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During the State of Emergency, the City of Lansing will be sending daily COVID updates at 5pm to everyone on the Neighborhood News list and posting to the city’s social media channels.
We are getting many calls about how we can help our neighbors during this time. We will include opportunities to help each other and resources where help is available. If you have information that you would like included, please send it to DeLisa Fountain at DeLisa.Fountain@lansingmi.gov by 3pm. This emergency is changing daily and we are committed to making sure our neighbors have the information necessary to care for themselves, their neighbors, and our community.
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Table of Contents- Newly Added Info & Resources
- A Message from Mayor Schor
- Stay Home. Stay Safe. Save Lives.
- COVID-19 Safety Practices
- How can I Help?
- How can I get Help?
- Other Resources
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Newly Added Info & ResourcesThis section will highlight the latest information and resources that are new to our daily updates.
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The City of Lansing recognizes the important role that households play in neighborhoods and economic development. As such, the Office of Financial Empowerment (OFE) is here to support Lansing residents as they navigate the unique financial obstacles before them. Please follow this LINK
Amber Paxton, Director of the Office of Financial Empowerment in our Department of Neighborhoods & Citizen Engagement, will go live on our Facebook page (www.facebook.com/cityoflansingmi) on Tuesdays at 4PM to discuss resources available and tips to better manage your finances during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the City of Lansing will be making temporary changes to the Capital Area Recycling & Trash (CART) collection services.
We appreciate your flexibility and cooperation during these unprecedented times!
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MDHHS released a helpful guide to show Michiganders how to self-monitor if they believes they have been exposed to COVID-19Additionally the governor, MDHHS and the CDC are urging people to continue to take the following basic measures to prevent the spread of the virus. If you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, call your health care provider. If you do not have a health care provider, call the nearest hospital. - Wash your hands often with soap and warm water for 20 seconds. If not available, use hand sanitizer.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.
- Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or upper sleeve when coughing or sneezing.
- Avoid contact with people who are sick.
- If you are sick, stay home, and avoid contact with others.
- Stay at least 6 feet away from others when in a public setting.
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A Message from Mayor SchorOn March 13, 2020, Mayor Schor declared a local State of Emergency for the City of Lansing. During this time, essential City of Lansing services will continue to be provided. Lansing residents are encouraged to continue practicing good hygiene, social distancing, and refrain from hoarding. These measures are meant to help reduce the spread of COVID-19 and ensure those in need have access to necessary resources. Mayor Schor is working with U.S. Rep. Slotkin and several other partners to secure federal and state funds to help our small businesses. To hear the entire message, please click here.
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Stay Home. Stay Safe. Save Lives.
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COVID-19 Safety Practices
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Governor Whitmer Signs Executive Order Temporarily Restricting Non-Essential Veterinary Procedures Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed Executive Order 2020-32, which places a temporary restriction on non-essential veterinary procedures during the COVID-19 pandemic. The order prohibits all non-essential veterinary procedures starting on March 31, 2020, and encourages veterinarians and veterinary technicians to practice telemedicine as much as possible to help stop the spread of COVID-19. "While there is no evidence that pets can transmit COVID-19, we must take additional steps to promote social distancing,” said Whitmer. “If we want to flatten the curve and slow the spread of COVID-19, all Michiganders must do their part, stay in their homes, and stay six feet away from others when they’re outside. We’ve taken aggressive steps in the past three weeks to slow the spread of the virus, and I will continue to work every day to ensure we protect the most people we can.” Under executive order 2020-32, “non-essential veterinary services” means all veterinary services other than those that are necessary to preserve the life of a pet, as determined by a licensed veterinarian; necessary to treat serious pain that threatens the health and safety of a pet, as determined by a licensed veterinarian; necessary to euthanize a pet, as determined by a licensed veterinarian; or necessary to treat or prevent the transmission of any infectious disease that can be transmitted between animals and human beings, as determined by a licensed veterinarian.
