COVID-19 Information and Resources

COVID-19 Resources for residents

Philadelphia City Council members and staff, in collaboration with other agencies of Philadelphia municipal government, the state and private sector, have gathered this collection of resources to help residents during the COVID-19 pandemic and the recovery. This page will be updated regularly.

Where to find free, nutritious food during COVID-19 (City of Philadelphia)

Meals for Students
Meals for Families
Meals for Older Adults - Grab-and-go meals will be available for seniors between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays at three older adult centers: Northeast, Mann, and Martin Luther King Jr.
The Philadelphia Corporation for Aging (PCA) is continuing delivery services and distribution of meals at
their senior centers. Call the PCA helpline at 215-765-9040 for more information.

Filing for Unemployment Compensation in Pennsylvania

Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) - expanded eligibility for individuals who have traditionally been ineligible for unemployment benefits (e.g. self-employed workers, independent contractors, gig workers).

Unemployment Resource Hub - Maintained by KYW Newsradio, information on who qualifies, where to get help, and answers to other unemployment questions.

Council's List of Essential Businesses Hiring

Pennsylvania's Portal of Essential Businesses Hiring

Information and resources for businesses impacted by COVID-19

An initiative of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, the Save Small Business Fund provides $5,000 grants to businesses that employ 3-20 people, are located in economically vulnerable communities, and have been negatively affected by COVID-19. The application will go live on April 20, 2020, at 3:00 pm ET.
Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation (PIDC) has a list of resources for business owners affected by COVID-19, including a breakdown of funding programs that remain available.
Entrepreneur Works provides loans to entrepreneurs and existing businesses. They have small business loan options and one-on-one guidance.
The Enterprise Center Capital Corporation COVID-19 Loan Fund offers loans to small businesses that meet the following criteria: The business is located in Philadelphia, has been in operation for a minimum of six months prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, and has a documented hardship.
- The Enterprise Center has also partnered with Brandywine Realty Trust on the Grow Philadelphia Small Business COVID-19 Resilience Fund, which will support minority-owned contractors and related small businesses affected by the pandemic. The fund will offer low-interest loans with flexible payment terms to eligible businesses.
The West Philadelphia Financial Services Institution provides loans to small businesses in Philadelphia.
The Neighborhood Progress Fund offers small business loans and business development services to entrepreneurs and businesses in distressed communities.
William Penn Foundation, Vanguard, and Reinvestment Fund are collaborating to support Philadelphia childcare providers struggling to sustain their businesses through the COVID-19 pandemic. The Philadelphia Emergency Fund for Stabilization of Early Education provides grants to minimize the loss of capacity and expertise so that children and families continue to have access to high quality early learning opportunities once this crisis has passed.
KIVA, which gives entrepreneurs access to zero-percent interest small business loans, has increased the size of no-interest loans available.
The Finanta Emergency Loan is available for entrepreneurs affected by COVID-19 and other emergencies. Loans range from $5,000-$15,000 without closing fees. Contact Finanta for more information and to apply: 267-236-7030 (for English) or 267-236-7019 (para Español)
The Women’s Opportunities Resource Center has low–interest loans, professional services, and referrals to partner banks and community loan funds for small businesses.

Relief and Resources for Organizations and Small Businesses

COVID-19 Arts Aid PHL - created by the City of Philadelphia’s Office of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy (OACCE), the Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance (GPCA), and the Philadelphia Cultural Fund (PCF), COVID-19 Arts Aid PHL will support individual artists as well as small arts and culture organizations (annual budgets no greater than $250,000) and mid-sized organizations (annual budgets of $250,000 - $15M) whose operations, work and livelihood have been deeply affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Application guidelines.

Philadelphia Emergency Fund for Stabilization of Early Education - Managed by the Reinvestment Fund, this effort aims to use grant funds to ensure that Philadelphia’s early learning sector can weather the COVID-19 crisis. Apply here.

Philadelphia COVID-19 Small Business Relief Fund - Providing some small businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic with immediate relief through a mix of grants and loans

Fundraising, Organizing and Volunteer Efforts

ACCT Philly - ACCT Philly will continue to have essential staff working at the shelter to care for the animals and perform associated functions from 10am-6pm, however the door will be locked and adoptions, fosters and intakes will be done differently. Find out more on their website or donate to support their ongoing work.

