Government and Foundation Grants for Housing, Employment, and Training

Recovering from Covid-19 may not be easy with thirty percent of all tenants in the United States behind on their rent. If you suddenly lost your job, grant programs can help you with everything from training and employment to housing. Government and private foundation grants serve children, unemployed adults, seniors, and the disabled. Grants for small businesses help with recovery from the pandemic, technical assistance, and workforce development.

U.S. Department of Labor for Older Americans

Contribute your experience and wisdom through $312 million of Department of Labor opportunities for older Americans. The U.S. Department of Labor Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) pays the federal, state, or local minimum wage for 20 hours per week in schools, hospitals, senior centers, and nonprofits. The Department of Labor Senior Community Service Employment can lead to full or part-time jobs for seniors. To be eligible for this program, you must be a veteran at least 55 years old, a senior over 65 with income slightly above the poverty level, live in a rural area, or be unable to get a job using your own resources.

Paid COVID-19 Family, Medical, and Sick Leave

The extended expanded Families First Coronavirus Response Act authorized paid emergency family, medical, and sick leave to families impacted by the 2020 coronavirus. All employees are due two weeks, or ten days, paid sick leave beyond their last day's pay if they are laid off or terminated due to the pandemic. Employees who worked at least 30 days for their employer are entitled to partial pay for an additional 10 weeks if they are home taking care of children who are at home because their school is closed.

Employer Reimbursement for Sick and Family Leave

Employers receive full reimbursement for sick, medical, and family leave payments through a tax offset against payroll taxes. If the amount paid exceeds the amount reimbursed, the IRS will issue a refund.

Housing Grants to Buy A Home or Prevent Foreclosure

The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) awarded grant funds to help 3.5 million applicants purchase homes or remain in their homes during the five years between 2015 and 2020. HUD assistance is based on your geographic location, the value of the home, the type of property, your occupation, your service in the military, or whether you are a first-time home buyer. HUD loans are government-backed, may reduce the principal mortgaged, and may be low interest. HUD has programs for police officers and teachers to move into underserved neighborhoods. HUD subsidizes rent for low income tenants and helps residents in the throes of foreclosure.

Pandemic Recovery Assistance

A limited number of recipient organizations that qualify for pandemic recovery assistance can receive underwritten services, counseling, and benefits from local Community Foundations. Stakeholders and Community Foundation partners will assist viable organizations recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Chamber of Commerce Grants

The United States Chamber of Commerce Foundation is offering $5,000 grants to help small businesses with three to twenty employees reopen after the COVID-19 pandemic. The Chamber of Commerce vows to save small businesses that employ the workforce, provide a service, and contribute to your local economy.

Community Foundation Emergency Funds

Your community foundation COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund awards grant funds to organizations in response to the evolving community needs of vulnerable populations. Funds are available for seniors, school children, underserved youth, low socioeconomic status residents, and the homeless. The Emergency Response Fund helps individuals in crisis. Community Needs grants that help sustain local nonprofits are also available from your local community foundation.

Funds for Landlords with Tenants Behind in Their Rent

The National Rental Home Council advocates for landlords who house families who are in default on their rent. The Urban Institute estimates the cost of paying rent for those who can not pay will be at least $24 billion. The proposed solution is for the government to reimburse the landlord and for the IRS to collect the arrearage from the tenants' income tax until the deficit is paid in full.

Recovery from the COVID-19 Pandemic

Grant funds are still the silver lining in the COVID-19 pandemic. You can take time off from work and accept a higher paying job with the new skills you learned while staying at home. Government agencies can also help you get benefits and funds that you are entitled to while you are between jobs or home on family leave.