COVID-19 Community Resources
Resource Quick Links
Monoclonal Antibody Therapy
Have you recently tested positive for COVID-19 or been exposed to someone with a confirmed case of COVID-19? If you act quickly, monoclonal antibody therapy can help reduce your risk of getting seriously ill or hospitalized with COVID-19.
Find out if you are eligible at the Health and Human Services website here. If you have a condition that makes you high-risk for getting very ill with COVID-19 that is not on the list, talk to your primary care provider. Providers can use their judgement to recommend you for the therapy even if your condition is not on the list.
Your race or ethnicity can even qualify you, if your race/ethnicity is known to have a higher rate of severe illness with COVID-19. This includes Black or African American, American Indian, Alaska Native, Hispanic/Latino, Native Hawaiian, or Pacific Islander. See here for a simple chart to share with your health care provider that shows the higher risk level of these races/ethnicities.
If you are a Roots patient, call your clinic and ask for a referral. If you were tested at Roots but you are not a Roots patient, call the nurse who counseled you about your positive test. They can be reached through our patient service specialists at 510-993-5287. Mention that you have an urgent request for COVID-19 treatment.
If you aren’t a Roots patient and didn’t get tested with us, contact your primary care provider. Make sure that you note that the request is urgent. In most cases therapy can only be started within the first 10 days of getting symptoms.
In Oakland, Total Infusion clinic at Eastmont Mall is a good local resource. They are located at Eastmont Town Center, 6955 Foothill Blvd, Suite 67A, Oakland. Their referral form is available here. Please note: it is important to start treatment as quickly as possible if you have symptoms or were exposed. You can now refer yourself instead of waiting to get a referral from your doctor.
Other resources are listed at Alameda County Public Health Department’s website here.
COVID-19 Testing Sites in Alameda & Santa Clara Counties
Roots offers free COVID-19 testing to the whole community at our Oakland and San Jose walk-up testing sites. Learn more here.
For more COVID-19 testing options in Alameda County, visit the Alameda Count Department of Public Health’s website here.
For more COVID-19 testing options in Santa Clara County, visit the Santa Clara County Public Health Department’s website here.
Financial Assistance
- 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
- Disclaimer: East Oakland DREAMer emergency fund is currently on hold and is redirecting folks to this comprehensive list.
- Alameda County Social Services has provided easier access to their forms and reduced the need for in-person visits for Medi-Cal, CalFresh, CalWORKs, Refugee Cash Assistance, and General Assistance. Find their forms here and their new guidelines here.
- Undocumented Immigrants who lave lost work or whose hours have been cut can apply for $500 in relief funds via OUR Fund (Oakland Undocumented Relief Fund) here.
- Note from Oakland Undocumented Relief Fund: We have an overwhelming number of applicants, but we will put you on a waitlist if you decide to apply.
- Benefits for Workers Impacted by COVID-19: The Labor and Workforce Development Agency has developed a chart of benefits available for workers affected by COVID-19 here.
- California’s COVID-19 eviction moratorium and mortgage hardship related information here. Letter to landlord for rent relief editable template.
Shelter
Food
School Lunch Continuation and Food for Youth
Legal Assistance
Bay Area Legal Aid: Provides low-income clients with free civil legal assistance, including legal advice and counsel, effective referrals, and legal representation. Serving the counties of Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, and Santa Clara in multiple languages. Click here to learn more.
Immigrants
- Your Right to Seek Care: The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has posted an alert clarifying that it encourages all those, including aliens, with symptoms that resemble COVID-19 (fever, cough, shortness of breath) to seek necessary medical treatment or preventive services; and that these services will not negatively affect any alien as part of a future Public Charge analysis. Click here for more information from the National Immigration Law Center.
- Relief Funds for Undocumented Families: Agencies are offering relief funds for undocumented families affected by COVID-19, please see opportunities listed.
- Note from Oakland Undocumented Relief Fund: We have an overwhelming number of applicants, but we will put you on a waitlist if you decide to apply.
Internet/Phone Access
As California colleges and school districts move classes and services online, access to reliable internet service is critical. Below is a list of several reduced companies providing free or low-cost internet access during the current emergency.
| Comcast | Effective Monday, March 16, 2020, Comcast is offering two months of free to Internet service through the Internet Essentials program. This offer is available to new and existing customers. Additionally, Xfinity WiFi hotspots are now available free of charge to the public. |
| AT&T | AT&T is providing free access to its WiFI hot spots throughout the country. |
| Charter | Charter is offering free Spectrum broadband and Wi-Fi access, for 60 days to households college students who do not already have a Spectrum broadband subscription and at any service level up to 100 Mbps. To enroll call 1-844-488-8395. Additionally, all WiFi hot spots are now free of charge. |
| Verizon | Visit this link to see the latest updates Verizon has for their customers. |
| California Connects | California Community Colleges students are eligible for this mobile hotspot service, powered by Sprint, which offers nationwide 4G LTE connectivity and allows users to connect up to 10 WiFi enabled devices for up to 10 hours on a single charge for only $19.99 a month. |
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
Education
- Free access to Spectrum Broadband and Wi-Fi For 60 Days For New K-12 and College Student Households
- Free access to L’il Libros worksheets for kids
- 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
- MIND Research Institute is offering no cost access to a free math instructional program for students in grades K-8
- Scholastic offers free, online learning experiences for kids of all ages
- Check out this list of virtual field trips
- Switcheroo Zoo: Watch, listen and play games to learn about amazing animals!
