my.BronxImpact.org Call Center: Now Open
my.BronxImpact.org is a free search engine where you can find free and low-cost resources like medical care, food, job training, education resources, and more! Interested in speaking with a call center representative who can help navigate and make connections for you? Call 646-762-7483!
SBRT Staff Additions
Our team is expanding! We are excited to announce the addition of two AmeriCorps VISTA members, Chelyse Prevost and Juanita Williams.
Chelyse Prevost, Communications Associate
Chelyse is a recent college graduate, passionate about digital education and empowering the youth in her community. Throughout her time at Texas State University, she served as a teacher’s assistant and tutor for elementary school students. Before SBRT, she spent time writing lifestyle articles on her school radio station’s blog, while also working in the web design & development department. Following her career path in digital media and sociology, she aspires to earn her master’s in digital media design for learning to better apply herself in underserved communities, specifically around BIPOC and LGBTQ+ youth. Chelyse can be reached at chelyse@risingtogether.org!
Juanita Williams, Parent Council Associate
Juanita enjoys working within the community to help everyday people achieve and believe in themselves. She believes that as we collectively overcome the pandemic, it’s her goal for parents and children not to feel as if they always lack resources, but to feel informed, important, and self efficient to be better than ever. Juanita can be reached at juanita@risingtogether.org!
Partner Corner
Children’s Aid Early Childhood Program Enrollment
From before they take their first steps to the day they walk into their kindergarten classroom, our littlest ones are ready to be healthy, lifelong learners. Children’s Aid Early Childhood programs nurture and serve more than 1,000 children (ages 0-5) and their families during the most critical stages of childhood development. Learn more about program offerings by watching this video, and submit your application here!
Need Help Finding Child Care?
Care Finder NYC is building a FREE platform where Family Child Care providers and families needing childcare can connect. The platform has launched in beta—families can search for childcare providers and licensed providers can claim their page and advertise current openings. If you have any questions, please reach out to Jaime-Jin Lewis at jaimejin@wiggleroomnow.com.
Resource Corner
Child Tax Credit
As part of the American Rescue Plan, the IRS has extended the Child Tax Credit until the end of 2021, meaning that families can receives up to $300 per month for each one of their children until the end of 2021 and $1800 in 2022.
Families who have filed tax returns for 2019 or 2020, or who have signed up to receive a stimulus check from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), will get this tax relief automatically. They do not need to sign up or take any action.
However, families who have not filed taxes or signed up to receive a stimulus check need to take a further step to register. The White House’s website includes a new easy sign-up for low-income families who did not make enough to be required to file taxes in 2019 or 2020 (typically $12,400 for an individual or $24,800 for a married couple).
Here’s what you need to complete the non-filer sign-up.
Social Security numbers (SSN) for your children and Social Security numbers (or ITIN) for you and your spouse (if applicable)
A reliable postal mailing address
An email address
Your bank account information (if you want to receive your payment by direct deposit)
New York State’s COVID-19 Pandemic Small Business Recovery Grant Program
Are you a small business owner in the Bronx? The Southern Boulevard Merchant Association can help you apply for the NYS Small Business Relief Grant!
Qualifications:
Business must have started operating on or before March 1, 2019
Must be currently open and operating
Gross receipts of at least $25,000 in 2019
Gross receipts of $500,000 or less in 2020
Must have lost 25% or more of revenue between 2019 and 2020.
We can help you determine eligibility with your 2019 and 2020 tax returns! Contact the Southern Boulevard Merchant Association at 347-973-0945.
Emergency Broadband Benefit
The Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB) is an FCC program to help families and households struggling to afford internet service during the COVID-19 pandemic. EBB will provide a discount of up to $50 per month towards broadband service for eligible households and up to $75 per month for households on qualifying Tribal lands. Eligible households can also receive a one-time discount of up to $100 to purchase a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet from participating providers if they contribute more than $10 and less than $50 toward the purchase price.
Who is Eligible?
A household is eligible if a member of the household meets one of the criteria below:
Has an income that is at or below 135% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines or participates in certain assistance programs, such as SNAP, Medicaid, or Lifeline;
Approved to receive benefits under the free and reduced-price school lunch program or the school breakfast program, including through the USDA Community Eligibility Provision in the 2019-2020 or 2020-2021 school year;
Received a Federal Pell Grant during the current award year;
Experienced a substantial loss of income due to job loss or furlough since February 29, 2020 and the household had a total income in 2020 at or below $99,000 for single filers and $198,000 for joint filers; or
Meets the eligibility criteria for a participating provider's existing low-income or COVID-19 program.
How Can Families Apply?
Contact your preferred participating broadband provider directly to learn about their application process.
Go to GetEmergencyBroadband.org to apply online and to find participating providers near you.
Call 833-511-0311 for a mail-in application.
Emergency Rental Assistance Program
New York State began accepting applications for the Emergency Rental Assistance Program. The program will provide up to 12 months of rent arrears and utility assistance as well as three months of future rent payments to low and moderate-income households at risk of housing instability. New York has $2.4 billion available for the program.
To qualify you must be:
A tenant whose primary residence is in New York State;
Part of a household that is at or below 80% of the Area Median Income ($85,950 for a family of three in New York City);
Part of a household that is at risk of housing instability or homelessness; AND
Part of a household that experienced a reduction in household income, incurred significant costs, or experienced other financial hardship due to the pandemic; or where at least one household member qualifies for unemployment
Immigration status is not a factor. You do not need to have a lawful immigration status to qualify for this program. Apply at otda.ny.gov/erap. Flyers (in English and Spanish) to promote this program across the city can be accessed here.
Upcoming Events
Adapting to the Future of Work
JobsFirst NYC is hosting the 6th annual Adapting to the Future of Work: Surviving to the Future of Work! Join the conversation to explore, envision and reimagine solutions to elevate young adults. Advance registration is required. Register here.
Race Forward Conference
Are you Interested in learning more about #RacialEquity work being done by youth leaders across the country? Join us at @RaceForward’s #RaceAnd Our Present, Our Future Conference, this September 25th, 2021, online! Get tickets at raceand.raceforward.org.