District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia - COVID-19 Community Resource Guide
To help address the concerns of individuals in our communities affected by COVID-19, Baker Botts has published an extensive COVID-19 Community Resource Guide.
The page below pertains specifically to Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia. To see all of the jurisdictions covered, please click here.
This Guide provides general information only that may or may not be applicable in individual circumstances. It is not intended as legal advice. For legal advice in specific circumstances, please consult your own lawyer. This material may constitute attorney advertising in some jurisdictions.
- COVID-19 TESTING POLICIES/PROCEDURES
- DISCRIMINATION & HATE CRIMES
- EDUCATION/SCHOOL RIGHTS & RESOURCES
- EVICTIONS & FORECLOSURES
- FRAUD/PRICE GOUGING
- SMALL BUSINESS ASSISTANCE/RELIEF
- FOOD ASSISTANCE
- UTILITY ASSISTANCE
- RESOURCES FOR CHILDREN, CAREGIVERS & SENIORS
- APPENDIX AND SOURCES
COVID-19 TESTING POLICIES/PROCEDURES
Information regarding DC’s COVID-19 testing capacity can be found at https://coronavirus.dc.gov/release/mayor-bowser-highlights-district%E2%80%99s-coronavirus-testing-capacity.
What is discrimination?
Discrimination is the unjust or prejudicial treatment of different categories of people, especially on the grounds of protected traits, including, but not limited to, race, age, or sex. DC has 21 protected traits.
What is a hate crime?
A person is guilty of a hate crime when it has been established beyond a reasonable doubt that they committed a crime and the crime was motivated by prejudice based on the victim’s actual or perceived membership in a protected class. See D.C. Official Code § 22-3700 et. seq. For more information, please visit https://mpdc.dc.gov/page/hate-crimes-faqs.
If a person is found guilty of a hate crime, the court may fine the offender up to 1½ times the maximum fine and imprison him or her for up to 1½ times the maximum term authorized for the underlying crime. See D.C. Official Code § 22-3703.
How can I report bias incidents, discrimination, or hate crimes?
To report unlawful employment, education, housing, or public accommodation discrimination, please file a complaint with the DC Office of Human Rights at https://ohr.dc.gov/service/file-discrimination-complaint.
If reporting bias incidents or discrimination within DC Public Schools, please contact your school’s principal and the Comprehensive Alternative Resolution & Equity (“CARE”) Team by email at dcps.care@k12.dc.gov or phone at (202) 442-5405.
Hate crimes should be reported to the police. Call 911 for crimes that are in progress or have just happened. For all other others, you may call the Hate Crimes Voicemail at (202) 727-0500, which allows individuals in the District to provide information regarding hate crimes anonymously, if they wish. Please note that MPD may not be able to investigate the information as a crime if there is not enough information, so providing contact information for any follow-up questions is usually helpful. Alternatively, you can send information via email to hate.crimes@dc.gov. For more information, visit https://mpdc.dc.gov/page/hate-crimes-faqs.
EDUCATION/SCHOOL RIGHTS AND RESOURCES
How can I educate my children while their school is out?
DC Public Schools (“DCPS”) offers free online learning resources through their digital learning platform available at https://dcps.instructure.com/courses/179580/pages/learners. This includes guidance and learning activities across content areas for all DCPS learners, including English Language Learners and students with special needs.
● For answers to frequently asked questions, visit https://dcps.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/dcps/page_content/attachments/Family-and-Community-Frequently-Asked-Questions_3-20-20.pdf.
Most private schools in the DC area also offer remote learning options. Check your school’s website for more information.
We do not have internet access in our home. How can my child access online learning?
In response to COVID-19-related school closures, Comcast’s Internet Essentials (“IE”) program is offering families two months of free internet service if they meet certain eligibility criteria. This offer took effect on Monday, March 16, 2020. The fastest way to take advantage of the offer is to sign up through your smartphone, tablet, or computer at www.InternetEssentials.com.