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Capital Area United Way Emergency Relief FundDonate now at www.tinyurl.com/micauwefSparrow and McLaren HospitalsMcLaren Greater Lansing Foundation & Sparrow Foundation - Our hospital systems are at the frontline of this pandemic. Sparrow and McLaren are seeking financial and volunteer support.
The American Red Cross faces a Severe Blood Shortage Healthy individuals are needed to donate now to help patients counting on lifesaving blood. Please schedule your appointment to donate blood HERE using your zip code to locate the closest location.Greater Lansing Food BankSupport the Greater Lansing Food Bank with monetary donations. Please donate at the following LINK Volunteer Opportunities Available
Gov. Whitmer and MDHHS launched a new volunteer website, www.michigan.gov/fightcovid19, where trained medical professionals can register to serve their fellow Michiganders by assisting hospitals in fighting COVID-19. Other state residents also can use the site to find out how they can help in their local communities, give blood, donate money or needed medical supplies, or assist public health officials in tracking infections.
Lansing School District is looking for Volunteers to distribute food at several pick up sites across the City of Lansing. If you are able to distribute or deliver meals, please sign up at this LINK
Volunteers are needed for Lansing area shelters. If you are available to volunteer, please contact Renee Jones at Holy Cross by phone 517.489.5278 or email: rjones@hccsnet.org
The Tri-County Office on Aging is looking for volunteers to safely deliver meals to seniors in the area. Also, the Tri-County Office on Aging is looking for volunteers to place Friendly Reassurance calls to seniors who may be socially isolated. Please visit https://www.tcoa.org/volunteer/, or call Casey at 517-887-1377. Volunteer to help with senior meal distributions and/or making friendly check-in calls visit RSVP of Ingham, Eaton and Clinton Counties’ website to fill out a Volunteer Form, email Carol Wood at carol@rsvp-lansing.com or call (517) 887-6116.Combating Price GougingEffective Monday, March 16, until Monday, April 13 , Michigan is cracking down on businesses and individuals that engage in price gouging on consumer food items, emergency supplies, and other goods and materials. Residents are urged to report any price gouging or other violations of the Consumer Protection Act online by clicking here or by calling (877) 765-8388.City Rescue Mission of Lansing The City Rescue Mission is currently seeking the following items for donations: Thermometers, Canned Vegetables, Takeout Containers, Pre-Packaged Food Items (granola bars, individual bags of chips, fruit snacks, etc.), Plastic Utensils, Kleenex, Disposable Gloves, Tylenol, Advil, and Dayquil. Those items can be taken directly to their donation drop-off site at 607 E. Michigan Avenue, Lansing 48912. There is a delivery entrance behind the building that is accessible from Pere Marquette (just past the Larch and Michigan Avenue intersection). Preferred donation hours are 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.
Homemade Masks - Instructions & Drop-Off Locations After receiving many offers from Lansing residents to produce homemade masks, Mayor Andy Schor announced that the City of Lansing will provide drop-off locations for homemade masks. Donated masks will be distributed to first responders, healthcare workers, homeless shelters and others that work with vulnerable populations. Please click here for instructions on how to make a mask at home.
Individuals and organizations with N95 protective masks and other personal protective equipment are encouraged to donate these items.
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Takeout Tonight SpotlightBrain McGrain, Director of Economic Development and Planning, encourages you to support our local businesses. Last night, he picked up some great food from Saddleback BBQ in REO Town. Located at 1147 South Washington in Lansing.
Open for takeout, Pork & Go Curbside Pickup, and Delivery at both locations! Call (517) 306-9002
Saddleback BBQ is Lansing, Michigan's premier craft BBQ joint, featuring authentic Southern BBQ produced on-site in our reverse-flow smoker, nicknamed "The Beast."
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For Assistance Call 211 2-1-1 is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year in over 180 languages. https://www.mi211.org/Referring people to 211 is the best way to connect them with services. It also allows us to track community requests for support and properly respond.
