We Are Here to Help: Resources for Pandemic Relief

Interest-Free Loans for Financial Relief

JFL is currently offering interest-free loans for financial relief due to the ramifications of the pandemic. These needs may include, but are not limited to, childcare expenses, educational costs, rent, utilities, insurance payments and medical needs. JFL is able to expedite requests for assistance, which have and will continue to benefit individuals and families impacted by the pandemic for the foreseeable future.

If you are in need of assistance, please contact us today. We have numerous options available and will do our best to help meet your needs.

Housing & Utility Assistance

• APS Assistance Program: Arizona Public Service Electric offers emergency assistance including 25% off monthly energy bills, $800 APS bill assistance, $300 temporary bill assistance through The Salvation Army and low income home energy assistance programs. Please visit the APS website to see what you may be eligible for.
• AZEvictionHelp: AZEvictionHelp was created to address the need for eviction information and resources. As changes and new materials are made available, the Bar Foundation updates the site to keep Arizonans informed about the resources and services available to prevent or limit the negative impact of eviction.
• Arizona 2-1-1: Legal assistance, rental assistance and utility assistance. For more information visit the 2-1-1 website.
• Fannie Mae: Know your options as a homeowner or renter during the pandemic.
• Homeowner Assistance Fund: HAF is primarily a foreclosure prevention program. HAF funds can be used to pay homeowner mortgage delinquencies, property tax delinquencies, and HOA delinquencies that could result in foreclosure. HAF funds can also be used to pay homeowner utility delinquencies and delinquent insurance with a maximum assistance total of $40,000 per household.
• The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development: Resources for advice, assistance and rules and regulations of the eviction moratorium for renters and homeowners.
• Southwest Fair Housing Council: SWFHC advocates for and facilitates the enforcement of the Federal and State Fair Housing Acts in addition to the Non-discriminatory Ordinances of different Arizonan municipalities. If you feel you have been a victim of housing discrimination, please visit the SWFHC website to report your experience.
• Representative Greg Stanton’s Housing Assistance Guide: If you live in Arizona’s 9th congressional district, please consider visiting Representative Stanton’s Guide for more information about services available in your area.
• If you are experiencing homelessness, please visit the Arizona Department of Economic Services website for a list of homelessness services.

Food & Basic Needs Assistance

• Arizona Department of Economic Security: For information regarding emergency and long term food assistance, please visit the DES website.
• The Arizona Kosher Pantry: The AZ Kosher Pantry operates a clean and modern pantry stocked with donated or surplus vegetables, fruits, canned goods, milk, and Kosher fish and meat. They also run a Kosher kitchen that prepares delicious meals for everyone in need. For more information please visit The AZ Kosher Pantry website.
• Borderlands Produce Rescue: Borderlands Produce Rescue transports produce that would otherwise be wasted and thrown away, to communities facing food insecurity in Arizona. To find an event near you to get produce, visit the Borderlands Produce Rescue website.
• Furnishing Dignity: Furnishing Dignity provide furniture for those in need. Their mission is to provide furniture while having applicants maintain their dignity throughout the process. To apply please visit the Furnishing Dignity website.
• JBox: JBox provides a monthly kosher meal delivered to those in need in the East Valley. Please visit the EVJCC website for more information.
• JFCS Helping Hands: Short-term financial assistance to Jewish individuals and families in Maricopa County who are otherwise unable to meet their basic needs. Please visit the JFCS website for more information.
• KiwiKids Wellness Initiative: Weekly meal packages are available free of charge for all children ages 1-18 who are at home and are not receiving meals in school or from another site. There are no income eligibility requirements or location restrictions to receive free meals. Please visit the KiwiKids website for more information.
• Lasagna Love: If you have been impacted by the pandemic (physically, financially or emotionally) you can request a home-cooked lasagna or main dish to be delivered to your family. You are also able to nominate friends or family to receive a meal as well. Kosher options available. Please visit the Lasagna Love website for more information.
• Mesa Community College: We Care Wednesday is a food distribution that takes place on the first Wednesday of every month at the Southern/Dobson campus, and the third Wednesday of every month at the Red Mountain campus. The food distributions take place from 10 am-12 pm, and are open to all students, staff, and community members in need of food assistance. Please visit the Mesa Community College website for more information.
• Sleep in Heavenly Peace: This non-profit builds bunk beds for children so no child has to sleep on the floor. To apply for a bed, please visit the Sleep in Heavenly Peace website.
• Zuri’s Circle: Zuri’s Circle mission is to provide temporary assistance during unforeseen hardship to individuals, families, elderly and the homeless. Providing food, clothing, furniture, programs and other much needed resources. Visit the Zuri’s Circle website to learn more.

General Resources

• Jewish Free Loan: If you are in need of hygiene and/or homecare products, please reach out to [email protected] for information about the JFL Care Bag program.
• Arizona 2-1-1: A new statewide hotline has opened to provide answers to questions surrounding the pandemic. For more information visit the 2-1-1 website.
• Jewish Family & Children’s Service: Short-term financial assistance to Jewish individuals and families in Maricopa County who are otherwise unable to meet their basic needs. JFCS also offers counseling, behavioral health services, psychiatric care, career services and food assistance. Please visit the JFCS website for more information.
• Ezras Cholim of Phoenix: Kosher Get Well meals, advocacy for patients, rehab support, mobility solutions and Shabbat Baskets. For more information on these services, please call (602) 492-4989 or visit the Ezras Cholim website.
• Community Legal Services: Community Legal Services (CLS) is dedicated to providing legal assistance, advice or representation, self-help materials and legal education so people can know their rights. They focus on helping survivors of domestic violence; assisting victims of consumer fraud and abuse, protecting tenants from unlawful/unfair practices by landlords, foreclosures, legal problems affecting agricultural workers, wage claims and other employment matters, and federal and state programs affecting peoples’ health and economic stability. For more information, please visit the CLS website.
• Jewish Together- Project EM: Project EM provides individualized career counseling, interactive workshops, technical skills training, financial literacy sessions, and stress reduction classes for free. For more information on these services, visit the Jewish Together- Project EM website.
• For more information regarding pandemic protocols and emergency preparedness please visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website or the Arizona Together website.

By the Numbers

Over the past year, JFL provided 100 grocery and gas gift cards to JFL borrowers and households in need through community partnerships. This is an ongoing program.

Household goods (including toilet paper, sanitizer, and toiletries) are also distributed to borrowers in need as part of an ongoing initiative.

If you feel so moved, please consider making a donation to support our efforts.

Special Thanks

We are also thankful to the many community partners, volunteers, board members, donors and friends who make it possible for us to meet the needs of our community.