COVID-19 Bay Area Community Resources + Up-to-Date Health Information

This is a living document from the Freedom Community Clinic on mass resources in the Bay Area during the COVID-19 pandemic. We are community members who hope to bring love and health during this time. Shoutout to the team from Los Angeles County who inspired this doc + many resources on here. Thanks to other Bay Area guides out there too. Here is an amazing resource of COVID-19 health information in many languages.

Resources as of now include SF, Oakland, and Berkeley. Please continue to e-mail us at info@freedomcommunityclinic.org if you know of any resources not on this list, especially those affecting our most vulnerable communities.

Please share our guide/resources widely and without restrictions: tinyurl.com/bayareacovid19help

For this guide in Spanish, click here.

COVID-19 Recursos para la Comunidad del Área de la Bahía + Información actualizada sobre salud

Free COVID-19 testing

If you have experienced or witnessed any anti-Asian hate crime in the wake of COVID-19, please click here to report the incident.

May we all be healthy, happy, and safe from inner and outer harm. We’re all in this together.

Bay Area Latest COVID-19 Updates:

  • COVID-19 Bay Area Cases Overview:
  • March 27: Gavin Newsom has ordered a moratorium to all evictions in CA effective until May 31. While evictions can and are still able to be technically filed, the sheriff cannot physically evict until after May 31st as of now.
  • March 26: Caltrain shuts service and MUNI shuts down all subway/rapid transit lines except 14R, adults can now pick up meals for children without a child present
  • March 23: AC Transit is now free indefinitely 
  • March 22: Hayward Fire Department is offering free COVID-19 screening and tests regardless of residency or status. No referral needed. Results can be available in as little as 6 hours or next day in most cases. Can test up to 350 cases/day. 28270 Huntwood Ave. Hayward, Ca 9a-6p
  • March 21: Bay Area Bridges will no longer be accepting cash to slow the spread of COVID-19, UCSF Students are collecting masks for local hospitals due to shortages
  • March 19: Governor Gavin Newsom expands shelter-in-place to all of California
  • March 18: Safeway, Whole Foods, Target and several other markets and retail stores are setting aside hours just for “at-risk” shoppers, including senior citizens, pregnant people and other people with vulnerable immune systems. Safeway invites “at-risk” shoppers from 7-9 a.m. Tuesday and Thursday; Whole Foods invites customers 60 and older to stores one hour before opening to the public; Target reserves the first hour on Wednesdays to “vulnerable guests;” Dollar General reserves the first hour of every business day to senior shoppers.
  • Starting Tuesday, March 17, SF, Santa Clara, San Mateo, Marin, Contra Costa, and Alameda counties are to stay in place “shelter in place” until at least April 7. (SF Chronicle)
  • People may travel for shopping for necessary supplies, accessing health care, and providing aid to family and friends who need assistance, and for non-residents, returning to their home outside the Bay Area. They will be able to go outside for walks or exercise as long as they keep six feet away from anyone they don’t already live with.
  • Airports, taxis, and public transit - including BART - will remain operational, but only for essential travel and people are expected to keep six feet apart when possible.

General COVID-19 Health Information edited by UCSF Medical Students

Here is an amazing resource of health information on COVID-19 in many, many languages.

Here is a great video on COVID-19 in Mam and Spanish.

Symptoms:

  • Symptoms of COVID-19 vary per person and can range from fever and/or dry cough and/or shortness of breath and/or fatigue. Physicians in several countries have also reported that loss of smell and loss of taste are symptoms associated with COVID-19 infection.
  • Many young, healthy folks seem to not have symptoms or have symptoms that mimic the cold/flu, yet are still carriers of the virus who can come in contact with and spread it to those who are most vulnerable. Please stay home.
  • COVID-19 seems to especially have potential bad consequences for those who are elderly and/or have pre-existing heart/lung issues including hypertension, diabetes, and coronary artery disease.
  • There is no accepted treatment for COVID-19. If admitted, the hospital will give supportive care (eg IV fluids, oxygen) to help you stay alive while your body fights the disease (ie to prevent sepsis).
  • Please do not hoard hydroxychloroquine. There is currently no consensus in the medical community about its effectiveness against COVID-19. There are ongoing research efforts about its use against coronavirus. In the meantime, there is a national shortage of hydroxychloroquine, which continues to be an essential medicine for many folks with autoimmune issues.

Testing:

  • Currently, the Bay Area is limited in capacity for COVID-19 testing but services are slowly expanding.
  • Testing available for SF residents with public insurance (e.g. Medi-Cal) or those who are uninsured. Testing is available for those who have any symptom of COVID 19 - fever, cough, vomiting/diarrhea, headaches, shortness of breath, sore throat, fatigue, chills OR close contact with someone who tested positive for COVID 19
  • Call 415-682-1740
  • Castro: 3850 17th Street (7 days / week)
  • Western addition: 1181 Golden Gate (M-F)
  • Bayview: 2401 Keith St (M-F)
  • Transport to and from testing sites available- current patients of San Francisco Health Network and uninsured patients who meet criteria can be linked to emergency housing
  • Mission Neighborhood Health Center testing site open to SF residents 240 Shotwell Street 415-552-3870 ext 2217
  • Please see Kaiser Permanente information below.
  • If you believe you have been exposed to COVID-19 and/or not sick and/or are mildly ill and can manage with self-care, please stay home, hydrate, and take care of yourself. You may call your PCP and/or Emergency Department regarding your symptoms to see if testing is available.
  • There is controversy about whether or not to use Motrin/Advil/ibuprofen (also known as “NSAIDS”) to help with your symptoms. Many credible organizations have advised caution on the matter and suggest acetaminophen (Tylenol) as a possibly preferable treatment (USA Today).
  • Many hospital facilities will ask you to please stay home and take care of yourself. This is because your risk will only increase being exposed in the hospital and most Bay Area hospitals are offering limited testing at this time.
  • On the other hand if short of breath, very sick, have multiple health conditions and/or “comorbidities”, or having a regular old traditional emergency like chest pain or acute injury: don’t be afraid to call 911 and/or come into the Emergency Room. The medical team is there to care for you. “Comorbidities” refers to the presence of other conditions that compromise a patient’s health, especially heart or lung issues.
  • Undocumented families who plan to apply for documentation in the future should still seek testing/treatment for COVID. COVID is public charge exempt. Read more here.

