Detroit Resources
Resources for Families and Individuals
Tax Foreclosure Deadline Extended
Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed an Executive Order extending the deadline for Michigan residents to pay back taxes and avoid foreclosure on their property during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
The Executive Order will move the tax foreclosure deadline from March 31, 2020, to May 29, 2020, or 30 days after the state of emergency declared is terminated, whichever comes first.
For Wayne County residents, tax foreclosures have been halted for the remainder of the year. Link.
Unemployment Insurance Benefits
Please find attached an Unemployment Insurance Agency Fact Sheet. Under the governor’s order, unemployment benefits will be extended to:
- Workers who have an unanticipated family care responsibility, including those who have childcare responsibilities due to school closures, or those who are forced to care for loved ones who become ill.
- Workers who are sick, quarantined, or immunocompromised and who do not have access to paid family and medical leave or are laid off.
- First responders in the public health community who become ill or are quarantined due to exposure to COVID-19.
- Workers laid off with an expectation of returning to work or who suffer a reduction in work hours due to the COVID-19 business closures.
There are two ways to file a new claim or re-open an existing claim:
– Fastest and preferred method: Online – Visit www.michigan.gov/uia and sign into MILogin to access or create an account on the Michigan Web Account Manager (MiWAM).
– Telephone – Call 1-866-500-0017. If you are hearing impaired, TTY service is available at 1-866-366-0004.
Free Meal Programs
The Detroit Department of Parks and Recreation is providing meals for children at participating recreation centers. Parents and children can pick up two meals (breakfast and lunch) and additional meals can be requested on Friday to last through the weekend. Meals are offered, Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. at these locations:
- Adams Butzel Family Center, 10500 Lyndon , Detroit, MI
- Farwell Recreation Center, 2711 Outer Dr E, Detroit, MI
- Kemeny Recreation Center, 2260 S. Fort St., Detroit, MI
The City of Detroit is also working with Gleaners and Forgotten Harvest to provide alternative sites where families can get groceries. Starting this week, Gleaners will begin providing two weeks worth of groceries to families with children at two additional Recreation Centers:
- Clement Recreation Center, Every-other Wednesday, 2:30 – 5:30 p.m.
- Coleman A. Young Recreation Center, Every-other Saturday, 1:30 – 4:30 p.m.
Meals for Seniors
The Detroit Area Agency on Aging (DAAA) is proving frozen meals for seniors ages 60 and up. Senior can pick up five days worth of meals every Wednesday from 11:30 – 1:00 p.m. at the following recreation centers:
- Adams Butzel Family Center, 10500 Lyndon , Detroit, MI
- Farwell Recreation Center, 2711 Outer Dr E, Detroit, MI
- Patton Community Center, 2301 Woodmere St, Detroit, MI
- Joseph Walker Williams Center, 8431 Rosa Parks Blvd., Detroit, MI
For Families with SNAP Benefits, Get an Extra $50 for Groceries (one time)
Expensify launched a new program where they will match SNAP grocery purchases up to $50 per family (one time). It works like this:
- Purchase food as normal with your SNAP card
- Download Expensify on iOS or Android, for free
- Join the Expensify.org/hunger policy
- SmartScan the receipt, which will tell us how much you paid and show that it was paid for with an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card
- Submit it to volunteer@expensify.org
- Set up your bank account to receive the funds
- So long as we have funds available, we will reimburse up to $50 per family (one time), the very next day.
To be clear, they can’t commit to reimbursing every single person in need — we have no idea how many people will do this, and unfortunately, they don’t have unlimited funds.
Mental Health & Safety
Utility Service Resource & Update
DTE Energy
- Suspending shutoffs for non-payment for those customers who are low income eligible through April 5, 2020.
- Customers impacted by COVID-19 — those with a sudden loss of income or medical condition — as well as our vulnerable senior citizens, are encouraged to contact DTE Energy at 1.800.477.4747 to determine eligibility for the payment assistance program.
Consumers Energy
- Suspending shutoffs for non-pay for low-income and senior customers through April 5, 2020.
- For senior citizens and low-income customers, all shut-off notices will be withheld to prevent any additional stress for these customers.
- Customers impacted by COVID-19 seeking flexible payment arrangements, are encouraged to call 1-800-477-5050.
Resources for Small Business
Temporary Small Business Tax Relief
The Michigan Department of Treasury will grant small businesses that have experienced disrupted operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic additional time to make their sales, use, and withholding tax monthly payments.
Effective immediately, small businesses scheduled to make their monthly sales, use and withholding tax payments on March 20 can postpone filing and payment requirements until April 20. The State Treasury Department will waive all penalties and interest for 30 days.
The waiver is not available for accelerated sales, use or withholding tax filers. Businesses with questions should call the Treasury Business Tax Call Center at 517-636-6925.
Solutions for Small Businesses
Congress passed legislation that makes $1 billion available to the Small Business Association (SBA) to provide low-interest loans to small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, and nonprofits that have suffered substantial economic losses as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Once granted, an SBA Economic Injury Disaster declaration will make disaster loans of up to $2 million available to small businesses to help overcome the temporary loss of revenue they are experiencing.
In the interim, small businesses that could benefit from SBA loans are encouraged to start collecting the information they’ll need to complete and submit their application.
Examples of information needed can be found here.
For additional information or to obtain help preparing the loan application in advance of the declaration, please contact the Michigan SBA offices in Detroit or Grand Rapids.
The Michigan Small Business Development Center can also provide resources for small businesses impacted by COVID-19. Visit their website for additional information.
Department Guidance
Secretary of State Guidance
- All SOS visits are now by appointment only and will be limited to critical transactions: driver’s license renewals, title transfers regardless of type, and testing for an original CDL, Chauffeur’s, mechanic and recreational license.
- Appointments should be made far in advance at Michigan.gov/SOSAppointments or 888-SOS-MICH.
- You can complete many Secretary of State services online at ExpressSOS.com.
- Renew vehicle registrations on self-service stations. To find one near you, visit Michigan.gov/SOSSelfService.
- All late fees have been suspended.
- Law enforcement and courts have been asked to not penalize expired tags or licenses through April 6.
Health Resources, Tips, and Hotlines
Beaumont Launches Risk Assessment Tool and Curbside Screening
Beaumont launched an online risk assessment tool for those who may have symptoms that line up with the coronavirus: Link.
Beaumont is providing limited curbside screening at all their hospitals. This limited screening is only for patients who have symptoms consistent with COVID-19 (fever, dry cough, shortness of breath).
Please, call ahead to Beaumont’s COVID-19 hotline, 800-592-4784, or your physician’s office before attempting to get screened.
DMC Launched After Hours Hotline
The Detroit Medical Center established an after hours COVID-19 hotline for anyone with questions regarding the virus.
- DMC COVID-19 Hotline: 1-888-DMC-3370
- Open from 5 p.m. to 8 a.m. every day
Helpful Hotlines
- Beaumont COVID-19 Hotline: 800-592-4784
- Wayne County Coronavirus Hotline: 734-287-7870
- Oakland County Coronavirus Hotline: 248-858-1000
- Macomb County Coronavirus Hotline: 586-463-3750
- State of MI Health Services Hotline: 888-535-6136
- United Way 24hr Resource Hotline: dial 2-1-1
- In case of emergency, call 9-1-1