Tenant & Homeowner Rights
What happens if I lost my job and cannot pay my rent or my mortgage?
DC—Your landlord or lender can initiate an eviction or foreclosure proceeding against you, but that proceeding will be automatically stayed by the court for the time being. Effective March 12, 2020, the DC Superior Court has suspended evictions of all tenants and foreclosures. For the court’s most up-to-date information related to COVID-19, please visit https://www.dccourts.gov/coronavirus.
Maryland—Your landlord or lender can initiate an eviction or foreclosure proceeding against you, but that proceeding will be automatically stayed by the court for the time being. The Maryland Court of Appeals suspended evictions and foreclosures beginning March 20. For the court’s most up-to-date information related to COVID-19, visit https://www.courts.state.md.us/coronavirusupdate.
Virginia—Your landlord or lender can initiate an eviction or foreclosure proceeding against you, but that proceeding will be automatically stayed by the court for the time being. The Supreme Court of Virginia has suspended “non-essential” cases, including evictions and foreclosures, through at least April 26, 2020. Please visit the court’s website for the most up-to-date information: http://www.courts.state.va.us/main.htm.
Homeowners with mortgages backed by the Federal Housing Administration, Freddie Mac or Fannie Mae, or the U.S. Department of Agriculture are entitled to additional relief. Borrowers from those lenders have 60 days of mortgage relief beginning March 18, 2020, during which homeowners will not be charged late fees and will not be evicted from their homes. If your mortgage is not backed by one of those entities, check with your lender to see what assistance may be available. For more information about mortgage relief during the COVID-19 outbreak, check the overview of foreclosure at https://www.usa.gov/foreclosure.
DC Fraud and Consumer Protection
For updated information regarding DC’s fraud and consumer protections policies during the COVID-19 pandemic, visit https://coronavirus.dc.gov/page/consumer-protection-0.
SMALL BUSINESS ASSISTANCE/RELIEF
Washington DC & Maryland
DC Small Business Recovery Microgrants
The DC government has allocated $25 million to the COVID-19 recovery effort and the DC Small Business Recovery Microgrants Program. This program will offer grants to small local businesses, independent contractors, self-employed individuals, and nonprofits to meet their short-term financial needs. Businesses may allocate this money toward employee wages and benefits (including fringe benefits associated with employment, such as health insurance), accounts payable, fixed costs, inventory, rent, and utilities. You can find out more about eligibility and applying by visiting https://coronavirus.dc.gov/dc-small-business-recovery-grants. Please note that applications closed at 6:00pm on Tuesday, March 31, 2020; however, please check back to determine if the applications reopen.
The U.S. Small Business Administration’s Disaster Assistance office is working with the DC government to provide targeted, low-interest loans to DC small businesses that have been severely impacted by COVID-19. This program provides working capital loans of up to $2 million that can be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable, and other bills that cannot be paid because of the disaster’s impact. Terms are determined on a case-by-case basis, based upon each borrower’s ability to repay. More information about eligibility and application requirements is available at https://coronavirus.dc.gov/SBAdisasterloans.
What resources are available from the State of Maryland to businesses impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak?
The Maryland Department of Commerce has announced three new business assistance programs in response to the COVID-19 pandemic:
● The Maryland Layoff Aversion Fund for businesses with 500 employees or fewer;
● The Maryland Small Business COVID-19 Emergency Relief Loan Fund; and
● The Maryland Small Business COVID-19 Emergency Relief Grant Fund.
Maryland Layoff Aversion Fund
The Layoff Aversion Fund is designed to support businesses undergoing economic stress due to COVID-19 by preventing or minimizing the duration of unemployment resulting from layoffs. The award (up to $50,000 per applicant) is a quick, deployable benefit that is customizable to the specific needs of the applicant’s business in order to minimize the need for layoffs.