Kaiser Permanente Northern California is offering limited drive-through testing in San Francisco for Kaiser members with an appointment referral.

Steps:

1. Meet CDC criteria for testing

(1) COVID 19 symptoms including cough, fever, difficulty breathing;

(2) Exposure to symptomatic person, including health care workers, within 14 days of symptom onset;

(3) Travel to affected area within 14 days of symptom onset

2. Contact Primary Care Provider (phone or kp.org) to be screened.

3. If eligible: Set up an appointment for COVID 19 Drive Through screening (swabs and respiratory virus screening).

4. Self quarantine (3-7 days, subject to change) to await test results.

Why is the fatality rate much higher for older adults?

  • Your immune system declines past age 50
  • Fatality rate tracks closely with “comorbidity”, ie the presence of other conditions that compromise the patient’s health, especially respiratory or cardio-vascular illness.
  • Risk of pneumonia is higher in older adults.  
  • The fatality rate is in the range of 10X flu.

Common sense measures: wash your hands frequently, avoid touching your face, and please do not hoard. We will be okay.

More info on what it means to practice social distancing, self-quarantine, and flattening the curve.

Reliable Health News on COVID-19:

https://projects.sfchronicle.com/2020/coronavirus-map/

  • Johns Hopkins Live COVID-19 Track Reported Cases Global Map: https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html 
  • In The Lancet: Clinical course and risk factors for mortality of adult inpatients with COVID-19 in Wuhan, China: a retrospective cohort study

Emotional, Mental, and Spiritual Health during the time of COVID-19

We at Freedom Community Clinic understand that the COVID-19 pandemic is so much more than physical symptoms, and has a significant toll on people’s mental, emotional, and spiritual health. Please know that care of one’s mind and spirit is as important (if not more) than one’s physical health, especially during this time. Please see below for our calendar of free and/or sliding scale community resources that help to cultivate whole-person care for yourself and your loved ones.

Subscribe to Freedom Community Clinic’s calendar of self-care events here.

Populations

Categories under this heading include: food*, housing, health, transportation, and education, and self-care and are separated into three general categories: children and youth, adults, and elderly. In addition, there is a section of specialized community resources for communities who hold intersectional identities (unhoused, undocumented, LGBTQ+, people with disabilities, people who use substances, etc).

Financial aid for all:

  • San Francisco: Catholic Charities is here to help qualify ease their financial burden through immediate financial assistance to help pay rent or mortgages and/or meet other basic needs such as paying utility bills, buying groceries, and childcare costs.
  • If your household meets the three following criteria, you are eligible to receive financial assistance of up to $2,500 per month:*
  • You must be a resident of San Francisco County;
  • Your household income must be less than 80% of the average median income (see table below); and  
  • You must have a documented loss of income related to COVID-19 impacts due to health, employment, or school/child care closures.

Food for all:

  • Call 510-561-9042 to schedule a pick up or come to the warehouse: 3081 Teagarden Street, San Leandro, CA 94577
  • Expensify.org is matching $50 towards SNAP grocery purchases
  1. Purchase food as normal with your SNAP card
  1. Download Expensify on iOS or Android, for free
  1. Join the Expensify.org/hunger policy
  1. SmartScan the receipt, which will tell us how much you paid and show that it was paid for with an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card
  1. Submit it to volunteer@expensify.org
  1. Set up your bank account to receive the funds
  1. So long as we have funds available, we will reimburse up to $50 per family (one time), the very next day.
  • San Francisco:
  • 1 free pre-packaged to-go meal/person at St Anthony’s
  • Everyone welcome, dining room is closed but pick-up available (see update)
  • Pick-up at 45 Jones St. (& Golden Gate Ave.)
  • Every day:
  • 10:00am-11:45am for seniors (age 60+) & families with children
  • 11:30am-1:30pm for all  
  • Free hot meals in takeout containers three times/day during the week and at lunch on Saturday and Sunday. Everyone welcome; no intake form required.
  • Drop by during mealtimes to receive a hot meal on weekdays or a bagged lunch on weekends.
  • Location: 330 Ellis Street, San Francisco, CA 94102; Daily Free Meals phone #: 415-674-6040; mealtime hours: Monday-Friday: breakfast from 8:00am-9:00am, lunch from 12:00pm-1:00pm, and dinner from 4:00pm-5:00pm; Saturday-Sunday: bagged lunches from 12:00pm-1:00pm.
  • More info: Daily Free Meals page and Glide’s Response to Coronavirus (COVID-19)
  • SF & Oakland: MIXT is offering sliding scale discount codes for pick-up orders. Codes: wegotyou25 for 25% off, wegotyou50 for 50% off. Use codes at mixt.com or on MIXT app for pick up orders.
  • Oakland:
  • Community Foods Grocery Store (3105 San Pablo Ave, Oakland, CA 94608) offering 50% Groceries when using EBT https://www.instagram.com/p/B-xsl_YHsK5/
  • La SantaTorta Food Truck; 333 Broadway Oakland; Free hot meals 12-2p
  • Youth Uprising Grocery Bag Pick Up
  • Every Thursday 12-2pm
  • 8711 MacArthur Blvd, Oakland CA. 510-777-9909 ext 0
  • Soltree Alchemy  has a free/donation produce pick up on Sunday 3p-5p.

