Need help with bills, childcare during coronavirus crisis? SLO County opens center
San Luis Obispo County launched a new online service center on Friday, meant to be a one-stop stop for local residents who need assistance.
“We want you to be able to put food on the table, get your driver’s license, take care of your mental health, apply for unemployment, find business resources and more,” county emergency services director Wade Horton said during a news conference Friday afternoon.
“We’ll continue to update these resources as the situation unfolds,” he said.
The virtual local assistance center can be found at www.emergencyslo.org/en/virtual-local-assistance-center.aspx.
It includes resources for emergency childcare, help paying utility bills, and services for veterans and people experiencing homelessness.
In typical emergencies, San Luis Obispo County would open service centers in physical locations in multiple places across the county, Horton said.
“n this pandemic,” he added, “we want people to stay home as much as possible.”
The unemployment rate is expected to skyrocket nationwide in response to communities shutting down to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
Locally, several businesses have been forced to close under the shelter-at-home order and hundreds of service workers have likely been laid off or forced to work reduced hours.
“I know this is a stressful time for everyone, and we want to make sure it’s as easy as possible to get the resources you need,” Horton said.
COVID-19 symptoms to watch
Symptoms of COVID-19 include fever, cough and shortness of breath. Older adults and individuals with underlying medical conditions are particularly vulnerable to the virus.
Health officials urge those who exhibit these symptoms to stay home, avoid contact with others, and call their health care provider or urgent care clinic before seeking medical care to receive safe arrival instructions, if directed to do so.
Go to the emergency room only if you are experiencing a medical emergency.
Visit ReadySLO.org for the latest public health updates and recommendations.
Translate any page on the site into any language, including Spanish, by selecting the “translate” button on the top upper left of the screen next to the ReadySLO logo.
