COVID-19 Resources

Filing for Unemployment

Nebraska Department of Labor:

For more information on how to file for unemployment, visit the Nebraska Department of Labor's website. Before filing, be sure to gather the necessary items you'll need for your claim — review this information and more here.

Financial Assistance

Short-Time Compensation:

To apply for short-time compensation, visit the Nebraska Department of Labor website.


Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP):

The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) helps low income households stay safe and healthy by providing financial assistance to offset the costs of heating and cooling. LIHEAP particularly helps households that pay a high portion of household income for home energy to meet immediate home energy needs.


Aid to Dependent Children (ADC):

Aid to Dependent Children (ADC) provides cash assistance to low income families with children. ADC is funded by the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program.


Emergency Assistance:

The Emergency Assistance Program provides help to families in a situations which are threatening the health or wellbeing of an eligible child and family.

Food Security

Food Bank for the Heartland: Mobile Backpack Program:

The Food Bank for the Heartland will deliver free meal bags to 13 sites across the Omaha metro and Council Bluffs from food trucks. Each meal bag contains five breakfasts and five lunches for a total of 10 meals. For drive-up site locations, click here.


Latino Center of the Midlands: Spanish and English Food Pantry Maps:


The Salvation Army of Omaha Food Pantry:

The Salvation Army of Omaha will have pre-packaged boxes of food available for pickup between 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. The food pantry will operate Monday through Friday at The Burrow Center at 6101 NW Radial Highway.


Westbrook Elementary and Westside Middle School:

For any family who shows up at these sites between 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., they will provide every child (ages 0-21) in that household 5-days worth of meals to include breakfast and lunch. For more information, please contact the Director of Student Services, Robert Aranda, at aranda.robert@westside66.net.


WIC - Women, Infants and Children:

WIC provides healthy food at no cost, breastfeeding support, nutrition information, and referrals to about 38,000 people across the state each month.


Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP):

SNAP assists households with limited assets and income to buy the food they need for good health. Households qualify for SNAP benefits based on available household assets, income and certain expenses. If the household is eligible, SNAP benefits are placed on an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card for the household to buy food.


Tri-City Food Pantry:

The Tri-City Food Pantry provides food, toiletries and other household items. To see if your zip code is in their service area, please click here.


Metropolitan Community College:

Food pantry available for students at North and South campuses. MCC e-Pantry request form, ePantry@mccneb.edu, or call 531-622-2875.


Together Omaha:

Pantry boxes will be distributed from the dock located at the backside of the parking lot (812 S 24th St). Monday through Thursday 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. and Friday 12 p.m. to 2 p.m.


Completely Kids:

Completely Kids is providing a drive-up mobile pantry each Friday between 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at 2566 St. Mary's Ave.


Medical

Douglas County Health Department:

Officials recommend if you are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms such as a fever, persistent cough, and difficulty breathing, refrain from going to the emergency room as exposure could affect medical staff and contact the Douglas County Health Department at 402-444-3400.

If you are experiencing symptoms and do not have health insurance, please call the Douglas County Health Department at 402-444-3400.

Douglas County Health Department hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. On evenings and weekends, please call 211.


Disability-Specific Information:

New Mobility disability-specific information regarding COVID-19.


Prescriptions:

How to prepare your meds for emergencies.


Flattening the Curve:

What does it mean to "flatten the curve"? Nebraska Medicine explains here.


Three Questions to Ask Yourself About the Coronavirus (COVID-19):

Are you at risk? CHI provides three questions to ask yourself.


Five Tips to Prepare for and Reduce Risk of Illness in Older Adults:

Home Instead shares tips on how to reduce risk of illness in older adults.

Technology

CenturyLink:

CenturyLink announced they would maintain speeds despite increased demand, waive late fees, and not terminate service due to financial reasons.


Cox Communications:

Cox Communications has stated that they will upgrade internet speeds and not terminate service to any residential or small business customer because of an inability to pay their bills due to disruptions caused by the coronavirus pandemic. In addition, Cox Communications will waive any late fees that residential or small business customers incur due their economic circumstances related to the coronavirus pandemic.