Self-Care for all:

Health for all:

  • Berkeley Free Clinic has suspended in-person services, folks may continue reach us by phone during our phone hours at (510) 548-2570 or leave a voicemail at any time (a volunteer will respond within 48 hours). Free services we're continuing to provide include:
  • Referrals to and information about clinics, community centers, and community resources that are available during shelter-in-place
  • 30 min peer counseling services
  • Help with health insurance and CalFresh enrollment
  • Medic advice line
  • Peer counseling hours
  • Mon-Fri 6:30 PM - 9:00 PM
  • First client at 6:30 PM, last client at 8:30 PM
  • Sat 12:00 - 2:30 PM
  • First client at 12:00 PM, last client at 2:00 PM
  • Phone hours for all other services
  • Mon-Fri 5:30 PM - 9:00 PM
  • Sat 11:00 AM - 4:30 PM
  • Sun 3:30 PM - 7:00 PM

Families, Children, and Youth (0-17)

Emergency Funds

  • Oakland: East Oakland DREAMer emergency fund (up to $250, applicants must be migrant youth 15-30 years old or migrant guardian of youth aged 0-20)   https://tinyurl.com/COVIDMigrantYouthRelief
  • Students, Parents of Students, Graduates: Scholly is providing $200 in cash assistance. We aim to provide essential financial help to buy groceries, health supplies, and other necessities to those in need. If you’re a student, parent of a student, or graduate, we encourage you to apply today.

Health

  • For young mothers ages 13-24: Dream Youth Clinic Young Mothers Group: information on youth-friendly jobs during COVID-19, resume help, communication, time management. Free gift card at each virtual meeting. https://www.instagram.com/p/B_S1NSJh8dk/
  • San Francisco: Free counseling service for parents of children from pregnancy to 3 years old Parentline University of San Francisco. Info can be found here.
  • Oakland: Dream Youth Clinic (583 5th St) continues to be open during shelter in place. Services are for youth ages 12-24 and include medical evaluations, HIV/STD testing, birth control, and immunizations. Call 510-839-0929 ext.3 to make an appointment. Walk-ins welcome. Hours: Mon and Wed 1-5pm, Thurs 2-6pm: https://www.instagram.com/p/B916c1RFuU4/
  • Oakland/Hayward: Family Paths’ Parenting Stress Helpline (1-800-829-3777) is available 24/7 with live counselors offering support to help Alameda County parents and caregivers with everyday parenting stress, as well as any concerns parents and caregivers have during this time of shelter in place; counseling offered in English and Spanish, with access to additional 400 languages via the Language Line; Counselors provide callers access to database of 900+ community resources, Family Paths’ mental health services and supportive services, such as online parent education classes, Fatherhood & Co-parenting classes, and CalWORKs Welfare to Work case management. https://familypaths.org/
  • San Francisco: Get free diapers for children under the age of 3 via SF Human Services Agency and Help a Mother Out
  • For CalWORKs and CalFresh households with children under the age of 3, bring EBT card and gov’t issue ID
  • Pick-up outside these locations
  • HSA Service Center, 170 Otis St., SF, CA 94103, 415-557-5100, 8:00am - 5:00pm
  • HSA Service Center, 1235 Mission St, SF, CA, 94103, 415-558-4700, M-Th (9:00am - 12:00pm, 1:00pm - 4:00pm)
  • Compass Connecting Point: A Family Resource Center, 37 Grove, SF, CA, 94102, 415-644-0504 ext. 2320, Tuesday (9:00am - 12:00pm), Friday (1:00pm - 4:00pm)
  • Bayview Hunter’s Point, 1601 Lane St, SF, CA, 94124, 415-822-9404, M-F (10:00am - 5:00pm)
  • OMI Family Resource Center, 156 Broad St, SF, CA, 94112, 416-406-1370, Monday (8:30am - 5:00pm)
  • Location, contact info, schedule information here: SFHSA

Food

  • All: Safeway, Whole Foods, Target and several other markets and retail stores are setting aside hours just for “at-risk” shoppers, including senior citizens, pregnant people and other people with vulnerable immune systems. Safeway invites “at-risk” shoppers from 7-9 a.m. Tuesday and Thursday; Whole Foods invites customers 60 and older to stores one hour before opening to the public; Target reserves the first hour on Wednesdays to “vulnerable guests;” Dollar General reserves the first hour of every business day to senior shoppers.
  • SF & Oakland: MIXT is offering sliding scale discount codes for pick-up orders. Codes: wegotyou25 for 25% off, wegotyou50 for 50% off, wegotyou100 for a free meal. Use codes at mixt.com or on MIXT app for pick up orders.
  • Overview for all Bay Area free lunch distribution centers:
  • San Francisco: Beginning March 17, SFUSD will provide free breakfast and lunch to all children 18 and younger at 14 pick-up sites Monday-Friday. No identification or proof of school enrollment is required, but a child must be present. Breakfast, lunch, fresh fruit, vegetables, and milk will be provided to take home. Shelf-stable meals will also be available. Families will not need to enter the school building for pick-up.
  • San Francisco: if you are pregnant and/or parenting a child under 18 and in need of support, please call 415-546-6756 and leave a message. We’ll return your call as soon as possible. (Homeless Prenatal Program)
  • San Francisco: Get free food from a food pantry for immigrant and low-income families
  • The Women’s Building of San Francisco
  • Weekly food pantry for immigrant and/or low-income families in need. Sign-up with ID and proof of current address is required.
  • Visit on Monday between 9:10am-10:30am to get food. If you haven’t already signed up, you can sign up onsite.
  • Phone #: 415-431-1180; email: info@womensbuilding.org; hours: Monday from 9:10am-10:30am.