- Nat Geo for kids: Learn all about geography and fascinating animals
- Into the Book: Go “Into the book” to play games that practice reading strategies
- Seussville: Read, play games, and hang out with Dr. Seuss and his friends
- ABC YA: Practice math and reading skills all while playing fun games!
- Fun Brain: Play games while practicing math and reading skills
- Star Fall: Practice your phonics skills with these read-along stories
- Storyline Online: Have some of your favorite stories read to you by movie stars!
- Highlights Kids: Read, play games, and conduct cool science experiments!
- Check out these webcams at Monterey Bay aquarium:
Safer Ground Hotel Voucher Program
- In an effort to expand resources for households experiencing homelessness with a household member at high-risk for complications if infected with COVID-19, Alameda County is implementing the Safer Ground Hotel Voucher Program. This program allows eligible households and their service provider(s) to apply for financial resources to pay for stays in non-congregate housing (typically a hotel) for up to 90 days.
Please thoroughly read the documents below for more information about the program details, eligibility requirements, and application process.
- Safer Ground Hotel Voucher Information for Service Providers
- Safer Ground Hotel Voucher Application
- HMIS Release of Information
- HMIS Client Profile
- Health Shelter Intake Form
- Vendor Form
- W-9
- HCSA Housing Assistance Fund Invoice Form
- Medical Verification (completed by healthcare professional)
- Individual High Risk Certification
- Health Shelter Exit Form
Please call (510) 567-8007 or email [email protected] with any questions regarding this program.
Program Eligibility
- Referrals must come from an eligible service provider working with an eligible household or individual
- Service provider and eligible household must identify an appropriate housing site willing to accept the applicant
- Service provider must agree to provide ongoing support to the household throughout their participation in the Safer Ground hotel voucher Program
- Household agrees to shelter-in-place during their stay, including:
- Maintaining a distance of 6 feet or more from people not in the household
- Refraining from having any visitors
- Refraining from congregating in public spaces
- Engaging in regular and thorough hand-washing
- Remaining in their room except for essential trips
- Wearing a face covering outside the room and during essential trips
Household Eligibility
Eligible households must meet at least one criteria in BOTH Category A and B below:
Category A – Residential Criteria
At the time of referral, the applicant(s) must be sleeping in one of the following locations:
- On the street or other places not meant for human habitation
- Emergency shelter
- Transitional housing program for individuals experiencing homelessness
- Exiting a health care or other institution with no identified residence at time of discharge
- In a congregate living facility for less than 90 days with no way to self-isolate AND was sleeping in one of the above categories prior to entering the facility
Category B – Clinical Criteria
At the time of referral, one or more members of the household must document that they meet one or more of the following medical statuses by providing medical documentation or by providing written self-certification of eligibility using the Individual high risk certification form. Participants approved based on self-certification must provide medical evidence to continue in the program beyond the first 30 days.
- Chronic heart disease, i.e. heart failure, coronary artery disease, congenital heart disease, cardiomyopathies, pulmonary hypertension
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, emphysema, chronic bronchitis
- Type 2 diabetes mellitus
- Immunocompromised from a solid organ transplant, blood, or bone marrow transplant, immune deficiencies
- Sickle cell disease
- Obesity – Body Mass Index (BMI) >30
- Chronic kidney disease
- Poorly controlled HIV infection with a CD4 count <300 or not on HIV treatment
- Chronic steroid use or immune weakening medications
- Moderate to severe asthma
- Obstructive sleep apnea
- Active cancer diagnosis in treatment or not
- Chronic liver disease
Providers are encouraged to reach out with any questions related to eligibility, the application materials, or the requirements of the program after reviewing the documents and prior to completing the application at [email protected] or by calling (510) 567-8007.
City Websites
Visit city websites for updated information on COVID-19 and city resources.
Need Something Else? Alameda County Public Health Department COVID-19 Alameda County Rapid Response list of resources and information regarding program changes here. You can also call 2-1-1 to be connected with an expert to help you search a massive database of local resources in your area.
Still can’t find what you need? Remember that Roots is here to help! Call your Navigator or the clinic line at 510-777-1177 and let us know what you’re looking for.
We WILL get through this TOGETHER!