Times might be a little tougher than usual right now and if you’re trying to figure out how to make your finances work until your next paycheck, below is a collection of resources for you to explore.

Government Welfare Programs

Unemployment Insurance Benefits: this program provides a payout based on your previous income until you can get back on your feet. It is funded by the payroll taxes we all pay while we’re employed.

Women, Infants and Children (WIC): this program provides food assistance for women, babies and small children. It also provides additional health and welfare resources.

Food Stamps/Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP): provides subsidized groceries.

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF): provides childcare help and other social assistance.

Income Based Repayment of Student Loans (IBR): this can help adjust your student loan payments to more manageable rates.

Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP): this can help keep the lights on, the heat on and the A/C on.

Lifeline Program: this is a stipend to help keep your phone and internet working.

Assistance Funds

Below is a list of emergency grants in effect for artists and people who work in the arts during the COVID-19 pandemic:

• Artists of Color Emergency Grants
• Artist Relief
• Arts and Culture Leaders of Color Emergency Fund
• Bartender Emergency Assistance Program
• Behind the Scenes
• Boston Artist Relief Fund
• COVID-19 Artist Relief Project
• Crew Nation
• Cultural Relief FundDance NYC COVID-19 Dance Relief Fund
• The Dancers’ Fund Financial Assistance
• Dramatists Guild Foundation Emergency Grant
• Foundation for Contemporary Arts Emergency Grant
• Freelancers Relief Fund
• The Frederick Artist Relief Fund
• Greater Columbus Arts Council COVID-19 Emergency Relief Grants
• Indie Theater Fund Rapid Relief GRANTS due to Covid19
• Max’s Kansas City Project Emergency Grants
• Microgrants for NYC-Based Freelance Theater Designers
• Montana Arts Council Strategic Investment Grants for Emergencies
• National Association of Latino Arts and Culture
• NC Artist Relief Fund
• NJ Theatre Alliance
• Pittsburgh Arts Council Emergency Fund for Artists
• Portland Area Artist Emergency Relief Fund
• Rauschenberg Foundation Emergency Medical Aid
• Season of Concern Chicago Emergency Assistance
• Spokane Artists and Creatives Fund
• Springboard for the Arts Personal Emergency Relief Fund
• 50 Arts COVID-19 Emergency Relief Fund

Resource Lists

The Actors Fund: they have one of the best comprehensive lists of outside resources, as well as the same support systems they’ve always had for people who work in the arts.

COVID-19 Freelance Artist Resources: a website full of resources related to this pandemic and freelancers.

Debt.com: if your debt is overwhelming without any additional income coming in, debt.com is a great resource to look into consolidation or bankruptcy information and assistance.

New York Foundation for the Arts: an even more extensive list of resources and funds.

55 Companies That Are Still Hiring: a list of possible survival jobs to explore.

HireArtists – a freelance/gig website that allows artists to list their skills. The website doesn’t take a commission, and all money goes directly to the artists. You can sign up as an artist, or use it for any work you need done to support artists.

Places to Donate Money, Skills or Time

Some of us are still in a fortunate position to be employed or we may find we have a lot of free time on our hands and wishing we could use it in a helpful way. Below are a list of resources accepting financial donations, as well as some groups looking for volunteers to help with different tasks:

• Broadway Cares
• Curtain Up Fund
• IATSE Cares
• Online Performances
• Where and How to Donate Masks & Spare PPE/Cleaning Supplies in NYC
• Entertainment Industry Response