Monday-Friday, March 16-27

8:00 am – 9:30 am for Breakfast  and 11:00 am – 1:00 pm for Lunch  

There will be a tent set up outside our central kitchen at King Middle School

  • 1781 Rose St, (enter behind the school at Grant/Rose, through gate

9:00 – 9:30 am for Breakfast and 12:00 – 12:30 pm for Lunch

Students can also go to any one of these convenient locations:

  • Berkeley Arts Magnet Elementary, 2015 Virginia Street
  • Rosa Parks Elementary, 920 Allston Way
  • Longfellow Middle School, 1500 Derby Street
  • Willard Middle School, 2425 Stuart Street
  • Berkeley High School, 1980 Allston Way
  • Oakland: During the COVID-19 closure, the OUSD Nutrition Services Department will open twelve schools throughout the city where “Grab and Go” breakfast and lunch meals will be available for all OUSD students or families and any Oakland child under 18. To ensure the least amount of contact, students do not need to be present to pick up food. The sites listed below will be open on Mondays and Thursdays from 8:00am to 12:00pm. Multiple days worth of food can be picked up to take home.
  • Northwest/West Oakland: Sankofa Elementary, West Oakland Middle School and Hoover Elementary
  • Central Oakland: Oakland High School and Garfield Elementary
  • East Oakland: Bret Harte Middle School, Life Academy/United for Success, Coliseum College Preparatory Academy, Madison Park Upper, Fremont High School, Castlemont High School and Elmhurst United Middle School
  • Oakland: Free food at Telegraph Baptist Center (5316 Telegraph Ave, Oakland) every Wednesday evening 5:30-7:30p; bring your own bags
  • Oakland: Points of Light will be delivering groceries to families with youth & children who do not have any means of transportation between the hours of 8am-12pm. Please call the designated youth director in your district
  • District 1: (850) 532-2376
  • District 2: (510) 279-5125
  • District 3: (909) 800-2245
  • District 4: (909) 800-2245
  • District 5: (650) 720-1171
  • District 6: (510) 384-9032 or (626) 272-4477
  • District 7: (786) 474-5600 or (415) 283-9173

Education

  • All: Free access to Spectrum Broadband and Wi-Fi For 60 Days For New K-12 and College Student Households

(For more information, click here!)

  • All: Free access to L’il Libros worksheets for kids

(For more information, click here!)

  • All: Starting Monday, March 16, students in Pre-K through 12th grade will have the opportunity to access free, educational PBS daytime programming designated for each grade level weekdays

(For more information, click here!)

  • All:  MIND Research Institute is offering no cost access to a free math instructional program for students in grades K-8

(For more information, click here!)

  • All: Scholastic offers free, online learning experiences for kids of all ages

(For more information, click here!)

Childcare

  • San Francisco: Department of Children, Youth, and their Families offering free childcare to healthcare workers, city & county SF employees who have been activated as disaster service workers, and families on the SF Recreation & Parks Department Scholarship list. If you did not receive an invitation, but qualify, you can apply here: https://www.dcyf.org/care

Housing

  • San Francisco: Eviction Defense Collaborative is currently providing eviction assistance and rental assistance over the phone for renters in San Francisco. If you have been served an eviction "summons and complaint", please call us at (415) 659 - 9184. If you need help paying the rent, please call (415) 470-5211. For more information, including sample letters to send to your landlord if you cannot pay rent due to a COVID-19 related reason, visit our website at www.evictiondefense.org.
  • San Francisco: Hamilton Families will continue their programs for unhoused families: https://www.hamiltonfamilies.org/blog/hamilton-families-response-to-covid-19
  • The Shelter Program in the Tenderloin provides safe shelter, three meals a day, and critical social services for 60 to 70 families a night for up to six months.
  • Transitional Housing provides housing and support for up to 20 families at high risk for chronic homelessness for 12 months. It provides families with the structure and support they need in order to address the root causes of homelessness and poverty and to assist them in strengthening and developing skills to acquire and maintain permanent housing.
  • Housing Services subsidy programs prevent homelessness whenever possible and assists families who have become homeless with housing search assistance, temporary rent assistance, case management, job search assistance, and other services for 12 to 20 months to help them find and retain a permanent home.
  • The Real Estate professionals identifies available housing and works with landlords to accept housing applications from housing subsidy participants. This team also serves as a liaison with landlords throughout our Housing Services subsidy programs.

Adults (18-64)

Emergency Funds/Housing:

  • Students, Parents of Students, Graduates: Scholly is providing $200 in cash assistance. We aim to provide essential financial help to buy groceries, health supplies, and other necessities to those in need. If you’re a student, parent of a student, or graduate, we encourage you to apply today.
  • San Francisco: Eviction Defense Collaborative is currently providing eviction assistance and rental assistance over the phone for renters in San Francisco. If you have been served an eviction "summons and complaint", please call us at (415) 659 - 9184. If you need help paying the rent, please call (415) 470-5211. For more information, including sample letters to send to your landlord if you cannot pay rent due to a COVID-19 related reason, visit our website at www.evictiondefense.org.
  • East Bay/Oakland: Food Service Worker Relief Fund https://oaklandworkersreli.wixsite.com/oswrf

Health

  • Womxn, BIQTPOC, disable, and/or chronically ill: Jihan McDonald is offering Pay What You Can coaching & counseling sessions for cis and trans womxn as well as the BIQTPOC, disabled, and/or chronically ill community. More info here.
  • Free online yoga classes - no one turned away for lack of funds, donations welcome if folks are able to contribute. All are welcome. Class schedule and registration information at thisismeha.com/inthecommunity
  • Sliding scale coaching for people of color - limited time $1 for a 1 hour session for folks new to coaching, sliding scale packages available otherwise. Financial accessibility is a priority for me, so I'm open to connecting with folks to make something work for them. More information on the $1 for 1 hour session offer at thisismeha.com/1for1offer
  • Family Paths’ Parenting Stress Helpline (1-800-829-3777) is available 24/7 with live counselors offering support to help Alameda County parents and caregivers with everyday parenting stress, as well as any concerns parents and caregivers have during this time of shelter in place; counseling offered in English and Spanish, with access to additional 400 languages via the Language Line; Counselors provide callers access to database of 900+ community resources, Family Paths’ mental health services and supportive services, such as online parent education classes, Fatherhood & Co-parenting classes, and CalWORKs Welfare to Work case management. https://familypaths.org/

