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LOCAL AND STATE RESOURCES

Georgia Crisis & Access Line: 1-800-715-4225

GCAL is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and 365 days a year to help you or someone you care for in a crisis.

How to Get Gelp If You’re Thinking About Ending Your Life: Text “Home” to 741741

Here are a few ways to get through the next second, minute, hour, and even a whole day.

  • Text us. We’re excellent listeners if we do say so ourselves. And we’re here for you–always. Text “HOME” to 74141 to connect with a real human. No judgment–just straight-up listening.
  • Tell a friend. No matter how alone you feel, know that there are so many people in this world who not only want you in this world. And they want to help you (Hi–have you met us? We’re included in this group! See above). Confiding in someone can help you build a support system for times when you are feeling in a really dark place. Nervous about reaching out? Start with a text message like this: “Hey there. I’m feeling really alone right now. Would you mind keeping me company?”
  • Distract yourself. Find even one thing that brings you joy. And, hold onto it. Maybe it’s listening to your favorite song (listening to music is one of the most common coping tools for our texters), or maybe it’s looking into the eyes of your adorable pup. Whatever it may be, find one thing to turn to when you feel in the darkest of places.
  • Talk to a pro if you are thinking about ending your life, chances you are dealing with really painful emotions. Nobody deserves to feel that way and we are so sorry you do. Reach out to a therapist who can help you work through and process your emotions in a healthy way.

NAMI Georgia Helpline: 770-408-0625

Call for non-crisis assistance from NAMI Georgia to find mental health resources and support.

CARES Warm Line: 1-844-326-5400

Substance Abuse Challenges – call or text every day of the year 8:30 AM – 11:00 PM

Georgia Department of Public Health COVID-19 Hotline: 844-442-2681

The State of Georgia has a new COVID-19 hotline. If you believe that you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 or have been exposed to the novel coronavirus, please contact your primary care doctor or an urgent care clinic. Please do not show up unannounced at an emergency room or health care facility.

Peer2Peer Warm Line: 888-945-1414 (toll-free) statewide

Operating since the opeing of the Peer Support and Wellness center of Decatur in 2008, the warm line provides Georgians the opportunity to receive peer support over the phone 24 hours a day. Contact us locally at the numbers below:

  • Decatur: 404-371-1414
  • Bartow County: 770-276-2019
  • Colquitt County: 229-873-9737
  • Henry County: 678-782-7666
  • White County: 706-865-3601

Unemployment, food rent and utilities assistance:

https://medicaid.georgia.gov/

Phone/Internet/ TV services

  • AT&T: The cable, phone and media giant is suspending the termination of wireless, home phone or broadband service when customers can’t pay their bills because of coronavirus disruptions. The company is also waiving related late fees. AT&T is also providing free access to its public Wi-Fi hot spots. The company also said its consumer home internet wireline customers and fixed wireless internet customers would receive unlimited data. AT&T has expanded its Access from AT&T initiative to the National School Lunch Program and Head Start; new Access from AT&T customers will receive two months of free service.  https://about.att.com/newsroom/2020/att_consumer_connected_together.html
  • Comcast: Comcast is offering 2 months FREE to NEW Internet Essentials The normal rate for qualified low-income households is $9.95/month. Higher speeds (increasing from 15 Mbps to 25 Mbps) will be rolled out nationally for new and existing customers. All new customers will receive a free self-install kit including a cable modem and WiFi router. There’s no credit check, no shipping fee for equipment, and no term contract. At the end of 2 months you can cancel the service or continue at the regular Internet Essentials rate. Qualifying factors include: currently eligible for public assistance programs (School Lunch, housing assistance, Medicaid, SNAP, SSI, WIC, etc), you do not have an outstanding debt to Comcast less than a year old, and you live in an area with Comcast service but you have NOT subscribed to it within the last 90 days.https://www.internetessentials.com  
  • T-Mobile: The mobile phone service provider is providing unlimited data to all current customers who have plans with data for the next 60 days. It will also provide additional data to mobile hotspot users. https://www.t-mobile.com/news/t-mobile-update-on-covid-19-response
  • Verizon: Verizon said it is waiving late fees and suspending service termination for customers “negatively impacted by the global crisis.”   https://www.verizon.com/about/news/update-verizon-serve-customers-covid-19

Small Business/Non Profit Federal Assistance:

The US Small Business Administration (SBA) has two time sensitive economic assistance opportunities you can take advantage of:


Under the CARES Act stimulus bill, nonprofits and small businesses with fewer than 500 employees will be eligible for loans to meet payroll and other qualifying costs. Much of the loan is forgivable if you keep staff on payroll during the loan period (currently March 1 through June 30). This, in essence, turns a portion of the loan into a GOS grant. The total loan fund is expected to be $349B, and loans will be given out on a first-come, first-served basis. Recipients do not have to certify that they are unable to obtain credit elsewhere.

  • Loan amount is 2.5 times the organization’s average monthly payroll, with pay capped at $100,000 per employee.
  • Up to 8 weeks of average payroll and other costs will be forgiven if the business retains its employees and their salary levels through June 30.
  • SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans (https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/disaster-assistance)
    EID loans offering up to $2M in assistance are already available on a first-come, first-served basis to nonprofits to help overcome temporary loss in revenue caused by COVID-19. These loans are similar to other disaster relief loans and do not include loan forgiveness. The application is straightforward and can be completed online now.
  • The interest rate for nonprofits is 2.75%, with repayment terms of up to 30 years. Funds may be used to pay fixed debt, payroll, accounts payable, and other bills that can’t be paid due to the impact of restrictions
  • Organizations cannot receive funding from both programs unless the loan applications are for different purposes (i.e. personnel and rent costs for 7(a) and other operating expenses for EIDL).

Other Relief

Hyundai: The automaker is reviving its Hyundai Assurance Job Loss Protection Program to give owners “peace of mind in uncertain times” as the coronavirus outbreak leads to concerns that Americans will stop buying new cars and trucks. Hyundai said the program will provide up to six months of car payments to new buyers if they lose their jobs involuntarily. It will also provide 90 days of payment deferral on new purchases.  https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hyundai-relaunches-unmatched-assurance-job-loss-protection-program-301023407.html

Ford Motor: Ford is offering customers “potential delay of payments to provide relief.” It’s also providing new-car buyers the chance to delay their first payment by 90 days.   https://media.ford.com/content/fordmedia/fna/us/en/news/2020/03/16/ford-offers-customers-community-assistance-covid19.html