COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS
Information and resources you can trust.
Helping Our Community Cope
Check back for up-to-date information.
CORONAVIRUS SCAMS
Protect yourself from scammers who are taking advantage of the pandemic to steal people’s personal information.
Attorney General Dave Yost’s Coronavirus Resources and Guidance
Information for consumers, businesses and more on scams and price-gouging related to COVID-19.
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
The CFPB provides helpful information on protecting your finances and avoiding scams during the Coronavirus pandemic.
IRS Tax Scams/Consumer Alerts
Alerts from the IRS for individuals and tax professionals on current tax-related scams, including coronavirus-related scams.
FDA - Fraudulent Coronavirus Products
Provides consumers with a searchable list of companies that have been issued warnings for marketing scam products related to the coronavirus outbreak, as well as resources such as product pictures, news and updates and information on reporting unlawful sales and scams.
Identity Theft and Unemployment Benefits
Ohioans have had their identities used to file fraudulent unemployment claims. The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services offers resources to help both individuals and employers who have been affected. Call 1-833-658-0394 or visit their website for assistance.
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
Increasing numbers of individuals and families are finding themselves in situations of financial uncertainty. These resources can help.
Unemployment Benefits
Apply for unemployment benefits through the Ohio Department of Job & Family Services. You can also apply for the federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (or “PUA”) program, which provides benefits for individuals who are ineligible for state unemployment benefits, including self-employed workers, 1099 tax filers and part-time workers.
Cash Assistance
See if you’re eligible to receive cash assistance through Ohio Works First (OWF). OWF supplies up to 36 months of cash benefits for eligible families.
FOOD ASSISTANCE
Find foodbank or meals-to-go services during the coronavirus pandemic.
Children’s Hunger Alliance
Children’s Hunger Alliance has partnered with a number of organizations to offer free meals to children across Ohio to help reduce food insecurity amid the pandemic. Check out the map to find the most convenient location.
Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP)
SNAP is a service provided by the Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services to help families stretch their food budgets.
Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)
Currently seeking volunteers to package meals to provide to vulnerable children during the COVID-19 crisis.
Salvation Army of Central Ohio
The Salvation Army is providing food to those affected by the coronavirus in Franklin, Delaware and Union counties. No proof of ID or income information required.
FreshTrak
Input your ZIP code to find food access resources in your community such as food banks and pantries.
HEALTHCARE
HealthCare.gov
The federal government’s healthcare website explains the differences between Medicaid, CHIP, COBRA and health insurance marketplace plans, with links to apply to each. If you have lost your job and your job-based health coverage, you qualify for a special enrollment period to get coverage through the health insurance marketplace.
HOUSING HELP
Find resources during the coronavirus pandemic.
Columbus City Council FAQs for Landlords and Tenants
Recommendations and resources to help guide tenants and landlords facing challenges related to COVID-19. An FAQ for landlords can be found here, while a tenant FAQ can be found here. If a tenant feels they are being informally evicted, or their eviction is being served as a retaliatory action, please call Todd Dillard at 614-645-5650.
Community Shelter Board
Homeless? Need shelter?
Call the homeless hotline, open 24 hours a day: 1-614-274-7000.
Mortgage Relief
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have both instituted mortgage relief measures. If your mortgage is serviced by a private lender, they might be offering similar relief. Contact your lender and specifically mention that the coronavirus pandemic has impacted your ability to make payments.
Impact Community Action Emergency Assistance
Impact Community Action can provide assistance with rent/mortgage, utilities, transportation and material support for acquiring appliances and/or furniture for households with a qualifying emergency that meet federal poverty level requirements.
Rent and Utility Help
If you have experienced hardship due to COVID-19 and need assistance to pay your rent or utility bills, you may be eligible for help through the Stable Housing Initiative.
Lead Safe Columbus
The mission of the Lead Safe Columbus program is to generate lead-safe and healthy affordable housing and to prevent lead poisoning of children and adults in Columbus neighborhoods. This program offers funding to eligible property owners for lead-based paint hazard control and to address healthy homes hazards in tenant- or owner-occupied units.
LEGAL HELP
Get help with your legal needs.
Ohio Legal Help
Provides interactive self-help tools and connections to local legal resources to assist individuals with resolving their legal issues.
Legal Aid Society of Columbus
Provides legal assistance and guidance to low-income and elderly individuals.
MENTAL HEALTH & SELF CARE
Taking care of yourself isn’t always a priority, especially during a crisis. These resources can help you cope and manage stress.
Alcohol, Drug and Mental Health Board of Franklin County (ADAMH)
A centralized resource for COVID-19 linking to the Ohio, Franklin County and Columbus Public Health departments, it provides information for managing stress and anxiety and for those in crisis, as well as resources focusing on mental health and addiction.
Nationwide Children’s Hospital and Franklin County Psychiatric Crisis Line for Youth
For Franklin County children in crisis, call the Nationwide Children’s Hospital and Franklin County Psychiatric Crisis Line for Youth at 614-722-1800.
Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services
Ohio CareLine wants you to know that it’s OK if you struggle with mental and emotional health. And it’s OK to ask for help. Call the Ohio CareLine at 1-800-720-9616, 24/7 for free, confidential support.
Rally Columbus
This free running and walking initiative provides inspiration to help the community get through tough times.
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 or reach the Crisis Text Line by texting “START” to 741741.
National Domestic Violence Hotline
Call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or TTY 1-800-787-3224.
Netcare Access
For adults experiencing mental health or addiction crises, call Netcare at 614-276-2273.
Help for Teens
For teens who might be involved in, or know someone who might be involved in, an emotionally abusive relationship.
SOCIAL SERVICES
Find children’s and senior services, volunteer opportunities or other social services during the coronavirus pandemic.
CAP4Kids
Includes community resources for food, housing, utilities, finances, healthcare and more.
Franklin County Job & Family Services
Provides resources for temporary pandemic childcare, tips for child care providers, Medicaid Virtual and Telehealth resources.
HandsOn Central Ohio
HandsOn Central Ohio is now LSS 211. Call 2-1-1 or visit the link above to get connected to thousands of social service, government and community resources in Franklin County to address any problem you might be facing..
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Offers resources to help veterans protect and care for themselves and their families during the coronavirus pandemic. Visit their vaccine information page to get the latest updates about COVID-19 vaccines.
TRANSPORTATION
John Glenn International Airport
Planning a trip? See how COVID-19 is changing air travel plans and find information about when COVID-19 testing is required.
