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Hospitality Cares Resources

EMERGENCY CRISIS GRANTS

Hospitality Cares offers emergency grants up to $2,500 to eligible employees at businesses running active United Way campaigns in the hospitality industry. The funds will provide temporary assistance during times of crisis to assist with housing, medical, and utility bills.

Funds for the program’s crisis grants are generated through employee contributions to UWSELA hospitality workplace campaigns. Fifty percent of campaign proceeds support emergency crisis grant allocations overseen by the Louisiana Hospitality Foundation (LHF), and 50% are dedicated to existing United Way of Southeast Louisiana education, health, and financial stability initiatives serving our entire seven-parish community.

To apply for a crisis grant through the Louisiana Hospitality Foundation, visit louisianahospitalityfoundation.org/crisis-grants/.

HOSPITALITY CARES RESOURCES

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

  • Individual Development Account (IDA) – United Way’s IDA Project is a matched savings account program helping low-income individuals purchase long-term assets
  • SingleCare – No one should be forced to choose between paying for food, rent or medicine because of the high cost of prescriptions. That’s why we’ve partnered with SingleCare (formerly FamilyWize) to distribute free prescription discount cards to everyone in Jefferson, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa and Washington Parishes.
  • MyFreeTaxes.com – United Way has partnered with H&R Block to offer their premium online tax prep service, for free, to households of any income level who are filing simple returns (no schedule C, D, or E).
  • ViaLink211– Need help? Dial 211. 211 provides information, program referrals, and crisis intervention to individuals across the region.
  • Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) – Did you earn less than $56,000 last year? Our VITA program offers free tax help to individuals, families, persons with disabilities, the elderly and limited English speaking taxpayers who need assistance in preparing their own tax returns. IRS-certified volunteers provide free basic income tax return preparation with electronic filing to qualified individuals. Please contact your local VITA office for more information.
  • Click here to view the pre-recorded Resources for Restaurant Owners and Managers webinar (2.23.21).

REFERENCE CHART

Legal services are offered to families impacted by COVID and have worked in or currently working in but having reduced income in the hospitality industry. Incomes must be at or below 200% of federal poverty guidelines which vary by household size. Our poverty guidelines are below. Might be good to give an example – like a family of 3 would need to have income at or below $43,440.

Reference Chart—200% of Federal Poverty Guidelines

Size of Household48 Contiguous States and the District of ColumbiaAlaskaHawaii
1$25,520$31,900$29,360
2$34,480$43,100$39,660
3$43,440$54,300$49,960
4$52,400$65,500$60,260
5$61,360$76,700$70,560
6$70,320$87,900$80,860
7$79,280$99,100$91,160
8$88,240$110,300$101,460
For each additional member of the household in excess of 8, add:$8,960$11,200$10,300

Helena Moreno

Campaign Email:  letsgo@helenamorenola.com
Contact Phone Number:  (504) 655-2878


Campaign Website and Social Media Handles
www.helenamorenola.com
@HelenamorenoHQ  |  @helenamorenola

Commitment: If elected, would you dedicate additional funding in the City budget for early care and education?

Yes.

If so, how would you prioritize it in the budget?

Both in the state legislature and city council, I’ve been a strong supporter of bringing early childhood education to New Orleans. In 2018, we allocated the first $1.5M in city funds for additional seats. As Council President, we doubled that to $3M. I was the lead author to put the pre-k millage on the ballot, providing millions more. I will continue this work as mayor. As for additional funding for pre-k, is there anything more important? We have demonstrated to the public that local government can make progress on this issue with increased resources. There are competing priorities, especially when it comes to drainage, but our kids desperately need pre-k, and so do our parents, who are under pressure to be both caregiver and financial provider.

Commitment:  If elected, will you use your power and platform to advocate at the state and federal levels for sustained early childhood funding? If yes, please describe the specific actions you will take to do this.

Yes.

Every leader at the local, state, and federal levels should be working together to provide high-quality early childhood education to our young people. I will always shout from the rooftops about the enormous benefits of Head Start and pre-k, along with Medicaid, SNAP, public housing, and kids’ programming on PBS. As mayor, I will lead a broad intergovernmental relations effort with constant coordination between city leadership, the legislative delegation, and advocates. I don’t think anyone is listening, for now, but that can change. More broadly, this is why the mayoral election is so important. New Orleans needs to stand on its own two feet. No one is coming to rescue us, so we must be strong in the face of unprecedented economic, environmental, and political headwinds.

Commitment: If elected, will you commit to ensuring our early care and education providers can keep their doors open, grow their business, pay a living wage to their teachers, and help ensure families and educators can continue to afford to live in the city? If yes, please describe the specific actions you will take to do this.

Yes.

Child care providers will have a strong supporter in the mayor’s office when I am elected. Our city hall will serve as a hub, connecting needs and resources, with a focus on streamlining red tape for critical service providers, such as those offering child care. It is not enough to have more early childhood seats; we need quality. Even at current levels of local and state funding, pre-K early education programs exist in an environment where low wages are the norm and facilities are often in disrepair. The current climate at the state and federal levels may preclude additional funds. Yet, at the local level, as I mentioned earlier, is there anything more important than pre-k? We have demonstrated to the public that local government can make progress on this issue with increased resources.

Commitment: If elected, would you commit to ensuring essential local workers – including those in city government – can access childcare through local providers, and that private sector employers do their part in ensuring their employees can access the childcare they need to work, be productive, and grow our economy? If yes, please elaborate on how you would fulfill this commitment.

Yes.

I will always advocate amongst employers and at the state level for a real-living wage that can provide for a family. In workplaces across New Orleans and at city hall, I see parents working double time, struggling to keep up due to a lack of child care. Part of the answer is more public school seats for children aged 6 months to 4 years old. For older kids, I want NORD to do more. A lot more. I have been a leader in expanding NORD’s budget to record highs. Now the goal is to maximize services during non-school hours. Summer enrichment is especially crucial to prevent any backslide. In short, I want to usher in a NORD Renaissance, especially after school. This would go a long way, especially for working parents who need a few more critical hours of support before they can leave work.

Commitment: If elected, will you commit to maintaining this office and protecting these investments?

Yes.

How will you ensure these efforts are sustained beyond your term and are prioritized in future budgets?

Yes. I helped lead the effort for early childhood education with Agenda for Children, and I will commit to maintaining and protecting these early childhood investments. They were hard won, and we cannot lose them. If anything, we need an expansion, which will be the key subject of future budgets, which must balance ALL the city’s needs. The bottom line: we must support families, or else they will simply leave, and New Orleans will not have a future.