Food

  • All: As of 3/16/2020, Uber is waiving delivery fees for over 100K restaurants
  • All: Safeway, Whole Foods, Target and several other markets and retail stores are setting aside hours just for “at-risk” shoppers, including senior citizens, pregnant women and other people with vulnerable immune systems. Safeway invites “at-risk” shoppers from 7-9 a.m. Tuesday and Thursday; Whole Foods invites customers 60 and older to stores one hour before opening to the public; Target reserves the first hour on Wednesdays to “vulnerable guests;” Dollar General reserves the first hour of every business day to senior shoppers.
  • SF & Oakland: MIXT is offering sliding scale discount codes for pick-up orders. Codes: wegotyou25 for 25% off, wegotyou50 for 50% off, wegotyou100 for a free meal. Use codes at mixt.com or on MIXT app for pick up orders.
  • San Francisco: Clarity Burke, a social science teacher at John O’Connell, started a free delivery volunteer service for the immunosuppressed. She has several volunteers ready to work. To receive help: tinyurl.com/deliveryneeded
  • San Francisco: The San Francisco – Marin Food Bank has pantries across the two counties that are still serving people in need of food. People can get a free bag of groceries that include produce, protein, and grains. To meet the current need in food insecurity, we’re also opening Pop-up pantries across both counties. No ID or sign-up is required for these special pantries. Just show up and get a free bag of groceries. We’re also helping folks sign-up for CalFresh (otherwise known as SNAP or formerly, food stamps). A lot of new people may now qualify.
  • Oakland: Free food at Telegraph Baptist Center (5316 Telegraph Ave, Oakland) every Wednesday evening 5:30-7:30p; bring your own bags
  • Berkeley & Albany: Berkeley Food Network On-Site Food Pantry; 1925 Ninth St.
  • Hours: Monday – Thursday 10am – 2pm; Monday and Wednesday 5 – 7pm; First and third Saturdays 10am – 12pm
  • Hours may change, so check back for updates. You can also call 510.616.5383 for updated hours information.
  • The Berkeley Food Network’s on-site pantry will remain open during this period of COVID-19 containment as long as we are able to source food. Anyone in need of free food is welcome to visit. BFN’s food distributions are open to Bekeley and Albany residents only.
  • https://berkeleyfoodnetwork.org/bfn-on-site-pantry-remains-open-during-covid-19-containment-period/
  • Food: Berkeley Students: The Basic Needs Center is currently open through Wednesday (M-W 12 pm - 5pm), due to an MLK Student Union leadership request. We will keep days/times and location up to date. More info here. Now it is located at 103 Sproul Hall.
  • Food Pantry:
  • In order to minimize the amplification of health risks in a small space, we will transition from our daily food pantry operations to a weekly food pantry pop-up for the next two weeks. If you cannot make it to the weekly pop-up, there will be non-perishable items in the BNC, open 12pm-5pm.

  • For the next two weeks, we will have a food pantry pop-up in lower-Sproul/first floor of the MLK Student Union:
  • Tuesday, March 10th, 10-6 PM
  • Tuesday, March 17th, 10AM - 5PM
  • Cal Community will be encouraged to take what they need for the week. We will order additional inventory to account for the need.
  • The pop-up will be continuously stocked and replenished throughout the day to assure there is food for the entire population we see.
  • You are encouraged to pick up food for a student that is self-quarantined or cannot make our pop-up pantry in person. All you need is their Cal ID or Cal ID #.
  • SF Ferry Plaza: Tues & Thurs (10a-2p), Sat 8a-2p
  • Heart of the City at UN Civic Center Plaza: Wed, Fri, Sun 7-4:30/5p
  • South Berkeley (Adeline & 63rd): Tuesdays,: 2-6:30p
  • North Berkeley (Shattuck & Vine); Thursdays 3-7p
  • Downtown Berkeley (MLK & Center): Saturdays, 10-3p
  • Montclair Village: Sundays, 9a-1p

Housing:

  • All: STUDENTS/ FOSTER YOUTH
  • If you are or know of a foster youth that is staying at a college dorm room that is going to be closed due to the coronavirus, please email info@togetherwerise.org  and they will provide or help you find housing during this transition.

Employment

  • The grantee must reside in the Bay Area (See attached list of eligible zip codes)
  • The grantee must provide proof of artistic endeavor within the last 6 months
  • The grantee must not be eligible for unemployment
  • The grantee must have less than $1000 of income within the last 30 days
  • Grants will be evaluated in the order received.
  • This fund for artists and event producers who make their living from live events is accepting donations, but so far doesn't have an application process available. When the application goes live, it will require bank statements and proof of an event cancellation that resulted in loss of income. This is a need-based grant; those who need help with rent, medical care, utility bills and childcare will be prioritized.
  • Theatre Bay Area organized a fund for theater workers facing a sudden loss of income due to coronavirus. While its website doesn't specify how much aid is available, they encourage those seeking support to email to apply.

Elderly (65+)

Food

  • Get lunch “to-go” for seniors
  • On Lok - 30th Street Senior Center
  • Take out lunches for seniors six days a week.
  • 30th Street Senior Center: 225 30th Street, San Francisco, CA 94131
  • Hours: Monday - Saturday 9:30am - 1:30 pm.
  • Call (415) 550-2210 to check meal availability.
  • More info: 30th Street Senior Center
  • Get cooked meals, groceries, and other supplies delivered
  • Jewish Family and Children’s Services - Seniors and disabled individuals who are isolated and homebound can receive delivered meals, groceries, and other essential supplies.
  • Call (415) 449-3700 for assistance.
  • Get food for seniors and adults with disabilities
  • Bernal Heights Neighborhood Center and Excelsior Community Center
  • Bernal Heights Neighborhood Center and Excelsior Community Center are offering boxed lunches and dry goods food boxes to seniors and people with disabilities at both the Cortland and Excelsior locations, Monday - Friday, 9:30 AM to 1 PM. Visit the Centers: M - F, 9:30 AM to 1 PM.
  • Bernal Heights Neighborhood Center,  515 Cortland Avenue San Francisco, California 94114-1575.  Excelsior Community Center, 4468 Mission Street, Suite 162, San Francisco, California 94114-1575. Call 415-494-9702 for more information.
  • San Francisco: Meals on Wheels will continue operation https://www.mowsf.org/coronavirus
  • North Berkeley Senior Center Lunch Service: 1900 Sixth St.
  • South Berkeley Senior Center Lunch Service: 2939 Ellis St.
  • Update 3/31: North and South Senior Centers are delivering lunch to senior center members. These deliveries are happening on Mondays and Thursdays. Seniors are receiving 3 chilled meals on Mondays, and 2 meals on Thursdays. There is currently NO lunch pickup service.
  • Berkeley & Albany: Berkeley Food Network On-Site Food Pantry; 1925 Ninth St.
  • Hours: Monday – Thursday 10am – 2pm; Monday and Wednesday 5 – 7pm; First and third Saturdays 10am – 12pm
  • Hours may change, so check back for updates. You can also call 510.616.5383 for updated hours information.
  • The Berkeley Food Network’s on-site pantry will remain open during this period of COVID-19 containment as long as we are able to source food. Anyone in need of free food is welcome to visit. BFN’s food distributions are open to Bekeley and Albany residents only.

