Resources regarding un/employment, small businesses, and other economic support:

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE:
- Centre Helps: Offers 24/7 hotline connecting Centre County residents with both financial support (payment of bills) and/or referrals as well as emotional support: Centre Helps provides referral services for food, basic economic needs, transportation, and healthcare including mental health & addiction support. Call Centre Helps, 800-494-2500 or 814-237-5855. Available 24 hours a day. (Please note: most Penn State students are not eligible for assistance through Centre Helps.)
- State College Presbyterian Church has funds available to directly aid people. Contact Rev. Michael Ozaki (michaelscpc@gmail.com) at State College Presbyterian Church for more information.
- Economic Impact Payment (Stimulus Check) Information
- Unemployment Rights and Resources – Guide from PA Office of Attorney General on students loans, evictions, unemployment, utilities, and more.
- Interfaith Human Services: Provides families and individuals with resources and guidance on their finances to work toward monthly management instead of crisis control.
- Fuel Bank and Coordination/Access to other financial support – Interfaith Human Services of Centre County (814-234-7731) https://www.interfaithhumanservices.org/
- United Way: Connects people with resources, i.e. help with a utilities bill or housing assistance. To access help, call 211 or text your zip code to #898-211.
HOUSING ASSISTANCE:
- National eviction moratorium (valid through Jan 31, 2021)
If you- earn less than $99,000 a year,
- have lost income or had to pay high medical bills this year,
- would become homeless or need to move into more crowded housing if evicted,
- and have made efforts to obtain any available public assistance to make payments, you are covered under the eviction moratorium.
- In particular, you DO NOT need to fill out paperwork in order to do this, you just need to present a signed declaration of these things to your landlord. A sample declaration (that you can just print out and sign!) is included here.
UNEMPLOYMENT SUPPORT:
- Business resources for those impacted by the virus from PA Department of Economic Development: https://dced.pa.gov/resources/
- Office of Unemployment Compensation – Information for PA Employees Impacted by Covid-19
- The Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) portal is available for “individuals who have traditionally been ineligible for unemployment benefits (e.g. self-employed workers, independent contractors, gig workers, people who have exhausted rights to regular UC benefits or lack sufficient work history).
- Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) FAQs
- PA/Centre County Career Link
- Ellen Struble, Workforce Specialist
- estruble@tiu11.org
- 814-548-7587 – leave a message and Ellen will return your call as soon as possible
HEALTH INSURANCE:
- I lost my health insurance. How can I make sure my family and I are covered?
- Loss of job-based coverage qualifies individuals for a special health insurance enrollment period for adults and children. Please go to www.healthcare.gov to learn about options.
- Centre Volunteers in Medicine is offering telehealth for those without insurance (limited hours/call ahead)
GENERAL RESOURCES:
- PA COVID-19 Resources for Immigrants compiled by the Pennsylvania Immigration and Citizenship Coalition, available in English and Spanish
- Pennsylvania Utility Law Project: legal representation and other resources for low-income people dealing with utility bills
SMALL BUSINESS & NON-PROFIT SUPPORT:
- COVID-19 Resources– A great list of resources for unemployment, small businesses, etc. throughout the region
- PASA – Continuity of Business plan guidance
- PASA Guideline for farmers and farmer’s markets
- CBICC Tools to Tackle COVID-19 flyer – The Chamber of Business & Industry of Centre County provides information for Individuals and Businesses.
- Local Centre Co. Resource for Protective Glass Barriers
- PA Dept. of Agriculture
- U.S. Small Business Administration Disaster Loan Assistance – COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan Application
- Penn State Law School Entrepreneur Assistance Clinic – Penn State law students are offering free assistance and support for small businesses and nonprofits trying to navigate business issues in the current economic climate.