The Maryland Department of Labor provides that the funds can be used for the following:
● Covering the cost of purchasing remote access equipment (e.g., computers, printers, etc.) to allow employees to work remotely from home versus being laid off;
● Covering the cost of purchasing software or programs that an employee would need to work from home;
● Supporting businesses that take advantage of the Unemployment Insurance Work Sharing Program by supplementing the employee’s income and benefits;
● Covering the costs of cleaning/sanitization services so that small businesses can keep employees working on-site, but only if a frequent deep cleaning occurs to prevent exposure occurred;
● Paying for liability insurance for restaurants that convert to delivery while under emergency circumstances;
● Training or professional development opportunities for employees to avoid layoffs; and
● Adopting other creative approaches and strategies to reduce or eliminate the need for layoffs in the small business community.
● NOTE: Funding cannot be used for rent or employee wages, unless approved for Unemployment Insurance Work Sharing participation.
The Maryland Department of Labor is accepting grant applications from small businesses for awards from now until 30 days after the state of emergency ends, subject to funding availability. Submit completed applications via email to LaborCOVID19.layoffaversion@maryland.gov.
Staff will process applications within two business days of receipt. Upon approval and receipt of the signed contract, payment will be expedited.
For more information, visit the Maryland Department of Labor’s web page regarding the Layoff Aversion Fund at https://www.dllr.state.md.us/employment/covidlafund.shtml or contact the Division of Workforce Development and Adult Learning at LaborCOVID19.layoffaversion@maryland.gov.
Maryland Small Business COVID-19 Emergency Relief Loan Fund
The $75 million Emergency Relief Loan Fund offers working capital to assist Maryland for-profit small businesses with disrupted operations due to COVID-19. Loan assistance is intended to provide interim relief complementing actions with the applicant’s bank, business interruption insurance, and financial partners.
General Terms and Conditions of the fund include:
● Loans up to $50,000 (not to exceed 3 months of cash operating expenses) open to Maryland businesses impacted by COVID-19 with fewer than 50 employees;
● 0% for the first 12 months, and 2% for the remaining 36 months;
● Deferral of any payments for the first 12 months, and straight amortization beginning in the 13th month through the 36th month;
● The business must be established prior to March 9, 2020 and in good standing;
● The business must have employees on their payroll for whom they have had payroll taxes withheld (i.e., W-2 employees);
● The business must provide 2 years of historical financial statements and most recent interim statement to benchmark revenue against (if available);
● The business must provide at least 6 months of pro forma of estimated lost revenue or other documented loss evidence;
● Minimum personal credit score of 575; and
● No collateral requirements.
Additionally, eligible uses for working capital include supporting payroll expenses, rent, mortgage payments, utility expenses, or other similar expenses that occur in the ordinary course of operations.
The business applicant must demonstrate financial stress or disrupted operations, which may include, but are not limited to, the following:
● Notices from tenants closing operations and not paying rent caused by loss of income;
● Notice of inability to pay rent or make loan payments due to reduced sales or suspended operations;
● Increased cost related to COVID-19 prevention measures;
● Notice of a disrupted supply network leading to a shortage of critical inventory and/or materials; and
● Other circumstances subject to review on a case-by-case basis.
Businesses may apply at https://onestop.md.gov/forms/maryland-small-business-covid-19-emergency-relief-loan-fund-5e7a6d838bdbb100fe352aa9.
For more information, visit the Maryland Small Business COVID-19 Emergency Relief Grant Fund’s web page at https://commerce.maryland.gov/fund/maryland-small-business-covid-19-emergency-relief-loan-fund.
Maryland Small Business COVID-19 Emergency Relief Grant Fund
The $50 million Emergency Relief Grant Fund offers working capital to assist Maryland small businesses and nonprofits with disrupted operations due to COVID-19. Grant assistance is intended to provide interim relief, complementing actions with the applicant’s bank, business interruption insurance, and financial partners.
