About Mutual Aid

What is mutual aid?

Mutual aid is where we take responsibility for caring for one another by building new social relations that assist us in surviving the current conditions. As the US is in the midst of declaring a COVID-19 state of emergency, it is imperative that we prepare for the unknown through creating and sustaining social networks of people who are committed to engaging in the community care work that makes for resilient and powerful support groups. The short term recommendations from the department of health for pandemic management include: self isolation, school closures, washing hands, and social distancing for the public good. As these short term recommendations prepare us for a COVID-19 quarantine, this document serves as an ongoing tool to connect people with ideas and resources to build support networks of care.

In this document, there are suggested ideas to care and seek care during times of isolation that include food/supply/medicine delivery services, fundraisers, petitions and other tactics to put pressure on decision makers to protect workers and community members most vulnerable to exposure.

As it should be the government’s responsibility to ensure our financial and physical wellness, we cannot rely/trust on the government to prioritize our wellbeing as China, Japan, and the USA have / are continuing to lie about the dangers of this virus to avoid an economic crisis on their behalf. At this time, we must support each other through preparing to fight against unfair treatment of workers, as well as put pressure on government officials to list COVID-19 as an occupational disease to ensure employers take the legal responsibility to provide economic and physical protection of their employees. See more advice here from folks in Hong Kong experiencing the Wuhan Virus.


What are ways I can support my community during a Coronavirus COVID-19  Quarantine?

Advocacy

If offering support:

City of Seattle Emergency Temporary Moratorium on Residential Evictions (March 14)

FAQs for COVID-19 Temporary Moratorium on Residential Evictions

-Tell Mayor Durkan: Do Not Evict Northlake Tiny House Village! Protect Homeless Neighbors during the Coronavirus crisis!

-Tell Mayor Durkan: Ban Evictions and Foreclosures During Coronavirus crisis!

Governor Jay Inslee: Suspend Rent and Mortgage Payments During the Coronavirus Crisis

Stop King County’s White Center Coronavirus Facility

Make a phone call to demand for adequate health care for folks detained in the NWDC and to #ShutDownNWDC!Tacoma and WA State officials should not forget people caged in #NWDC and conduct inquiries and inspections of the infamous facility during this difficult time when we all are under the threat of #coronavirus #ICE must release immediately those that have underlying illnesses, pregnant people, anyone over 60 years old and then everyone else under their custody. While this happens there should be a moratorium on transfers.#ShutdownNWDC #AbolishICE #Closethecamps 

Call on Whatcom County Governments to Act on Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), Evictions are Death

The Justice Collective: National Demands to Support Incarcerated Loved Ones

Domestic Violence

If seeking support:

DAWN–protects women and children from domestic abuse, providing shelter, support and empowerment

The National Domestic Violence Hotline–A general 24-hour domestic violence hotline

New Beginnings–One-on-one advocacy, counseling, legal support, youth and parent groups, educational training/prevention.

Northwest Network–Offers support to LGBTQ survivors, as well as youth programming, community education, and professional development for youth-serving providers

Lifewire–DV services for survivors mostly on the east side of Lake Washington

Financial

If seeking support:

Seattle Community Relief During Coronavirus

-Emergency Food Vouchers to Support Those in Need During COVID-19

Special Enrollment Period in Response to Growing Coronavirus Outbreak WA state

Seattle Public Utilities(SPU) and Seattle City Light(SCL) are planning to offer immediate 

Utility Discount aid for customers financially impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak. 

If you are losing significant hours in the state of WA without paid time leave file claim for partial unemployment

For workers and businesses affected by COVID-19 (coronavirus)

Independent Artist for Hire Directory

Financial Resources for Residents Impacted by COVID-19

-Seattle City Light Assistance Programs

Seattle Hospitality Emergency Fund organized by Jessica Tousignant

If offering support:

Seattle Community Relief During Coronavirus

-Seattle Rent Fund for Undocumented People

Families of Jackie Vaughn Student Quarantine 

Survival Fund for the People 

COVID-19 Response Fund 

Donate to Chronic Illness Leadership COVID19 Mutual Aid Network

Seattle Restaurant Workers Rent Fund 

COVID-19 Relief Fund for LGBTQI+ BIPOC Folks

Covid-19 Federal Aid Package for Events Industry

Food 

If seeking support:

Seattle Area Food Resources Map

Friday, March 13th WA-Bloc is providing Free Hot Lunch at Rainier Beach Community Center Plaza and every Tuesday and Thursday from 11:30-1pm as school remains closed 

-Free Community Breakfast Starting Friday, March 13th then continuing Mon-Fri 8am-10am @ Resistencia coffee 1249 S Cloverdale St Seattle, WA 98108

Seattle Public Schools – School Sites for Student Lunch Support. Starting March 16th. 

