, and Emily O’Brien for compiling these resources. They are amazing women doing amazing things.
Información sobre los beneficios del seguro de desempleo
Llámenos si tiene alguna pregunta o necesita ayuda. Los representantes de Servicio al Cliente están disponibles de lunes a viernes de 8:00 a.m. a 4:30 p.m.
- 651-296-3644 Área metropolitana de las Ciudades Gemelas
- 877-898-9090 Fuera del área de las Ciudades Gemelas
- 866-814-1252 TTY para personas con discapacidad auditiva total o parcial
Información para la atención de la salud
https://www.mnsure.org/ y https://www.mnsure.org/help/accessibility/languages/spanish.jsp
Learn, Live, Lead 
Wow, great work Becky, you’re an inspiration!
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