Scholarship funds will be available to individuals who have or previously had DACA status, have a completed DACA renewal application and reside in Seattle, work in Seattle, or go to school in Seattle.
Successful DACA scholarship grantees will receive a check made out to the Department of Homeland Security to submit with their DACA renewal application. All application processes will require the completion of an eligibility form and a 30-minute video or phone appointment with an El Centro de la Raza staff member.
Those seeking assistance with scholarship applications can do so at El Centro de la Raza, who will administer the DACA scholarship funds in a partnership with the Seattle Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs.
With all public and private schools closing in King County, several schools have opened their cafeterias to serve all Seattle Public Schools students. The lunch hours will run from Monday through Friday, 11 am to 1 pm.
On Monday, Mayor Jenny Durkan announced, in a release, that a new voucher program will provide 6,250 families with $800 vouchers to purchase food, cleaning supplies, and other household goods at Safeway stores in Washington.
The mayor’s $5 million grocery voucher program will be distributed by the Office of Sustainability and Environment in two installments to families who are currently enrolled in City-supported childcare programs and food assistance programs.
On Tuesday, March 10, Mayor Jenny Durkan announced that utility services will not be switched off during the coronavirus pandemic. All Seattle Public Utilities and Seattle City Light customers are able to set up deferred payment plans if their financial stability has been jeopardized by the coronavirus.
The utility and light companies have also created a Utility Discount Program which will allow income-eligible residents access to heavily discounted utilities during the coronavirus pandemic.
Customers financially impacted by coronavirus are urged to set up payment plans with either Seattle City Light or Seattle Public Utilities by calling 206-684-3000 or sending an email 24/7 at http://www.seattle.gov/utilities/about-us/email-question.
UDP lowers Seattle City Light bills by 60 percent and Seattle Public Utility bills by 50 percent. To learn more about enrollment in UDP, call 206-684-0268. Eligibility requirements can be found here.
In addition, residential evictions for non-payment of rent have been temporarily halted. This will last until Seattle’s coronavirus emergency ends, pending the council’s approval.
Whether you’re forced into quarantine, your employer goes out of business, or you contract COVID-19, the Employment Security Department of Washington State has you covered — As of March 9, “Employment Security has adopted a series of emergency rules to relieve the burden of temporary layoffs, isolation, and quarantine for workers and businesses.”
If you’re needing to take time off work for COVID-19, the Washington State Employment Security Department recommends that you first use your employer-paid time off. If the leave is not available, Paid Family and Medical Leave may be able to help until you’re ready to return to work.
If you are forced to quit your job as a result of COVID-19, you can apply for unemployment benefits online.
Small business owners are able to apply online for a grant of up to $10,000. Once an eligible business owner applies, the Office of Economic Development will send financial assistance within one week.
To qualify for a grant, small businesses must have five employees or less, the owner must be at or below 80% of the Area Median Income, the business must have a physical establishment, and it must be financially impacted by coronavirus.
Those looking for free educational resources can browse through this list compiled by the City of Seattle.
Resources include BrainPop, Pear Deck, GoGuardian, and more.
For general information about the coronavirus from the county, click here. For the latest in coronavirus coverage, click here.
