There are several resources for COVID-19 relief for Santa Fe residents who:
• Were not eligible to receive a stimulus check,
• Were not eligible for unemployment payments, OR
• Who are having difficulty meeting housing, food, transportation, healthcare, and other living expenses.
You do NOT have to be a U.S citizen nor permanent resident to qualify, but you do need to provide proof of identity, such as a driver’s license, and proof that you are a resident of the City of Santa Fe, such as a utility bill, lease agreement, etc. Accepting this aid will in no way imperil your immigration application.
There are three organizations available to help. To start the process, all require a phone call or completion of a short online application to ensure that you meet the requirements.
If there are multiple areas in which you need help, for example with assistance for housing costs (mortgage payments or rent), food costs, and transportation, the easiest way would be to contact Santa Fe Connect at (505)995-9525 or complete a short questionnaire on their website and submit it: https://www.santafenm.gov/connect. You will be assigned a Specialist Navigator, who can help you connect to a variety of services and help you obtain flex funds administered by Santa Fe Connect. Your information is confidential, but it may be shared with partner organizations if your case requires their services.
If your needs are more targeted, you may want to apply directly to Somos un Pueblo Unido (505)983-6247 or (505)928-6214, and leave a message if lines are busy, or call or text Chainbreaker Collective (505)577-5481.
Somos un Pueblo Unido is managing two assistance funds with monies from the CARES Act:
- The Family Assistance Disaster Relief Fund: A $750 payment for families or a guardian with at least one minor child in the home. Eligible applicants are those who did NOT receive a federal stimulus check and did NOT qualify for unemployment.
- The COVID-19 Essential Worker Fund: If since July 1, 2020 you suffered a temporary loss or reduction in work due to a forced closure, layoff, or had to quarantine and did not receive sick leave, you are eligible to apply.
Chainbreaker Collective manages the Eviction Protection Fund. This fund provides $3,000 to the applicant to assist with needs related to keeping you in your home, such as rent and utilities. The monies go directly to the applicant, not the landlord, so that you can choose how to allocate it amongst your various housing expenses.
All together these organizations have $4 million of federal funds to dispense from the CARES Act. These are our tax dollars at work for an excellent cause, so please pass the information along immediately to family, friends, neighbors, and co-workers who could benefit from these programs, as all are being administered on a “first come, first served” basis.