American Red Cross in Eastern Pennsylvania - To support social distancing, appointments are now required. With thousands of blood drives cancelled during the COVID-19 pandemic, we are working hard to open new donation sites. In the meantime, please search 14 days out or beyond. The need for blood is constant - patients need your help. Find a donation site.

Caring for Friends welcomes involvement and offers a variety of ways for residents to support their mission to provide food and friendship to homebound seniors and disabled, the homeless, and families with children in need in the 5-county Philadelphia region. Even if you have just a few hours available, Caring for Friends is always in need of drivers to help with senior meal delivery, as well as volunteers to make regular phone calls to the homebound.

Coronavirus Care Fund - managed by the National Domestic Workers Alliance, the fund will provide immediate financial support for domestic workers, and enable them to stay home and healthy — protecting themselves, their families and their communities while slowing the spread of the Coronavirus.

Food Connect is designed for restaurants, food retailers, grocery stores, and caterers who want to donate their surplus food to those in need. Food Connect will be continuing operations in order to support spikes in food needs for emergency meal sites, shelters, and soup kitchens. If you need to schedule a pickup to donate excess food to local shelters, visit their website or download the Food Connect app on your Android or iOS device.

Fuel The Fight - ongoing fundraising effort in which 100% of the money is used to buy food from local restaurants who are reeling from the coronavirus while feeding healthcare workers on the front-lines battling this pandemic.

Greater Philadelphia Hotel Association COVID-19 Hospitality Workers Relief Fund - provides gift cards for local grocery stores and pharmacies to be distributed to hotel employees who have been furloughed, laid off or lost their jobs.

Habitat For Humanity Philadelphia Home Together Fund - to allow Habitat to build capacity so that they can hit the ground running when construction can resume.

Music Community Relief Fund - a micro-grant program that to date has issued 90 grants of $250 to artists and staff at local independent venues affected by the shutdown.

Philabundance - Due to COVID-19, Philabundance is adapting its efforts to ensure individuals and families have access to the food they need while preventing the spread of the virus. Learn how to get involved.

The Philadelphia Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) is a group of more than 2,500 volunteers who serve the City during public health emergencies and large-scale events. Anyone 18 years of age or older may apply online to join the Philadelphia MRC. Once the application is approved, volunteers will be contacted about training, exercise, and deployment opportunities.

Project HOME is asking Philadelphians to check out their in-kind needs list here, and is in particular need of bottled water; toiletries like soap, lotion, shampoo, deodorant, Clorox wipes, hand sanitizer; hygiene items like clean underwear and socks; non-perishable food.

Save Philly Eats - #SavePhillyEats is Philly’s digital hub helping the city’s restaurants and bars weather the Coronavirus crisis. They publish unique culinary experiences and offers to supply critical revenue now, which can be redeemed once this crisis has passed.

Solidarity Fund for COVID-19 Organizing - managed by the Bread and Roses Community Fund, the solidarity fund will support vital community organizing in this time of crisis.

UNITE HERE Response to COVID-19 - The COVID–19 pandemic is hitting hospitality workers especially hard. As business pauses in theme parks, sports and event venues, airports, hotels, and convention centers, working families are facing layoffs and uncertainty. Visit their site to learn how to donate and what they're doing to advocate and support members during the pandemic.

Housing and Social Services Relief

More Help for Renters Affected by COVID-19 - On July 6 the City of Philadelphia and PHDC began a second phase of assistance for tenants affected by COVID-19. Funding is still limited so not everyone who applies will receive assistance. For more information and to apply, visit: PHLRentAssist.org.

The CARES Pandemic Mortgage Assistance Program (PMAP) - In late May, the Pennsylvania General Assembly directed $175 million of state's Federal CARES dollars to Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA) to provide assistance for struggling renters and homeowners. To request CARES mortgage relief, follow the instructions to complete the application and submit any required supporting paperwork.

COVID-19 Safety Planning for Domestic Violence Survivors - Women Against Abuse has assembled a list of resources and planning advice for people who may be facing isolation with an abusive partner; includes advice on how to get protection from abuse orders, even with Philadelphia Courts closed.

Virtual Landlord-Tenant Mediation - Good Shepherd Mediation Program, in partnership with the City of Philadelphia, is offering virtual landlord-tenant mediation sessions to help Philadelphia landlords and tenants resolve issues related to COVID-19 disruptions or other challenges.