Specialized Health Resources for Communities:

  • Womxn, BIQTPOC, disable, and/or chronically ill: Jihan McDonald is offering Pay What You Can coaching & counseling sessions for cis and trans womxn as well as the BIQTPOC, disabled, and/or chronically ill community. More info here.
  • For Unhoused Communities:
  • Berkeley: Berkeley Outreach Coalition is a collaborative group of nine nonprofits established to care for food and housing insecure residents of Berkeley. We provide a variety of resources including legal assistance, harm reduction supplies, health/medical kits, and food. https://www.berkeleyoc.com/
  • Berkeley:  Berkeley Free Clinic has suspended our in-person services, folks may continue reach us by phone during our phone hours at (510) 548-2570 or leave a voicemail at any time (a volunteer will respond within 48 hours). Free services we're continuing to provide include:
  • Referrals to and information about clinics, community centers, and community resources that are available during shelter-in-place
  • 30 min peer counseling services
  • Help with health insurance and CalFresh enrollment
  • Medic advice line
  • Peer counseling hours
  • Mon-Fri 6:30 PM - 9:00 PM
  • First client at 6:30 PM, last client at 8:30 PM
  • Sat 12:00 - 2:30 PM
  • First client at 12:00 PM, last client at 2:00 PM
  • Phone hours for all other services
  • Mon-Fri 5:30 PM - 9:00 PM
  • Sat 11:00 AM - 4:30 PM
  • Sun 3:30 PM - 7:00 PM
  • For People Who Use Substances:
  • Trans Communities: The Coronavirus (COVID-19): What Trans People Need to Know

  • LGBTQI+:  Community United Against Violence (CUAV) is providing remote counseling available for LGBTQI+ survivors of violence, domestic violence, hate violence and police violence -- www.cuav.org.
  • Oakland LGBTQ+ Community Center
  • Staff and volunteers are providing food bags and hygiene kits to anyone in their community who needs until supplies last at their location.
  • Call 510- 882-2286 with any questions or stop by the location to pick up.
  • Monday through Friday, 12pm-5pm or until supplies last at 3207 Lakeshore Ave, Oakland, CA, 94610.
  • More info: https://www.oaklandlgbtqcenter.org/community-resources 
  • For Disabled Folks in the East Bay: The Disability Justice Culture Club is working hard to just to meet our own basic needs, but know that disabled and/or elder Black, Brown and people of color are most at risk of being harmed by COVID19. If you are a disabled person with needs right now that aren’t being met with your immediate support system, please complete this form: East Bay Disabled Folks COVID19 Support Request Form 
  • For Artists and Freelancers:
  • Undocumented Communities:
  • Starting May 18-June 30: A group of 12 immigrant-focused nonprofits across the state will help roughly 150,000 undocumented adults impacted by the virus apply for the funds. The application period begins Monday and runs through June 30.
  • The one-time payments will be $500 per adult, with a cap of $1,000 per household.
  • Applicants will be considered on a first-come, first-served basis and must reach out to the organization that is serving their county. They must:
  • be at least 18 years old and undocumented
  • be ineligible for federal COVID-19 relief like the CARES Act
  • have experienced a hardship due to the virus
  • On March 13, U.S. Customs and Immigration Services announced that testing, prevention, or treatment for COVID-19 will NOT be used against immigrants in a public charge test. This means that immigrant families should seek the care they need during this difficult time.  Below is some information about the rights of immigrants’ rights in health care settings:
  • It is safe and smart to see the doctor if you need care. Your doctor is required to honor your right to privacy. You do not need to share any information about your immigration status unless you apply for Medicaid or other health coverage.
  • You can still see a doctor without medical insurance. This includes care you receive in the emergency room, at community and migrant health centers, free clinics, and public hospitals. If you don’t have a doctor, call a local community health center for assistance. You can find a health center here: https://findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov/ 
  • Hospitals and health care spaces are safe to visit. Federal guidelines prohibit immigration agents from conducting arrests or other enforcement actions at health care facilities, such as hospitals, doctors’ offices, health clinics, and urgent care facilities.
  • California residents can access Keep Your Benefits for more information about how their use of public benefits may effect their documentation status. Informed Immigrant also provides resources and accurate information for immigrant families with questions about their benefits.
  • CLICK HERE to learn more about your rights when accessing health services.

Safety for Survivors of Violence

  • San Francisco: La Casa de Las Madres in SOMA announced that their drop in center is closed until April 7th. Services available include confidential emergency shelter, 24/7 crisis line, safety planning, advocacy & information and referral. For support, please call La Casa’s 24/7 hotline at 877-503-1850, or message our text line at 415-200-3575: https://www.instagram.com/p/B9sNSyfBhSM/
  • All: A huge list of Bay Area resources from Leap SF addressing family violence including reporting lines for abuse, crisis intervention, crisis shelters, counseling resources/referrals, legal resources: https://www.leapsf.org/pdf/family-violence-resources.pdf

If you are concerned about being quarantined in an unsafe home situation or need help, all DV shelter resources are generally available on: domesticshelters.org.

