Community Services

2020 Board of Trustees

Acting President
Andrew Washington, Executive Director
AFSCME Council 20

Vice-President
Mike Murphy, Business Manager (Ret)
IUOE Local 99

Treasurer
Ann Hoffman, Secretary-Treasurer
NWU/UAW 1981

Secretary
Alexander Thompson, President
A. Thompson & Associates Inc.

Executive Committee Member
Dan Duncan
Executive Secretary Treasurer
Maritime Trades Department

Board of Trustees Members

Jill Cashen
UnionPlus

Seth Couslar
AFSCME Council 20

Dyana Forester
UFCW 400

James Griffin, President
IBEW Local 1900

Jessica Maiorca
OPEIU Local 2

Bridget Martin, Senior VP
Bank of Labor

Linda Martin, President
UNITE HERE Local 25

Julio Palomo
Assistant Business Manager
LiUNA Local 11

Jenny Sylvester
CWA Local 2108 (ret)

Roney Wynn
ASASP

Staff

Executive Director
Sonte DuCote
[email protected]
202-974-8226

Client Services Coordinator Coordinator, Bilingual Services
Sylvia Casaro Dietert
[email protected]
202-974-8223 (office)

2020 Holiday Basket Program

The need for holiday assistance is great this year, especially in light of the economic hardship that COVID-19 is causing for so many working families. There are already four holiday assistance requests from area needy families!

Each year, you as leaders in the Metropolitan Washington Council, step up to help asset limited union and community working families to put food on their tables and purchase basic necessities for the holidays, like coats, hats and gloves. Last year, with your help, we provided holiday support (union grocery and discount store cards) to 52 needy families. Your generosity also helped to adopt five (5) families!

Metro Washington area families need your help for the holidays!

Three ways to help:

1. Make financial contributions to CSA earmarked for “Holiday Baskets”
2. Contribute grocery store gift cards from area union grocers or discount store (except Walmart)
3. Adopt a Family – Provide gift cards, toys, clothes, etc.

Contribution deadlines are:
• Thursday, November 12th for Thanksgiving
• Friday, December 11th for Christmas

Please mail contributions and gift cards to Community Services Agency, 815 16th Street, NW, Suite 1100, Washington, DC 20006.

If you have members who are seriously in need and have not received help in the past, please complete and email this referral form to Sonté at [email protected] .

Referral deadlines are:
• Thursday, November 3rd for Thanksgiving
• Friday, December 4th for Christmas

If your affiliate would like to adopt a family, please email [email protected] or call 202-679-2991.

On behalf of CSA and the families that we will serve this year – Thank you!
Sonté DuCote, Executive Director

RESOURCES TO HELP SURVIVE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF CORONAVIRUS

This page is being updated as new information is available

(8/13) Mortgage Assistance For District of Columbia Residents

(8/13) Rental Assistance for Low Income District of Columbia Renters

Rental assistance links
(7/13) Here are links to info on COVID-19 rental assistance for District and Arlington County
residents. Prince Georges and Montgomery County programs are closed. Fairfax does not have a program.

NoVA Labor Food Drive: NATCA and NoVA Labor are coordinating a non-perishable food drive at the NoVA Labor office in Annandale. Contact Matt Sullivan at 401-378-3575 to help. Text Matt before going to the office to drop off food.

(4/26) Downloadable PDF: Resources to Help Survive Economic Impact of Coronavirus
(updated!)

(4/7) Feeding America
Find your local food bank.

(4/2) The CASH Campaign of MD | cashmd.org
In response to COVID-19, the CASH Campaign of Maryland has compiled helpful resources for Marylanders to lessen the financial impact of this public health crisis. Financial education classes are available online and we are transitioning our services to virtual formats. To see our upcoming webinars on a variety of financial topics, click here.

(4/1)
WHEN THE PAYCHECK STOPS: An AFL-CIO Survival Guide to Unemployment

Cuando el Sueldo No Llega: Una guía de supervivencia de AFL-CIO en caso de desempleo

(3/31) If you're facing financial challenges that make it difficult to pay your rent or mortgage, you should reach out to your landlord/lender to negotiate and create a plan. Keep a record of your conversations and any payments you make. Here are some additional resources, courtesy MD Delegate Jheanelle Wilkins (MD 20):

Renters' Alliance of Montgomery County - [email protected]

Montgomery County Office of the Landlord-Tenant

Maryland COVID-19 Business Relief Programs

Federal CARES Act and Small Businesses

Maryland Bankers Association Resources

Overview of Mortgage Relief in the federal CARES Act

Inquiry or complaint about a mortgage lender - [email protected]; 410-230-6077

Downloadable PDF: Resources to Help Survive Economic Impact of Coronavirus
(updated 4/26)

Links to File for Unemployment:
Note: FILE IN THE STATE WHERE YOU WORK
District of Columbia
Virginia
Maryland

DC Unemployment Insurance Explainer

(3/25)
Jobs with Justice DC COVID-19 Resources

(3/23) American Income Life Policyholders’ Layoff Waiver of Premium Benefit (download form here). Click here for more COVID-19 information from AIL or contact
George Farenthold at 315-730-2698.

Financial Assistance
CSA: Limited assistance is available from the Community Services Agency of the Metropolitan Washington AFL-CIO
Email referral to [email protected]
Must obtain Emergency Assistance referral from a Metropolitan Washington Council affiliated union; Must not have previously received emergency assistance. Based on available funding.

Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington

Northern Virginia Family Service (NVFS)
Email: [email protected] 571-748-2552
Messages will be returned within 24 hours. Please bring employer identification and demonstration of financial need.

Mortgage & Rental Assistance
Neighborhood Assistance Corporation of America or call 281-968-6222
DC Department of Human Services (must be income eligible)
Maryland Department of Social Services (must have children)
United Community Ministries Inc., Alexandria, VA

Pharmacy
Union Plus Prescription Discount Card Visit
Union Plus Health Savings

Legal
Union Plus Legal Program

Information on Multiple Resources (emergency shelter, healthcare and food)
United Way Helpline, dial 211 from your cell phone or dial the 10-digit number in your jurisdiction: District of Columbia 1-202-463-6211 Maryland 1-301-864-7161 Virginia 1-800-230-6977
Interfaith Conference of Metropolitan Washington
BG&E Community Resource Guide

Help Working with Creditors and Other Hardship Benefits
Union Plus Credit Counseling Program
Union Plus Hardship Assistance (Must have a Union Plus credit card, mortgage or loan to qualify)
List of benefits available via Union Plus programs (PDF)
WHEN THE PAYCHECK STOPS: An AFL-CIO Survival Guide to Unemployment (updated!)
Cuando el Sueldo No Llega: Una guía de supervivencia de AFL-CIO en caso de desempleo