General terms and conditions of the relief fund include:
● Grants up to $10,000 (not to exceed 3 months of cash operating expenses) for Maryland businesses and nonprofits impacted by COVID-19 with 50 or fewer employees;
● The business must be established prior to March 9, 2020 and in good standing;
● The business must have employees on their payroll for whom they have had payroll taxes withheld (i.e., W-2 employees);
● Annual revenues of the business or nonprofit must not exceed $5 million, as evidenced by their financial statements or other financial documentation; and
● The business or nonprofit is expected to seek longer-term funding through its bank, Small Business Administration (SBA), or another source.
Additionally, eligible uses for working capital include supporting payroll expenses, rent, mortgage payments, utility expenses, or other similar expenses that occur in the ordinary course of operations.
Maryland requires that business or nonprofit applicants must demonstrate financial stress or disrupted operations, which may include, but are not limited to, the following:
● Notices from tenants closing operations and not paying rent caused by loss of income;
● Notice of inability to make loan payments due to reduced sales and/or suspended operations;
● Increased cost related to COVID-19 prevention measures;
● Notice of a disrupted supply network leading to a shortage of critical inventory and/or materials; and
● Other circumstances subject to review on a case-by-case basis.
Businesses or nonprofits may apply at https://onestop.md.gov/forms/maryland-small-business-covid-19-emergency-relief-grant-fund-5e7a6d8db5d67700fe1e6050.
For more information, visit the Maryland Small Business COVID-19 Emergency Relief Grant Fund web page at https://commerce.maryland.gov/fund/maryland-small-business-covid-19-emergency-relief-grant-fund.
If you have specific questions regarding either the Maryland Small Business COVID-19 Emergency Relief Grant Fund or the Emergency Relief Loan Fund, you may contact the Maryland Department of Commerce COVID-19 Assistance Team by email at fpaaworkflowcoordinator.commerce@maryland.gov
For information on DC-area food resources, please visit https://coronavirus.dc.gov/food.
If you are an organization offering alternative food services, please email dcfoodpolicy@dc.gov with:
● Name of business/organization;
● Service being provided;
● Hours/location; and
● Point of contact information.
● In DC, if your child regularly receives meals through their public school, they will still be able to receive this benefit. Meals will be available for all students every weekday at locations throughout the city. For specific locations, please visit https://coronavirus.dc.gov/release/meal-locations-announced-all-dc-students. Meal service times may vary.
● The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (“VDACS”) is loosening income eligibility requirements for the Emergency Food Assistance Program to increase access during the COVID-19 outbreak.
● The Virginia Department of Education (“VDOE”) and VDACS are working together to provide meals to children with National School Lunch Program waivers for the Summer Food Service Program or the Seamless Summer Option. For a list of approved sites, please dial 211 or visit http://www.doe.virginia.gov/support/health_medical/office/covid-19.shtml#school-nutrition.
● The Federation of Virginia Food Banks is working through seven regional food banks across the state to provide food to those in need during the COVID-19 outbreak. For more information on locations, hours, and eligibility, please visit https://vafoodbanks.org/covid-19-response/.
● The Maryland Food Bank is encouraging its partners to remain open and is working on creative distribution solutions to provide food to those in need. More information about where you can find food and how to apply for SNAP benefits can be found at https://mdfoodbank.org/find-food/.
● In Maryland, some school districts have already developed plans to feed students during the school closures. If this is the case for your district, they should be in contact with you directly, or you can check your school district’s website for more information. The Maryland Food Bank also is partnering with certain school districts to distribute “Grab & Go” meals for students at select sites that typically host Maryland Food Bank Summer Clubs in locations across central Maryland. For more information, please visit https://mdfoodbank.org/news/feeding-hungry-marylanders-through-covid-19/.
What do I do if I cannot pay my utilities (gas/water/electric service)?