From Futures Without Violence (more links here):

  • The National Domestic Violence Hotline is also available 24/7 at 1-800-799-7233 (SAFE) or 1-800-787-3223 (TTY)
  • The National Sexual Assault Hotline is 24/7, confidential and free: 800.656.HOPE (4673) and through chat.
  • The StrongHearts Native Helpline for domestic/sexual violence is available 7am-10pm CT, confidential, and specifically for Native communities: 1−844-762-8483.
  • The Trans LifeLine for peer support for trans folks 9am-3am CT: 1-877-565-8860 This hotline is staffed exclusively by trans operators is the only crisis line with a policy against non-consensual active rescue.
  • National Parent Helpline Monday -Friday 12pm-9am CT emotional support and advocacy for parents: 1-855-427-2736.
  • Community United Against Violence (CUAV) is providing remote counseling available for LGBTQI+ survivors of violence, domestic violence, hate violence and police violence -- www.cuav.org.

From Asian Women’s Shelter: https://www.sfaws.org/

  • AWS’s 24/7 emergency shelter will remain supported by a reduced number of essential staff, with protocols for monitoring and responding to changing health conditions;
  • AWS will continue to answer its multilingual crisis line (415-751-7110 or 877-751-7110), Monday through Friday from 9 to 5, from off-site;
  • WOMAN Inc. will continue to answer the crisis line in the evenings and on weekends;
  • Resources for crisis lines, transitional housing and counseling: https://www.sfaws.org/resources

Mental Health

  • An amazing document of POC/WOC-centered wellness resources by the Freedom School for Intersectional Medicine & Health Justice
  • Sliding scale coaching for people of color - limited time $1 for a 1 hour session for folks new to coaching, sliding scale packages available otherwise. Financial accessibility is a priority for me, so I'm open to connecting with folks to make something work for them. More information on the $1 for 1 hour session offer at thisismeha.com/1for1offer
  • Crisis Support Services of Alameda County is available 24/7 at 1-800-309-2131. Callers do not have to be experiencing suicidal thoughts or feelings to call.
  • Crisis Support Services of Alameda County has a free Text Line Program available 4:00 p.m. -- 11:00 p.m. 7 days. Text SHARE to 20121. Standard text message rates apply. Texters do not have to be experiencing suicidal thoughts or feelings to text. More info:  https://www.crisissupport.org/programs/text-line/ 
  • SF Suicide Prevention Crisis Line is available 24/7 at 415-781-0500,
  • California Peer-Run Warm Line is available to provide emotional support 24/7 at 855-845-7415.
  • Jihan McDonald is offering Pay What You Can coaching & counseling sessions for cis and trans womxn as well as the BIQTPOC, disabled, and/or chronically ill community. More info here.
  • Parentline University of San Francisco - free counseling service for parents of children from pregnancy to 3 years old. Info can be found here.
  • Melissa Antoun, AMFT #101907, is offering sliding scale Tele Mental Health services in English and Spanish. Profile: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/melissa-antoun-menlo-park-ca/739306
  • Care for your Coronavirus Anxiety: https://www.virusanxiety.com/
  • Family Paths’ Parenting Stress Helpline (1-800-829-3777) is available 24/7 with live counselors offering support to help Alameda County parents and caregivers with everyday parenting stress, as well as any concerns parents and caregivers have during this time of shelter in place; counseling offered in English and Spanish, with access to additional 400 languages via the Language Line; Counselors provide callers access to database of 900+ community resources, Family Paths’ mental health services and supportive services, such as online parent education classes, Fatherhood & Co-parenting classes, and CalWORKs Welfare to Work case management. https://familypaths.org/

Employment

Copy and pasted from Los Angeles County.

Employment Issues

Paid Family Leave

**Paid family leave is available for those who stay home because they need to take care of someone who has contracted the virus (Covid-19) or who has been quarantined (must be certified by a medical professional). Learn how to file a Paid Family Leave Claim HERE.

Disability Benefits/Paid Sick Leave

**Disability benefits /paid sick leave are available for those who have actually contracted the virus themselves or who have been exposed to it and are quarantined (must be certified by a medical professional in the case of Disability Benefits). Learn how to file a Disability Insurance Claim HERE.

Unemployment Benefits

**Unemployment benefits are available to those whose hours have been reduced or who have lost their job due to coronavirus measures (and it also applies to those who choose to stay home due to underlying health issues making them more vulnerable). The Governor has waived the 1 week wait time and the person may not be required to be actively looking for work (as is usually required). Learn how to file an Unemployment Insurance Claim HERE.

  • Unfortunately though, this benefit is not available to undocumented persons whose hours are reduced or lose their job for reasons related to COVID-19, etc.
  • SCHOOL CLOSURES: If your child’s school is closed and you have to miss work to care for them. You might qualify for Unemployment Insurance benefits. Learn how to file an Unemployment Insurance Claim HERE.

Worker’s Compensation

**Worker's comp is available for those who are unable to do their usual job because they were exposed to and contracted Covid-19 while in the regular course of their job (i.e. healthcare workers)

Tax Assistance

Directly from the Employment Development Department: “Employers experiencing a hardship as a result of COVID-19 may request up to a 60-day extension of time from the EDD to file their state payroll reports and/or deposit state payroll taxes without penalty or interest. A written request for extension must be received within 60 days from the original delinquent date of the payment or return.

For questions, employers may call the EDD Taxpayer Assistance Center.

  • Toll-free from the U.S. or Canada: 1-888-745-3886
  • Hearing impaired (TTY): 1-800-547-9565
  • Outside the U.S. or Canada: 1-916-464-3502”

(For more information, click here!)