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Staying Home is Different for Everyone While Michiganders are being asked to stay at home for the next three weeks, it’s essential to recognize that staying home can mean different things for many across our community. During these uncertain times, stress levels may be high for many people. In times of financial stress, domestic violence and child abuse tends to increase. If you or someone you know is in need of assistance, please review the following resources: - End Violent Encounters (EVE) 24/7 Crisis Hotline (517) 372-5572
- National Domestic Violence Hotline 24/7 Hotline 1-800-799-7233, available in more than 200 languages
- Both resources listed above offer online chat options too.
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Federal Income Tax Information The Treasury Secretary announced that the deadline to file 2019 federal income taxes has also been delayed until July 15, 2020. In addition, the deadline for federal estimated income tax payments for 2020, which was previously April 15, 2020, has been delayed until July 15, 2020.
You can read the announcement here.
State Income Tax Collections Michigan Department of Treasury is offering collections assistance to newly unemployed Michiganders currently paying on past-due state tax debts or other state debts.
Effective immediately, individuals who have been laid off or had their place of employment closed due to COVID-19 should reach out to see what options are available. To receive assistance, individuals are encouraged to contact Treasury’s Collections Service Center at 517-636-5265.
To learn more about Michigan’s taxes and the collections process, go to www.michigan.gov/taxes or follow the state Treasury Department on Twitter at @MITreasury.
City Income Tax Information City of Lansing will extend its 2019 City of Lansing income tax filing deadline from April 30, 2020, to July 31, 2020. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the IRS has pushed back the federal tax filing deadline to July 15, 2020, and the City of Lansing will follow suit allowing residents and businesses additional time to file their income taxes.
Ingham County Treasurer's Office Governor Whitmer signed an executive order (EO 2012-14) on Wednesday March 18, 2020 to move the deadline for Michigan Residents to pay property taxes and avoid foreclosure from March 31 to May 29. This order ONLY applies to tax foreclosure for unpaid taxes, and does NOT include mortgage foreclosures or evictions.
Meal Assistance for Seniors If you are a senior living in Ingham County, you can contact the Tri-County Office on Aging at 517-887-11440 or by visiting them online here.
While all TCOA Congregate Senior Dining Sites are currently closed due to the risk of spreading COVID-19 through large group gatherings, individuals age 60 and over and their caregivers are eligible to participate in a food pick up opportunity at locations across the region in all three counties.
Meal pick up must be arranged in advance by calling Tasha Stetler at 517-887-1393 to schedule a pickup appointment.
Expanding Access to Telemedicine Michigan residents receiving Medicaid benefits can now take advantage of telemedicine health services from their home. In addition, most major health insurers have announced that they will cover and encourage the use of virtual care, while waiving cost-sharing for COVID-19 testing. Call your health care provider for more information.
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Unemployment Assistance If you lose your job during the coronavirus outbreak, you can apply for unemployment assistance here. You can find a fact sheet with more information here. Please go to the following site for more information: michigan.gov/UIA
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What To Do About April 1st RentCongress passed a $2 trillion relief bill, but that money won't be available before many of us have to make rent and utility payments on April 1st. Much of the relief is also one-time payments and we all have recurring expenses. That's why we are sharing this template for an email or text you can send to your landlord and are including some additional resources on what's in the relief bill so you can plan for the future. Thank you to our friends at the Louisiana Fair Housing Action Center for much of this content.
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Small Business Assistance
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Lansing Economic Area Partnership (LEAP)Lansing Economic Area Partnership (LEAP) has been allocated $600,000 in emergency small business relief grant funds from the MEDC to distribute sixty (60) $10,000 grants to Lansing region small businesses in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Small businesses wishing to apply for grant funds must be Michigan-based with under 50 employees (full or part time) and meet additional criteria. Application information, criteria, and additional business resources are available at www.purelansing.com/businessrelief.
The application is expected to be open from March 27, 2020, through Tuesday, March 31, 2020. The application window for these funds is very short and there will be much greater need than what is available, so businesses are encouraged to apply as soon as the application is available. The application will be available here: www.purelansing.com/businessrelief.