D.C.—You will not lose your service during the state of emergency because the D.C. City Council passed a resolution prohibiting utility service shutoffs for nonpayment during the emergency. You may, however, owe fees for late or nonpayment after the emergency. Check with your utility provider to see what relief may be available. For a copy of D.C.’s resolution, please visit https://dccouncil.us/council-unanimously-passes-emergency-covid-19-response-bill/.
Maryland— You should not lose your service during the state of emergency and you should not be charged late fees because Maryland ordered all regulated utilities to stop service disconnections and accrual fees for late or nonpayment until the end of the state of emergency. To view Maryland’s order, visit https://governor.maryland.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Executive-Order-Prohibit-Termination-of-Residential.pdf.
Virginia—You should not lose your service during the state of emergency because Virginia ordered all regulated utilities to stop service disconnections for 60 days effective March 16, 2020. You will likely have to pay the balance owed and late fees. However, certain utilities independently suspended late or nonpayment fees during the emergency. Check with your utility provider to see what relief is available. To read Virginia’s order, visit https://www.scc.virginia.gov/newsrel/r_noshutoff_20.pdf.
RESOURCES FOR CHILDREN, CAREGIVERS AND SENIORS
In Virginia, the Department of Medical Assistance Services and the Department of Social Services are preparing options to ensure the most vulnerable populations have continued access to critical services, including the potential for in-home care and food support. For more information, see https://www.dss.virginia.gov/geninfo/corona.cgi.
In Maryland, Meals on Wheels offers meals and other assistance to seniors. For more information on the services offered and how to apply, please visit https://www.mealsonwheelsmd.org/about-us/.
AARP has a COVID-19 hub available at https://www.aarp.org/coronavirus. It is also offered in Spanish at http://www.aarp.org/elcoronavirus. For DC-specific resources, please visit the DC State office page: www.aarp.org/dc. For contact information and social links for the DC area, please visit https://states.aarp.org/washington-dc/aarp-district-of-columbia-state-office.
AARP also provides a number of other resources aimed primarily at caregivers and those over 60:
● AARP Community Connections allows users to organize and find local volunteer groups to help pick up groceries, provide financial assistance, and lend emotional support to neighbors, friends, and loved ones. Across the country, including in the DC area, these informal online groups—also called “mutual aid” groups—help communities stay connected at a time when people must practice social distancing to stay safe: http://aarpcommunityconnections.org/.
● Speak with a volunteer: Another great resource that AARP has launched on the site is the ability to sign up for an AARP volunteer to give you a call. This is especially helpful for those that are feeling socially isolated during this time. You don’t need to be a member to sign up, as it’s open to everyone. You can get directly to the form by visiting https://aarpmutualaid.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/requests/new.
● AARP has Spanish-speaking volunteers available to speak with you. To sign up, visit https://aarpmutualaid.zendesk.com/hc/es/requests/new.
● Legal Counsel for the Elderly in DC: https://www.aarp.org/legal-counsel-for-elderly.
● Resources related to social isolation: https://connect2affect.org/.
● Regular Townhalls: You can access these through the COVID-19 hub or by using the following URL: https://www.aarp.org/health/conditions-treatments/info-2020/tele-town-hall-coronavirus.html.
General
The New York Times is maintaining and updating a list of stay-at-home orders: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/us/coronavirus-stay-at-home-order.html.
Stranded U.S. citizens in need of emergency assistance should contact the local embassy or consulate or the Overseas Citizens Service ((202) 501-4444). Please be aware of any updated embassy information: https://www.state.gov/coronavirus/.
If you’re currently abroad, consider enrolling in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program: https://step.state.gov/step/.
Travelers should be aware of current restrictions and requirements issued by the CDC and DHS: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/from-other-countries.html; see also https://www.dhs.gov/publication/notices-arrival-restrictions-coronavirus.
Check the appropriate embassy websites if you need to travel out of the country: https://www.usembassy.gov/.
