• Support your local businesses! Shop 716 eGift Card

Below, you will find several resources available to help you deal with the COVID-19 situation.  

Hotlines

• 24 Hour Crisis Hotline: 716-834-3131
• Upstate NY Poison Center: 1-800-222-1222 
• 24 Hour Erie County Addiction Hotline: 716-831-7007
• 24 Hour Domestic Violence Hotline: 716-862-HELP (716-862-4357)  
• 24 Hour 2-1-1 WNY (Dial 2-1-1) - Human and social services, emergency housing, legal services, domestic, health and wellness, food and nutrition, mental health, support groups, developmental disabilities

General Assistance

• Catholic Charities Emergency Assistance Resources
• 24 Hour 2-1-1 WNY (Dial 2-1-1) - Human and social services, emergency housing, legal services, domestic, health and wellness, food and nutrition, mental health, support groups, developmental disabilities

WNY COVID Consensus Workgroup

• Instruction Sheet (December 2020)

Financial Support/Employment Opportunities/ Evictions for Individuals

• Job Openings in the Community
• Pandemic Unemployment (CARES Act) - What You Need to Know About Filing for Unemployment Insurance During the Pandemic
• Employee Paid Leave Rights (Families First Coronavirus Response Act FFCRA):  - Fact Sheets, Questions and Answers and More Info
• Consumer Credit Counseling Service (free financial checkups): 716-712-2060 
• NYS Department of Labor: 1-888-581-5812 
• Live Well Erie Cares Act Rental & Mortgage Assistance 
• NY State Emergency Rental Assistance Program - provides assistance with up to 12 months of past-due rent, three months of prospective rental assistance and 12 months of utility arrears payments to eligible New Yorkers, regardless of immigration status.

• Hardship Declaration Flyer and Hardship Declaration Form (call 716-783-0392 for questions and assistance
• COVID-19 Emergency Eviction and Foreclosure Prevention Act  
• Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP)

Financial Support for Businesses

• See COVID-19 Information for Businesses 

Funeral Assistance

• FEMA is providing financial assistance for COVID-19 related funeral expenses incurred after January 20, 2020

Erie County Department of Social Services

• Temporary Aid to Needy Families (TANF): 716-858-8000 for an application; No in-person interview required; Interviews done over the phone
• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP): 716-858-7239; Online at mybenefits.ny.gov
• HEAP: 716-858-7644; Online at mybenefits.ny.gov
• Medicaid: 716-858-6244 
• Erie County Department of Social Services main number: 716-858-8000: Website Erie County Department of Social Services
• Foster Care: 716-858-7274
• Youth Services: 716-923-4000
• Child Protective Services (to make a report): 1-800-342-3720
• Adult Protective Services: 716-858-6877 

Addiction Assistance

• See Erie County Department of Mental Health 

Child Care for Essential Workers

• Erie County Emergency Child Care Task Force Survey - Task Force working with Erie 1 BOCES and local school districts to develop plans for child care needs.
• Childcare Resource Network (CCRN): 716-877-6666; Clearinghouse for childcare openings  

Consumer Protection

• Erie County Office of Consumer Protection 
• Financial Fraud: 1-800-342-3736 or file a complaint online at www.dfs.ny.gov/complaint
• Price gouging: 1-800-697-1220 or file a complaint online at www.dos.ny.gov/consumerprotection

Disabled Community

• Erie County Office for People with Disabilities: 716-858-6215 or N.Y. Relay 1-800-662-1220
• People, Inc.: 716-817-7400
• Community Services for Every1: 716-883-8002
• WNY Independent Living Center: 716-836-0822
• Deaf Access Services: (716) 335-9192 video phone 

Domestic Violence 

• 24 Hour Domestic Violence Hotline: 716-862-HELP  
• Video: Child & Family Services Domestic Violence are Open 
• Video: Erie County District Attorney's Office Continues to Offer Services to Domestic Violence Survivors
• Family Justice Center of Erie County: 716-558-SAFE (7233)
• Haven House 24 Hour Confidential  Hotline and Shelter: 716-884-6000; use its online chat system; deaf or hard-of-hearing call 7-1-1

Early Intervention

• See ECDOH Early Intervention Program   

Health Insurance

• The NYS of Health and NYS Department of Financial Services have announced a special enrollment period. Get more info at nystateofhealth.ny.gov 
• Primary Care Providers Accepting New Patients -Click here for list

Legal Services/Advice

• Erie County Bar Association Volunteer Lawyers Project: 716-847-0662
• Legal Aid Bureau of Buffalo, Inc. 716-853-9555
• Center for Elder Law and Justice:1-844-481-0973
• WNY Law Center: 716-855-0203
• Neighborhood Legal Services, Inc.: 716-847-0650
• Mental Health Advocates of WNY: 716-886-1242

Live Well Erie

• Statement regarding COVID-19

Mental Health Resources

• Erie County Department of Mental Health - several resources available on stress, anxiety, addictions and much more
• Buffalo and Erie County Crisis Services Hotline: 716-834-3131; Available 24 hours, 7 days. Free and confidential service; Instant access to interpreters 24 hours a day   
• Mental Health Advocates of WNY: 716-886-1242 

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)  

• PPE Vendor List for Businesses and Application to be Added to PPE List

• Community Organization PPE Request Form

  This form is to be used by community groups, youth programs, block clubs, community centers and faith institutions/places of worship to request personal protective equipment (PPE).  See form for additional details.

Primary Care Providers Accepting New Patients

• Click here for list

Refugee Community/Immigrant

• Catholic Charities: 716-856-4494
• International Institute of Buffalo: 716-883-1900
• Jericho Road Community Health Center: 716-348-3000
• Jewish Family Services: 716-883-1914
• Journey’s End: 716-882-4963
• COVID-19 Information in Languages other than English

Senior Adults

• Senior Services Meal Delivery: 716-858-8526 weekdays between 8:30 am - 4:30 pm.  Seniors in Erie County can contact the Erie County Department of Senior Services for Meals on Wheels delivery. Senior Services staff members are coordinating with Meals on Wheels to ensure meal delivery to all seniors in need.   
• Erie County Department of Senior Services: 716-858-8526
• Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program: 716-817-9222
• Transportation: 716-858-RIDE (7433) 
• Combat Social Isolation
• Catholic Charities Telephone Assurance Program: 716-218-1400
• Compeer Older Adult Program Social Support: 716-883-3331 ext 314  
• Alzheimer's Foundation of America (AFA): 1-866-232-8484; text message to 646-586-5283 
• Erie County Department of Social Services: 716-858-8000
• Protective Services for Older Adults: 716-858-6877 
• NYS Division of Human Rights (Buffalo Office): 1-888-392-3644
• Mental Health Association of Erie County: 716-886-1242
• Center for Elder Law & Justice: 716-853-3087 

Technology Resources

• Low-Cost Internet Service and Refurbished Computers

WIC (Women, Infants and Children) Supplemental Nutrition Program

• Catholic Charities: (716) 218-1484