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Delivering Support for Small Businesses Consumers Energy is here to help your company during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis. Small businesses throughout Michigan are suddenly struggling to survive after closing to help us stay safe. Consumers Energy can provide meaningful and immediate help by:
- Working with you on your utility bill.
- Connecting you to potential sources of state and federal relief.
- Providing new business opportunities through the Pure Michigan Business Connect Program.
Call us at 800-805-0490 to get assistance with your energy bill and to learn how to find additional short-term help.
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Student Loans During this National Emergency, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Federal Student Aid has set the interest rate of all federal student loans to 0% for a period of at least 60 days. The Department of Education’s press release from March 20, 2020 states “borrowers will have the option to suspend their payments for at least two months to allow them greater flexibility during the national emergency. This will allow borrowers to temporarily stop their payments without worrying about accruing interest.” For borrows that are seeking the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program or those enrolled in a repayment plan, it may be in their best interest to continuing making monthly payments. The full press release can be read here. The following list contains the names and contact information of loan servicers for loans that the U.S. Department of Education owns: Loan Servicer Contact Information CornerStone 1-800-663-1662
FedLoan Servicing (PHEAA) 1-800-699-2908
Granite State – GSMR 1-888-556-0022
Great Lakes Educational Loan Services, Inc. 1-800-236-4300
HESC/Edfinancial 1-855-337-6884
MOHELA 1-888-866-4352
Navient 1-800-722-1300
Nelnet 1-888-486-4722
OSLA Servicing 1-866-264-9762
ECSI 1-866-313-3797
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Utilities and Eviction Assistance Persons must file a State of Emergency Relief (SER) application with the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). Apply online at: https://www.mibridges.michigan.gov/access/ DHHS phone number: 1-855-275-6424 Pre-Eviction Prevention Program Public Housing and Section 8 tenants at risk of eviction due to late rent, and fees are scheduled for a Citizen Intake to determine their eligibility for financial assistance. A judgement and SER determination from DHHS, proof of income, and identification is required for an appointment. Call (517) 487-4477
Utility Assistance (in partnership with LBWL and St. Vincent DePaul) Assist families with paying the LBWL bill to avoid shut-off and prevent eviction. A SER determination from DHHS, LBWL bill, proof of income and identification is required for an appointment. Call (517) 487-4477
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Lansing Board of Water and Light Customers may pay their bill online, through the mail or over the phone. More information on ways to pay your bill can be found at www.lbwl.com/paybill.
The BWL has suspended electric and water shut-offs until further notice and COVID-19 is better controlled. Customers are encouraged to contact customer service to setup a bill payment plan to not fall behind when the moratorium is lifted by emailing customerservice@lbwl.com.
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Consumers Energy For the health and safety of our employees and customers, we’ve reduced service at our 13 direct payment offices to drop box and drive-thru only.
Payments left in drop boxes will be processed the same day and receipts will be mailed to customers' homes. Customers are also encouraged to pay online or find another payment location.
We are ensuring our most vulnerable customers have the services they need during this state of emergency by suspending shutoffs for non-pay for low-income and senior customers beginning March 16, 2020 through April 5, 2020. These time-frames could be adjusted depending on the spread and severity of the virus.
Senior citizens and qualified low-income customers already enrolled in our Winter Protection Program have already had their end dates extended through May 3, 2020, without any additional actions required on their part.
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UPDATED LANSING SCHOOL DISTRICT FOOD LOCATIONS Each location is first come first served while supplies last.
There are changes to the Lansing School District food distribution times for a couple of locations. Mount Vernon is now from 11 a.m - 12 p.m and Summer Place is from 3:05 - 3:35 p.m. Click on the link for the latest full list. http://www.lansingschools.net/food
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Additional Food Resources for Students The Michigan Department of Education has developed an online tool for families to help ensure children who rely on food provided by schools still maintain access to the meals and resources they need. To find schools serving meals in your area, you can use the tool by clicking here.