Mental Health & Wellness
● CDC guide to stress and coping with the COVID-19 outbreak: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prepare/managing-stress-anxiety.html.
● Leadership strategies for business managers, educators, parents, and others: https://www.apa.org/news/apa/2020/03/covid-19-leadership.
● Daily strategies for self-care and awareness: https://www.nami.org/getattachment/About-NAMI/NAMI-News/2020/NAMI-Updates-on-the-Coronavirus/COVID-19-Updated-Guide-1.pdf?lang=en-US.
● How to cope with social distancing and isolation: https://www.samhsa.gov/sites/default/files/tips-social-distancing-quarantine-isolation-031620.pdf.
● Meditation guide: https://www.headspace.com/meditation/meditation-for-beginners.
● Yale University’s free course, “The Science of Well-Being”: https://www.coursera.org/learn/the-science-of-well-being.
● Information from the World Health Organization: https://www.who.int/health-topics/coronavirus#tab=tab_1.
● Information from the CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html.
● Information from NIH: https://www.nih.gov/health-information/coronavirus.
● Disaster Distress Helpline: https://www.samhsa.gov/disaster-preparedness; call (800) 985-5990.
● National Domestic Violence Hotline: https://www.thehotline.org/; call (800) 799-7233; TTY (800) 787-3224.
● National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/; call (800) 273-TALK (8255).
● NAMI HelpLine: https://www.nami.org/; call (800) 950-6264.
State Resources
All states
Taxes
- The Tax Foundation is tracking state legislative responses to COVID-19, including extensions of deadlines to file state tax returns and pay taxes: https://taxfoundation.org/state-tax-coronavirus-covid19/#timeline.
Maryland
Statewide Updates
● Live Updates from Governor Larry Hogan: https://governor.maryland.gov/coronavirus/.
● Maryland COVID-19 Case Map Dashboard: https://coronavirus.maryland.gov/.
Business Assistance Programs
● Maryland Layoff Aversion Fund: http://www.labor.maryland.gov/employment/covidlafund.shtml.
● For more information, contact the Division of Workforce Development and Adult Learning at LaborCOVID19.layoffaversion@maryland.gov.
● Maryland Small Business COVID-19 Emergency Relief Grant Fund: https://commerce.maryland.gov/fund/maryland-small-business-covid-19-emergency-relief-grant-fund.
● For more information, contact the Maryland Department of Commerce COVID-19 Assistance Team at fpaaworkflowcoordinator.commerce@maryland.gov.
● Maryland Small Business COVID-19 Emergency Relief Loan Fund: https://commerce.maryland.gov/fund/maryland-small-business-covid-19-emergency-relief-loan-fund.
● For more information, contact the Maryland Department of Commerce COVID-19 Assistance Team at fpaaworkflowcoordinator.commerce@maryland.gov.
● Work Sharing Unemployment Insurance Program: http://www.labor.maryland.gov/employment/worksharing/.
Courts
● Updates regarding the Maryland Court of Appeals: https://mdcourts.gov/coronavirusorders.
School Meals/Food Resources
● SNAP benefits: https://mdfoodbank.org/find-food/.
● “Grab & Go” meals are available for students at select sites: https://mdfoodbank.org/news/feeding-hungry-marylanders-through-covid-19/.
● Meals on Wheels for senior citizens: https://www.mealsonwheelsmd.org/about-us/.
Tenants & Homeowners’ Rights
● The Court of Appeals suspended evictions and foreclosures: https://mdcourts.gov/sites/default/files/admin-orders/20200325suspensionofforeclosuresevictions.pdf.
Utility Assistance
● Maryland ordered all regulated utilities to stop service disconnections and accrual fees for late or nonpayment until the end of the state of emergency: https://governor.maryland.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Executive-Order-Prohibit-Termination-of-Residential.pdf.
Virginia
Care-Givers and Senior Citizens
● General information: https://www.dss.virginia.gov/geninfo/corona.cgi.
