COVID-19 Job seeker resources

(Please check websites for times, dates, and locations)

Food Pantries/Meal Assistance 

• Central Texas Food Bank Sites
• Drive Thru and Walk Thru Food Distribution Sites from Austin Voices for Education and Youth (updated 4/30)
• April 2020 Emergency Relief Mobile Pantry Distributions: Travis County
• Manos de Cristo Food Pantry
• El Buen Samaritano Food Pantry
• Hill Country Community Ministries Food Pantry
• Get a free meal from TSO Chinese Delivery
• Free curbside family meals for those displaced by COVID-19 every Saturday and Sunday from 11am-2pm in April at Tso Arbor Crossing 9333 Research Blvd, Suite 402 Austin, TX 78752. More info here.
• Stay Home Stay Healthy Food Delivery Program for people within Travis County who have or live with someone who has a predisposing condition that puts them at risk for contracting COVID-19. Check to see if you qualify here.
• For SNAP recipients: Get reimbursed for up to $50 in groceries from Expensify
• Food and Diaper Distribution Centers from Austin Diaper Bank (next drive May 8th)
• Free meal from Z’Tejas on 6th street (must pick up or use Uber or Lyft). Call 512.478.5355 and ask to speak to Brian Joseph.
• Community Impact Drive is a team of churches and organizations formed to get food, toiletries, and other necessary items to seniors and people with disabilities.

Job Assistance:

• Workforce Solutions is helping those who are experiencing unemployment due to COVID-19 by assisting them with finding jobs or training. Fill out the form to request assistance here.
• If you lost your job specifically due to CO-VID19 closures, you may be eligible for Disaster Unemployment Assistance from TWC. You can check your eligibility and get help with applying here: Disaster Unemployment Assistance
• Dress for Success Austin is offering virtual career coaching and image consulting appointments for Austin women. Email teal@dressforsuccessaustin.org to be matched with a volunteer
• HEB is looking for short term workers to meet the demand for shoppers.
• Amazon is hiring warehouse workers starting at $15/hr. No resume or previous work experience required. Can start in as little as 7 days.
• Randall’s is also looking for workers to meet the demand. They’re hiring for both short-term and permanent positions.
• The IRS is looking for Tax Examining Technicians. According to the post, the position is work-from-home eligible.
• Southern Smoke Emergency Relief Program Application for Financial Assistance for employees of restaurants and bars who have been affected by financial hardship. FYI, the application cannot be completed on a smartphone.
• The IRS announced that the tax filing deadline has been extended to July 15, 2020.

Housing/Utilities/Bill Assistance:

• Thanks to the Keep America Connected Pledge, AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint, Verizon, and more have agreed to freeze service terminations, waive late fees, and open more Wifi hotspots in the country. See link for complete list.
• The City of Austin has announced a freeze on evictions and utility disconnects at least until June. You can also request an energy reconnect and payment arrangements. Information in link. 
• The Neighborhood Housing and Community Development Department website has resources for those needing rental or utility assistance or help avoiding foreclosure.
• Tenant-Based Rental Assistance Program is managed by the Housing Authority of the City of Austin (HACA) to help low-income families (at or below 50 percent of the Median Family Income) by providing rental subsidies and case management support services. For more information, visit the HACA website or call at (512) 477-1314. NOTE: HACA offices are closed to the public until further notice. All services provided through mail, email, or phone.

• Travis County Family Support Services provides rental assistance, but limits that assistance to once every 12 months and requires the applicant to register for workforce development, education, or job training services.

• Advocacy Outreach administers state grant funding to help people experiencing homelessness pay for moving expenses or security deposits. Other financial aid, loans, or grants may be issued for rent or energy bills.

Transportation Assistance:

• Most MetroBus and MetroRapid services are operating their normal Sunday schedules.
• On March 18, CapMetro began to operate on a modified level of service and have implemented free fares for the months of April and May.