Comcast:

Comcast is offering 60 days of an “Internet Essentials” package at no cost for low-income customers.


Nebraska Telephone Assistance Program:

Low-cost phone service for qualifying homes.


Do Space:

Do Space is offering their parking lot as a WiFi spot anytime between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.

Mental Health

Methodist Hospital Community Counseling Program:

The Methodist Hospital Community Counseling Program helps youth, families and individuals who might otherwise not have access to mental health services.


Mental Health First Aid:

How to Care for Yourself While Practicing Physical Distancing


Insight Timer:

Insight Timer is a meditation app that houses a free library of more than 30,000 guided meditations.


Managing Anxiety & Stress:

Stress and anxiety can affect us in different ways. The CDC explains how to cope during difficult times.


Yoga with Adriene:

Yoga with Adriene on YouTube.


How to Care for Yourself While Practicing Physical Distancing:

Mental Health First Aid shares how to care for yourself while practicing physical distancing.


COVID-19: Eating, Moving and Meditating are Keys to Staying Healthy:

Dr. Elizabeth Cozine, a Mayo Clinic family medicine physician, offers tips for staying healthy during the COVID-19 pandemic.


Education

Omaha Public Schools:


Millard Public Schools:

To access Millard Public Schools' COVID-19 website, click here


District 66:

For the latest District 66 COVID-19 updates, click here.


Papillion La Vista Community Schools:

Click here for COVID-19 updates for Papillion La Vista Community schools.


Ralston Public Schools:

Important COVID-19 information for Ralston Public Schools can be found here.


Metropolitan Community College:

To find important information and announcements for Metropolitan Community College during the COVID-19 pandemic, click here.


Omaha Public Library:

Omaha Public Libraries are temporarily closed; however, you can access free reading materials and courses through their website.

Housing

United Way of the Midlands Housing Stability Fund:

United Way has developed a Housing Stability Program that will be administered by the 2-1-1 Helpline. This will provide critical funding to help with rental and mortgage assistance for those who have been directly affected by the virus and/or unable to work due to closure or reduction in hours due to COVID-19. Beginning April 15, 211 Helpline specialists will take applications for rental or mortgage assistance from residents 19 years or older. For more information, please click here.


Utilities

Omaha Public Power District (OPPD):

OPPD will suspend disconnections for non-payment through April 30. At that time, OPPD will re-evaluate this moratorium. OPPD reminds customers who pay their utility bills at our facilities or Moneygram locations, there are alternative payment methods while in-person payments are unavailable to protect the public and OPPD employees and limit person-to-person contact. You can pay your bill online at oppd.com, via the OPPDConnect app, or by phone by calling 402-536-4131 in Omaha, or 1-877-536-4131 outside of the metro calling area.


Metropolitan Utilities District (M.U.D.):

M.U.D. is temporarily suspending water shutoff.


Transportation

Metro:

Metro is offering free fares for bus and paratransit services and encouraging riders to use back bus doors in an effort to reduce passenger interactions and limit the spread of COVID-19.


Enterprise:

Enterprise is reducing the age minimum and waiving the young renter fees for rentals through May 31, 2020. This is available to college students ages 18-24.

Legal

Legal Aid of Nebraska:

Legal Aid of Nebraska shares information about unemployment benefits.

Check out Legal Aid's COVID-19 Employment FAQ here.


The Greater Omaha Chamber's Attorney Directory:

The Greater Omaha Chamber’s business directory includes a list of attorneys.

Hotlines

Emergency:

Dial 911


Douglas County Health Department:

402-444-3400


National Domestic Violence Hotline:

1-800-799-7233 and TTY 1-800-787-3224


Disaster Distress Hotline:

1-800-985-5990


National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI):

(800) 950-6264

*During this time, NAMI will be answering voicemails and emails within 24 - 48 business hours of receipt. If you need immediate assistance, the Crisis Text Line is open 24/7 - text "NAMI" to 741741.


Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration:

1-800-662-"HELP" (4357) and TTY 1-800-487-4889


Suicide Prevention Lifeline:

800-273-"TALK" (8255)


Help for Veterans:

Vets4Warriors: 1-855-838-8255


The United Way:

Dial 211