Courts
● Virginia court system updates: http://www.courts.state.va.us/2020_0316_scv_order_declaration_of_judicial_emergency.pdf.
School Meals/Food Resources
● List of approved sites for school meal programs: http://www.doe.virginia.gov/support/health_medical/office/covid-19.shtml#school-nutrition.
● The Federation of Virginia Food Banks response: https://vafoodbanks.org/covid-19-response/.
Tenants & Homeowners’ Rights
● The Supreme Court of Virginia has suspended all “non-essential” cases, including evictions: http://www.courts.state.va.us/2020_0316_scv_order_declaration_of_judicial_emergency.pdf.
Utility Assistance
● Virginia issued an order that precludes regulated utilities to stop service disconnections: https://www.scc.virginia.gov/newsrel/r_noshutoff_20.pdf.
Washington D.C.
Assistance for the Homeless
● The DC Department of Human Services (“DHS”) provides Homeless and Homeless Prevention Services. More information is available online: https://dhs.dc.gov/service/homeless-services. For more information, contact the 24‑hour Shelter Hotline at (202) 399-7093 or dial 311.
● COVID-19 updates: https://dhs.dc.gov/page/dhs-modified-operations-during-covid-19.
Business Resources
● Small Business Recovery Microgrants Program information: https://coronavirus.dc.gov/dc-small-business-recovery-grants.
● SBA disaster assistance information: https://coronavirus.dc.gov/SBAdisasterloans.
Care-Givers and Senior Citizens
● Please visit the DC office page of AARP for more information: www.aarp.org/dc.
● Contact information and social links for the DC area: https://states.aarp.org/washington-dc/aarp-district-of-columbia-state-office.
● Legal Counsel for the Elderly in DC: https://www.aarp.org/legal-counsel-for-elderly.
Courts
● DC Courts’ COVID-19 Advisories: https://www.dccourts.gov/coronavirus.
COVID-19 Testing
● Information on the District’s COVID-19 testing capacity: https://coronavirus.dc.gov/release/mayor-bowser-highlights-district%E2%80%99s-coronavirus-testing-capacity.
Education
● DCPS offers free online learning resources: https://dcps.instructure.com/courses/179580/pages/learners.
● FAQs regarding online learning: https://dcps.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/dcps/page_content/attachments/Family-and-Community-Frequently-Asked-Questions_3-20-20.pdf.
Fraud and Consumer Protection
● General information: https://coronavirus.dc.gov/page/consumer-protection-0.
Reporting Information
● To report unlawful employment, education, housing, or public accommodation discrimination, please file a complaint at https://ohr.dc.gov/service/file-discrimination-complaint.
● If reporting bias incidents or discrimination within DCPS, contact your school’s principal and the Comprehensive Alternative Resolution & Equity (“CARE”) Team at dcps.care@k12.dc.gov or call (202) 442-5405.
● Hate crimes should be reported to the police. Call 911 for crimes that are in progress or have just happened. For all other others, you may call the Hate Crimes Voicemail at (202) 727-0500. Alternatively, you can send information to hate.crimes@dc.gov.
Legal Aid
● Quick Reference Guide of Pro Bono Organizations (by topic area): https://www.dccourts.gov/sites/default/files/matters-docs/Quick-Reference-Consortium-Organizations-March-25-2020-E-VERSION-WITH-LINKS.pdf.
School Meals/Food Resources
● DC-area food resources: https://coronavirus.dc.gov/food.
● If your child regularly receives meals through their public school, please visit: https://coronavirus.dc.gov/mealsites.
Tenants & Homeowner Rights
● The DC Superior Court has suspended all eviction hearings: https://www.dccourts.gov/coronavirus.
Utility Assistance
● The DC City Council passed a resolution prohibiting utility service shutoffs for nonpayment during the emergency: https://dccouncil.us/council-unanimously-passes-emergency-covid-19-response-bill/.
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