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How to Find Emergency Food Resources
With Michigan’s K-12 schools closed by Gov. Whitmer due to COVID-19, many school districts are providing sack breakfasts and lunches to students and their families for pick up. However, hundreds of community residents who do not have students within those districts are using that resource for their food needs, placing both financial and physical strain on districts. Greater Lansing Food Bank reminds the public of the existing network of food agencies and pantries, weekend mobile food distributions and senior food resources for the general public.
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- If you are a parent or guardian of school-aged children, check with your local school district to confirm the meal distribution hours and locations. You may also check the Michigan Department of Education’s food access database through its Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), which is updated regularly, to see the nearest food distribution sites.
- If you are not a parent or guardian of school-aged children, please do not use the school meal programs for your primary food needs. To locate the nearest emergency food resource near you, call the Central Michigan 2-1-1 hotline by dialing 2-1-1, or visit: centralmichigan211.org.
- If you are a senior citizen, call the Tri-County Office on Aging at (517) 887-1460 for the Meals on Wheels home delivered meals program, and (517) 887-1393 for available pick-up sites for pre-packaged food.
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FOOD PANTRIES
48906 All Nations Christian Church Food Pantry 1205 E Saginaw Street, Lansing (517) 371-2222
Catholic Community of St. Jude (serves north Lansing zip 48906) 409 Wilson Street, DeWitt 48820 (517) 669-8335
Cristo Rey Community Center 1717 North High Street, Lansing (517) 372-4700 x 249
Northwest Lutheran Food Pantry Saint Stephen Lutheran Church 2900 N Waverly Road, Lansing (517) 853-0453
Society of Saint Vincent De Paul - Saint Gerard (West of MLK only) 4437 West Willow Hwy, Lansing (517) 853-8132
Society of Saint Vincent De Paul - Resurrection 1601 E Grand River Avenue, Lansing (517) 371-4380
Society of Saint Vincent De Paul - Saint Therese 102 West Randolph Street, Lansing (517) 482-0765
48910 Bethlehem Lutheran Church 549 E Mt Hope Avenue, Lansing (517) 485-3613
Bethlehem Temple Church 1518 South Washington Avenue, Lansing (517) 485-4209
Christ Temple Church 1033 Lenore St, Lansing 48910 (517) 484-0578 or submit request online at www.ctcLansing.org
Lansing Area AIDS Network (Must be HIV+) 913 W Holmes Road, Suite 115, Lansing (517) 394-3560
LMTS 808 Southland Street, Suite B, Lansing 48910 Hours 9 am – 1 pm, M-F (By appointment only) Call (517) 483-2604 (allow 24-48 hours for a response)
Mount Hope Presbyterian Church 301 West Jolly Road, Lansing (517) 393-2211
The Salvation Army South Corps 701 W Jolly Rd, Lansing 48910 (517) 394-6945
48911 Lansing Church of God in Christ 5304 Wise Road, Lansing (517) 882-2335
Pagans in Need - Lansing 5655 South Washington Avenue, Lansing (517) 258-4575
48912 Allen Neighborhood Center Breadbasket/Food Pantry Every Monday, produce, bread and other baked goods are available to Eastside residents 1:00 pm- 5:00 pm (517) 367-2468
Eastside Community Action Center 1001 Dakin Street, Lansing (517) 853-0414
Salvation Army North 525 North Pennsylvania Avenue, Lansing (517) 484-4424
48917 (These pantries are actually in Eaton County) Lansing Seventh Day Adventist Community Service Center 5400 West Saint Joseph, Lansing (517) 321-8238
Society of Saint Vincent De Paul - Saint Gerard 4437 West Willow Hwy, Lansing (517) 853-8132
48933/48915 Lansing First Presbyterian Church Food Pantry 510 W Ottawa St , Lansing (517) 482-0668 Please call between 9:30-11:30 for an appointment for Food Distribution *any donations of non-perishable goods and/or financial contributions would be welcome.
