Need Assistance?
Metro Services Take Action to Help
- Metro Water has suspended cut-offs and will waive late fees for the month of March. Metro Water Services customers who have found themselves experiencing financial hardship may request a payment plan for outstanding balances by calling 615-862-4600.
- Nashville Electric Service (NES) has suspended all disconnections for nonpayment and is waiving all late fees through May 31.
- Piedmont Natural Gas has suspended all disconnections until further notice.
- The Sheriff’s Office has suspended eviction notices until further notice.
- All public transit systems remain fully operational.
United Way of Greater Nashville COVID-19 Response Fund
If you are experiencing financial hardship during the COVID-19 crisis, the United Way of Greater Nashville COVID-19 Response Fund may be able to help. Visit the Response Fund website for a list of nonprofits and partners that are helping with:
- Rental/mortgage payments
- Food
- Utility Payments
- Other financial assistance and support
Businesses Hiring Locally
If you have lost your job due to layoffs associated with the March 3 tornado and/or the COVID-19 crisis, you can find updated information about local job openings and opportunities at visitmusiccity.com/covid-19-information.
Financial Counseling
The Nashville Financial Empowerment Center offers free, one-on-one financial counseling over the phone to Davidson County residents. Finance professionals can counsel you on how to navigate the financial aspects of uncertain times and access outside resources, if you need them. Schedule a phone session by calling 615-748-3620 or visiting fec.nashville.gov.
U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Loans
Small businesses and nonprofit organizations that have suffered economic injury as a result of COVID-19 can apply for Economic Injury Disaster Loans of up to $2 million per applicant to help meet financial obligations and operating expenses which could have otherwise been met.
Interest rates for the loans are 3.75% for small businesses and 2.75% for nonprofit organizations. The loans can be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable or other bills that can’t be paid due to the disaster’s impact.
The Economic Injury Disaster Loans are administered and processed through the SBA. Applicants may apply online, receive additional disaster assistance information and download applications at disasterloan.sba.gov/ela.
Applicants may also call the SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance.
More than $1.9 million in disaster loans have been approved by the U.S. Small Business Administration for Davidson County businesses and residents with losses resulting from the severe storms, tornadoes, striaght-line winds and flooding on March 3, 2020. To be considered for all forms of disaster assistance, applicants should register online at DisasterAssistance.gov
A Guide to File for Unemployment
For Employers: click tn.gov/workforce/covid-19/employers
For Workers: click tn.gov/workforce/employees
Or follow these steps:
1. Go to Jobs4tn.gov
2. Click on “Unemployment Benefits”
3. Select “File a Claim”
4. If you have an account, sign in by entering your username and password
5. If you do not have an account, click “Next” to proceed to the next screen
6. Follow the prompts, and enter the required information
Alzheimer’s Foundation of America
The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (AFA) toll-free hotline remains open to families impacted by Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia illnesses during this time. With many care facilities, adult day care centers and other services closed for the time being, AFA is one of the only sources of information, support and guidance available. This is especially important because the outbreak is causing many people, particularly higher-risk individuals such as senior citizens, to break from their normal routines and isolate.
The Toll-Free Helpline (866-232-8484) is open seven days a week and staffed entirely by licensed social workers who are trained in dementia care.
AFA is able to assist callers with topics/questions about combating isolation, keeping engaged, washing tips, caregiver stress, whether family members should visit during this time, items to have in the home, and more.
Families can connect with the AFA Helpline in any of the following ways:
- Via phone by calling 866-232-8484
- Web chat by visiting www.alzfdn.org and clicking on the blue and white chat icon on the lower right-hand corner of the page
- Sending a text message to 646-586-5283
The web and text chat features are available in more than 90 languages.
Tennessee Department of Human Services
TDHS programs and services to assist Tennesseans impacted by COVID-19:
- For family assistance, visit here.
- For child care assistance, visit here.
- For accessing services and additional resources, visit here.
Emergency Cash Assistance: The Emergency Cash Assistance provides two monthly cash payments to families that were employed as of March 11, 2020 and have lost a job or at least 50% of their earned income due to the COVID-19 emergency:
- $500 for a household of 1 to 2 persons.
- $750 for a household of 3 to 4 persons.
- $1000 for a household with 5 or more persons.
The household must include a child under the age of 18 or a pregnant woman, have a valid Social Security Number, must not have resources exceeding $2,000, and the gross and/or unearned monthly income may not exceed 85% of the State’s Median Income, currently:
- Gross Monthly Income of $2,696 for a household of one.
- Gross Monthly Income of $3,526 for a household of two.
- Gross Monthly Income of $4,356 for a household of three.
- Gross Monthly Income of $5,185 for a household of four.
- Gross Monthly Income of $6,015 for a household of five.
This money is funded by the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program, a federal workforce development and employment program emphasizing work, training and personal responsibility. It is temporary and has a primary focus on gaining self-sufficiency through employment. Existing TANF customers receiving Families First benefits will be eligible to apply for this emergency cash assistance.
This assistance is available in addition to any unemployment benefits individuals in the family may be receiving. Apply here.