Emergency Financial Assistance
Since October 2020, the County and nonprofit partners have provided more than $2 million in emergency financial assistance to over 1,600 low-income community members with COVID or who have been exposed to someone with COVID to help offset the cost of staying home during their isolation or quarantine period.
For help, including food support, legal aid, mental health, or other services, we encourage you to call 211 or (707)-565-4667 to get connected to services, or visit the Get Help and Resources sections on our Coronavirus webpage. Latinx, indigenous and low income community members are encouraged to contact the CURA Project at (707) 309-8972 or visit the CURA Project website.
The County of Sonoma Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP)
ERAP helps eligible households that have been financially impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic by providing payment assistance to renters and landlords for help with rent and utilities. Get help paying utility bills and rent, and guidance on mortgage payments and evictions. For more information about ERAP, please visit Housing and Renter Support during COVID-19.
American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA)
ARPA and the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund is bringing $96 million to Sonoma County.
The County of Sonoma may use these funds to:
- Support public health expenditures related to the COVID-19 pandemic
- Address negative economic impacts caused by the public health emergency
- Serve low income communities and individuals, families and businesses hardest-hit by the pandemic
- Provide premium pay for essential workers
- Replace public sector revenue lost due to the pandemic
- Invest in necessary improvements to water, sewer, and broadband infrastructure
To learn more about ARPA and how the County of Sonoma is working to distribute these funds, visit the ARPA information page.
Isolation and Quarantine Support
If you cannot isolate or quarantine safely at home, you may be eligible for an alternate care site (ACS) through vouchers or hotel rooms with medical services, meals and laundry. Contact tracers will work with you to determine your needs and connect you to resources. For more information, visit the Home Isolation Instructions and Home Quarantine Instructions pages for more information. You can also call the alternative care site to inquire about availability: (707) 791-0059
Employment Resources for Individuals who Qualify
Unemployment: Visit the California Employment Development Department for financial assistance if your employer reduced your hours or stopped operating.
If you’re sick or in quarantine: You can file a Disability Insurance Claim if you’ve tested positive for COVID-19 or have to quarantine because of exposure to someone who tested positive.
Student Loans
If you need immediate relief from your student loans, you can contact your loan processor to apply for forbearance, which suspends payments.
Community Funding
- Creative Sonoma – Grants for artists
- Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grants
Sick Leave
State and local ordinances mandating paid COVID-19 sick leave expired in September, 2021. Through a combination of federal, state and local legislation, almost everyone has the right to paid sick leave »
FEMA assistance available for up to $9,000 in COVID-19 funeral expenses
On April 12, the Federal Emergency Management Agency began accepting applications for funeral assistance for deaths that occurred as a result of COVID-19. For a death to be considered, it must have occurred after January 2020.
- Eligible applicants may apply by calling 844-684-6333 or TTY: 800-462-7585 toll free, Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. PT.
- Applicants must provide FEMA with a copy of the death certificate, proof of funeral expenses incurred and proof of funeral assistance received from any other source.
- Assistance is available to U.S. citizens, non-citizen nationals and qualified aliens such as green card holders, asylees, refugees, and others – who provide the required information and COVID related documents. Eligible applicants will be reimbursed for up to $9,000 for each funeral.
- For more information, visit FEMA’s funeral assistance web page.
- Fraud Alert: FEMA has received reports of scammers reaching out to people offering to register them for funeral assistance. FEMA has not sent any such notifications and does not contact people before they register for assistance.
- This video helps explain how to apply: