Friend,

New Yorkers make up 33% of COVID-19 cases and 44% of COVID-19 deaths in the United States. More than 800,000 New Yorkers have filed for unemployment. Hundreds of thousands of undocumented workers have lost their jobs and are ineligible for any relief. The toll of the Coronavirus pandemic on our state has been devastating.

Since launching on April 1st, the Relief Fund has raised more than $25,000. Most of which came from small dollar contributions. And it's not too late to make a tax-deductible contribution. Click here and donate to NYCOFI’s COVID-19 Relief Fund.

It's incredible that so many New Yorkers have stepped up to help their neighbors but it’s nowhere near enough to meet the need. In 24 hours almost 300 households applied for direct relief. The response was so immense that NYCOFI had to temporarily stop accepting applications.

Nearly all the applicants have been laid off. 86% reported that they were ineligible for unemployment or the government stimulus payment. 11% reported having a family member who was hospitalized or died from COVID-19. Almost every applicant requested help paying for food.

The volume of responses is heartbreaking and it's a fraction of the true need in our communities. The good news is that every dollar raised by the Relief Fund so far will be distributed as direct relief. And the more we raise the more people will get relief. Click here and make your contribution.

The curve may be flattening, but the economic crisis in New York is only getting worse. Social distancing measures have been repeatedly extended. With no job opportunities and few options for relief, thousands of New Yorkers are struggling to pay for food, medicine and burial costs.

If you’re lucky enough to be working from home or receiving a stimulus check to put food on your table, please join us in supporting a neighbor who isn’t. Click here to contribute to NYCOFI’s COVID-19 Relief Fund.

Best,

Jonathan Westin