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.
–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
–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.
-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!
- Request grocery deliveries to your house- English
- Request grocery deliveries to your home- Spanish
- Volunteer to deliver groceries- English
-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:
- Coronavirus Community Space Specifically for Fat folks
- Community Conversation about Impact of COVID-19 on teaching artists
-Create a pod map for yourself to see who you can rely on and who can rely on you
–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/
COVID-19 Mutual Aid Seattle 