SPS School Meal Maps 

-Family Resources for COVID-19 Related School Closures

-Occidental Square Free Hot Food Every Sunday @ 4:30pm

-The Station on Beacon Hill Food Drop off and pick up everyday

-Northwest Harvest Community Market Sodo Free Meals for anyone 

#Frelardtamales Free food Tuesday-Friday March 17-20th

-There is a grassroots mutual aid movement called  #covid19mutualaid who has created forms for requesting aid and volunteering serves, below are the links!

-Another org in Tacoma doing awesome mutual aid work is TMAC (tacoma mutual aid collective), here is their grocery delivery sign up if you need deliveries in Tacoma

If offering support:

Portland-area COVID-19 “Offer Support” Volunteer Form

Feed Rainier Beach Volunteer Form 

Mental Health

If seeking support:

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline – The Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources

Crisis Text Line – free, 24/7 support for those in crisis. Text from anywhere in the USA to text with a trained Crisis Counselor.

The Trevor Project–Crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to LGBTQ young people ages 13-24; 24/7 opportunities to chat online, text or call

The GLBT National Youth Talkline–Youth serving youth through age 25; Provides telephone, online private one-to-one chat and email peer-support.

Safety / Harm Reduction

If seeking support:

COVID-19 Guidance for People Who use Drugs and Harm Reduction Programs

Syringe services and hard redux workers 

Shelter

If seeking support:

2-1-1 Community Resources Online–Comprehensive database of health and human services available for all of Washington State. The King County 2-1-1 section below draws from more than 5,000 services and 1,500 agencies, you can also call 2-1-1 for these resources.

-Family Emergency Shelter Line–If you are a parent/guardian with at least one minor child (18 years or younger) in your care please call 206-245-1026, 7 days, 9am-4pm

Seattle/King County Emergency Shelters Brochure–List of shelters with hours and contact listed for each one

Social

If seeking support:

-Get to know your neighbors and check in on them, resource share!

-Facetime

-Join Facebook groups– Look at the Buy Nothing Groups in your neighborhood. Many groups in -Seattle are being used to offer services to community members in the area 

-Follow #COVID-19 Mutual Aid on Facebook and Instagram

-Join a community zoom group specific to your region/ experience:

-Create a pod map for yourself to see who you can rely on and who can rely on you 

Independent Artist Directory

The Quarantine Sessions, Live Music 

Self-care Tips if you become sick with COVID-19 from an activist nurse

Education resources for kids while schools closed 


Community Resource Library 

Articles 

-Transformative Spaces: Demands from Grassroots Organizers Concerning COVID-19

Preparing for Coronavirus to Strike the U.S.

Half Assed Disabled Prepper Tips for Preparing for a Coronavirus Quarantine

Facing COVID-19 With Community Instead of Fear

$2M fund started to help gig workers, vulnerable populations affected by coronavirus in Seattle area 

Open Letter to WA State Political Leaders

To Arrest the Spread of Coronavirus, Arrest Fewer People 

How to Have Sex in the COVID-19 Pandemic 

To contain coronavirus, release people in prison

-To Arrest the Spread of Coronavirus, Arrest Fewer People

-Radical Health Care Reading list

Autonomous Groups Are Mobilizing Mutual Aid Initiatives to Combat the Coronavirus

-Solarpunk Witchcraft Mutual Aid Disaster Relief

Podcasts

-Healing Justice Podcast- Coronavirus: Wisdom from a Social Justice Lens

-Activist Class- Coronavirus COVID 19 Shuts Down Seattle 

-Movement Memos- What to Do When the World is on Fire

Statistics and Info sheets 

Information on The 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)- many different languages 

Videos

Immigrants in WA Detention Center Demand Protection from Coronavirus, Not Posters in English

Join Emergency Call: COVID-19 and the Criminal Legal System Webinar Mar 13, 2020 03:30 PM 

Nurses on the Frontlines of Coronavirus Pandemic Demand More Protection & Medicare for All

12 Famous Museums Offer Virtual Tours You Can Take on Your Couch (Video)


Questions, updates or want to get involved?

 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/covid19mutualaid

 Instagram: @covid19mutualaid

 Email: covid19mutualaidsea@gmail.com

 Join the google group for announcements: mutual-aid-seattle@googlegroups.com

 Volunteer with us: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/16ESS-9g9S58wpEGavsGu3aj6LnhvVYNdJJd-Qp_PfUY/viewform

     If you have supplies to donate directly to our unhoused neighbors, please contact “this cold, cold world” on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/This-cold-cold-world-101964174676844/

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