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Financial Empowerment Center The Financial Empowerment Center (FEC) is a partnership of the City of Lansing and Cristo Rey Community Center. Our trained, professional financial counselors will sit down with you one-on-one to help you achieve your financial dreams and goals. We will help you create a budget, reduce money stress, improve your credit, pay down your debt, access affordable bank accounts, and save money for the future. All counseling services, including credit report analysis, is free of charge. There are no income limits or residency requirements. You can schedule an appointment online or call (517) 449-5842 , Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. All appointments will take place on Zoom or over the phone. Once you have scheduled an appointment, someone from the FEC will be in contact.
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Economic Impact Payments: What you need to knowThe Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service today announced that distribution of economic impact payments will begin in the next three weeks and will be distributed automatically, with no action required for most people.
Please follow this LINK for more information from the IRS.
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FREE OR LOW-COST INTERNET SERVICE AND OTHER RELATED RESOURCES (DEVICES AND CONTENT)
AT&T’s “Access by AT&T.” Available in 21 states. One family member must be eligible for SNAP. COVID-19 response: AT&T has committed waive data overage fees in response to Covid-19. For more information click here.
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MetroNet Available Free to New Student Subscribers for Two Months We are offering free 500Mb/500Mb Internet service for 2 months to new residential households in which a student resides. If any of your families are interested in signing up, please have them visit www.metronetinc.com/studentspecial and click order now. After entering their address, they will need to check ‘yes’ for student in order to receive the discounted rate. They will need to provide either a valid student ID or virtual learning email message from the school.
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Other ResourcesCensus 2020 10 Minutes 9 Questions Determines Funding for the next 10 years! The City of Lansing is currently at a 37.7% response rate as of 3/29/2020. The U.S. Census Bureau produces timely local data that are critical to emergency planning, preparedness and recovery efforts.
It's so important that we take 10 minutes to respond to 9 simple questions that will deliver 10 years of benefits to our community.
The public is strongly encouraged to respond to the 2020 Census online using a desktop computer, laptop, smartphone, or tablet, and can also respond by phone or mail.
More info: lansingmi.gov/1860/Be-Counted-Lansing-2020-Census
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Lansing Parks and trails are still open, except for the Fenner Nature Center which is currently closed.
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Capital Area Housing Partnership (CAHP) Housing counselors offer free, individualized guidance, and work with clients to develop a plan to understand their options and connect with resources, helping them reach their financial goals. CAHP’s office will be closed to the public until April 6, 2020. CAHP will be open remotely during that time and answering phone calls at 517-332-HOME (4663) Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Virtual Rental Counseling Now Available If you or someone you know has fears about paying rent, utility bills, eviction, foreclosure, debt or credit impacts please call CAHP to schedule a free virtual appointment to discuss options. Our housing counselors offer free, individualized guidance, and work with families and individuals to develop a plan to understand their options and connect people with resources, helping them reach their financial goals. Call 517-332-HOME (4663) to schedule a virtual appointment. Click here to learn more.
Online Homebuyer Education Workshop Available For those with an eye on home ownership, we are offering our Homebuyer Education workshop online! The online workshop satisfies requirements for a homeownership education certificate to qualify for down payment assistance.
https://capitalareahousing.frameworkhomeownership.org/
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Capital Area District Library The Storytimes at our branches might be canceled, but the fun isn't! Starting this Wednesday, we're hosting virtual storytimes on Facebook Live. Tune on on Mondays & Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m. and 7 p.m., or watch our CADLtales TV show anytime. https://bit.ly/33GCQ8a
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CATA CATA will suspend all regular bus-route service, effective Monday, March 23, through Sunday, April 5, or until further notice. Instead, CATA will offer free demand-response service for the community’s most vulnerable populations, as well as its essential workforce, key government employees and those who support our critical infrastructure. Customers in need of a free curb-to-curb ride should call 517-999-2549
Updates will continue to be posted to Rider Alerts at CATA.org and @rideCATA on Facebook and Twitter.
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The Neighborhood News will be used for daily COVID-19 updates during the Local State of Emergency. *************************************************************************************
Sign up to receive this newsletter HERE
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