Small Business Assistance

COVID-19 Small Business Resiliency Fund by the Mayor's Office of Economic and Workforce Development: https://oewd.org/covid-19-small-business-resiliency-fund

To be eligible for the COVID-19 Small Businesses Resiliency Fund, small businesses must:

 

  1. Have at least 1 employee and no more than 5 employees
  2. Demonstrate a loss of revenue of 25% or more
  3. Have less than $2,500,000 in gross receipts
  4. Be engaged in activities that are regulated by the City and County of San Francisco and have a license/permit associated to that regulation

Applications must be completed and submitted via email to investsf@sfgov.org or they can be mailed or delivered to:

Attn: Judy Lee – COVID 19 Small Business Resiliency Fund

1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett PL. Rm# 448

San Francisco, CA 94102

Oakland

  • If you could not file taxes on time due to COVID-19, apply for a payment plan or waiver of penalties by calling 510-238-3704 or email BTwebsupport@oaklandca.gov
  • Fill out         the online assessment form to get assistance with financial products, technical assistance, or other services
  • Submit your data regarding loss of business so that the City of Oakland can apply for additional funding

San Francisco - SBA District Office

  • The U.S. Small Business Administration is offering federal disaster loans for working capital to California small businesses suffering substantial economic injury as a result of COVID-19.  Apply here. CAMEO is holding a call on 3/18 at 4pm to explain the application process and answer questions. To join the webinar, click here. Call-in information: Dial US: +1 669 900 6833 Webinar ID: 956 176 760

General Bay Area

Mutual Aid

  • "This form is for anyone associated with the extended community within and surrounding UC Berkeley (undergraduates, students, workers, faculty, staff, non-affiliates in the East Bay or wider SF area) who is requesting financial assistance or other forms of aid during the COVID-19 pandemic. Responses to this form will remain anonymous except to the organizers and the volunteers or donors with whom you are paired for assistance. Feel free to disseminate these forms widely without restriction."
  • For people who want to offer help: bit.ly/cal-mutualaid-volunteers
  • Santa Clara County COVID-19 Financial Solidarity, launched by Archive408: https://bit.ly/2w8M80x 
  • List of restaurants/retail in Oakland available for takeout and delivery. As well as links to support local business through gift cards

Other Resources 

Volunteer + Donate Your Items or Money!

  • HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS can request masks here: https://forms.gle/mpDjcZkLK9mrQHwc8 (open to all Healthcare organizations including nursing homes, hospice centers, chemo centers, etc. in addition to the requests from medical centers)
  • **Requests for face shields and other PPE will be available shortly.
  • VOLUNTEERS! JOIN US! - If you have people within your community who would be interested in joining our volunteer efforts please direct them to our facebook page https://www.facebook.com/groups/1388421828011071/
  • You can email us at makemePPEbayarea@gmail.com or find us on twitter at

Please help us spread the word!

Holistic Self-Care Resources in times of stress

By Amy Lam, Ph.D.

TAPPING

Tapping helps the body to feel calm. It is based on Chinese acupressure points. We stimulate these body points to help release stress and bring more flow into our body's energy system. I try to smile when I tap and after a couple of rounds, I feel more relaxed in my body. REALLY GREAT before you sleep at night.

Here are two tapping videos. One is more adult friendly and the other is more kid friendly.

Tips for tapping:

  • Remember to wash your hands before and after tapping as you will be tapping on your face
  • Remember to breathe in and out of your mouth while tapping
  • After 2-4 rounds of tapping you may notice your body feel calmer, lighter, yawn a lot or feel tired
  • Add an essential oil to your wrists to encourage calmness (eg., lavender oil) or an open heart (e.g, rose oil)
  • You can add a mantra to your tapping (eg., It is possible to be ok even if there is chaos around me) or imagine your favorite color around you while you tap

SPRAYS

Flower Essence Services (FES) sprays are another way to help the body feel calm. They are specially formulated plant medicine formulas to support the body. Here are three sprays that are especially helpful under stressful situations. These sprays have alcohol base. For non-alcohol options, please email me. You can purchase online, at Rainbow Co-op (SF), Five Flavor Herbs (Oakland). You should call first to make sure they have the sprays.

If you're going to a busy crowded place (like Costco) spray Fearless before and after you go to clear off other peoples' energies off you. For those of us who may carry intergenerational trauma or are finding themselves triggered by what's happening related to Coronavirus, I would definitely recommend taking Post Trauma Stabilizer. The Illumine spray is just good to lift the spirits during this time.

FES FEARLESS SPRAY

http://www.fesflowers.com/product-info/flower-essence-formulas/flourish-formulas/fear-less/

FES POST TRAUMA STABILIZER

http://www.fesflowers.com/product-info/flower-essence-formulas/flourish-formulas/post-trauma-stabilizer/

FES ILLUMINE (for depression/discouragement)

http://www.fesflowers.com/product-info/flower-essence-formulas/flourish-formulas/illumine/

Tips for using sprays:

  • Spray under tongue and around body
  • Use upon waking, upon sleeping and during day when feeling stressed or in challenging circumstance
  • Better not to eat or drink 5 min before or after using spray

AROMATHERAPY

Essential oils capture a plant's scent, medicinal properties and vibrations. They can be used on the wrist, heart center, or rubbed on finger tips to stimulate the body's meridian system. I am especially loving using essential oils in my diffuser at home. Turn it on before everyone comes home so that people can walk into a calm space at home. Two essential oils that are helpful in these times are lavender (relieves stress) and rose (opens heart and relieves anxiety). For those of you who love Kate's Magik, I would recommend Blossoms of Joy diffuser oil (https://www.katesmagik.com/products/blossom-of-joy-diffuser-oil) or Healing of the Heart (https://www.katesmagik.com/products/healing-heart-aromatherapy-anointing-oil).

Tips for using aromatherapy:

  • Make sure you are not allergic to the oil
  • Wash hands before using oils
  • If you are pregnant please check with an acupuncturist before stimulating meridians

NATURE

When there's too much noise around, I just go out in nature and sit. I try to focus on listening to the birds, the trees, hearing what they are whispering. If I cannot go outside, I turn everything off and sit on the floor in my home with a stone or two or even an essential oil. Again, I try to "be" like the stone or oil, bringing my energy and vibration to mimic it. These elements in nature help me remember how to be still, balanced and vibrate high.

Tips:

  • Make sure your stones are clean. For earth based stones, clean by burying in the dirt. For air based stones, use sage. Full moon cleanse good for all. I clean my stones right after I sit.