April 3, 2020, Santa Ana, CA — In response to COVID-19, Community Legal Aid SoCal has enacted procedures to protect the safety, health, and wellbeing of our clients, staff, and volunteers.
As of Wednesday, March 18th our physical locations are closed until further notice. However, we will continue to serve our clients via telephone interviews and consultations. Our Hotline number (800-834-5001) will stay open through the duration.
Our courthouse clinics in Orange County will be closed through April 24th, per the Court.
The Self-Help Center in the Compton courthouse is closed, and all litigants can call Self-Help directly at (424)349-7610 or they can call our Hotline number (800)834-5001.
Domestic Violence Clinics in the Compton and Whittier courthouse will be closed until further notice. Landlord-Tenant and Debt Collection Workshops at the Norwalk courthouse will be closed. However, services normally available at the Domestic Violence Clinic and the Landlord-Tenant Workshops will continue to be provided remotely in a limited manner. The Debt Collection Workshop will be placed on hold. Clients and litigants can get information regarding these remote services from the courts or they can be directed to these remote services by calling our Hotline at 800-834-5001.
Clients or applicants who require in-person appointments as a reasonable accommodation will be handled on a case by case basis.
We are following new guidelines regarding any in-person meetings with clients, the handling of client documents and signatures, and are following a checklist for disinfecting meeting spaces.
As we continue to monitor the situation, we will be updating this notice with any changes in our response to COVID-19
Resources for the Community
Domestic Violence
National Domestic Violence Hotline
https://www.thehotline.org/help/
Employment
Employment Development Department (State of California) Fact Sheet for Workers
https://edd.ca.gov/about_edd/coronavirus-2019.htm
Financial Resources
Department of Social Services, Los Angeles County
http://dpss.lacounty.gov/wps/portal/dpss/main/home/news
Health
Health Consumer Alliance
https://healthconsumer.org/covid19/
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
Guidance to help Medicare Advantage and Part D Plans Respond to COVID-19 coronavirus
https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/press-releases/cms-issues-guidance-help-medicare-advantage-and-part-d-plans-respond-covid-19
Medicare coverage and testing for the COVID-19 coronavirus
https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/coronavirus-test?utm_campaign=20200305_gmd_prv_gal&utm_content=english&utm_medium=email&utm
Medi-Cal Managed Care Plans COVID-19 Screening and Testing
https://www.dhcs.ca.gov/services/Documents/MMCD/COVID-19Memo.pdf
Coverage and Benefits Related to COVID-19 Medicaid and CHIP
https://www.cms.gov/files/document/03052020-medicaid-covid-19-fact-sheet.pdf
Travelers’ Health Destinations
https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/list for up-to-date recommendations before you travel.
Housing
Governor Gavin Newsom’s March 27 Executive Action to Establish a Statewide Moratorium on Evictions
Important note: This new executive order requires tenants to tell their landlords in writing that they will not be able to pay the rent due to COVID-19 either before the rent is due or within 7 days of it becoming due. Below is a template or an example of a letter to the landlord.
RE: INABILITY TO PAY RENT RELATED TO COVID-19
Dear_______________________,
I am writing to notify you that I cannot pay rent for April 2020. I cannot pay rent because:
_______ I lost my job due to COVID19
_______ My hours were reduced due to COVID19
_______ I incurred medical expenses due to COVID19
_______ I could not work because I was sick with a suspected or confirmed case of COVID19 or was caring for a household or family member who was sick with a suspected of confirmed case of COVID19.
_______ Other COVID19 related reason:_____________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
I am giving you this notice in compliance with Governor Newsom’s Executive Order N-37-20. Please find verification of my reason attached.
DATE:____________________
TENANT SIGNATURE:________________________
Public Benefits
Orange County Social Services Agency
http://ssa.ocgov.com/
Social Security Administration
https://www.ssa.gov/
County of Los Angeles Department of Public Social Services
http://dpss.lacounty.gov/wps/portal/dpss
General Information
211.org
http://211.org/services/covid19
Department of Public Health, Los Angeles County
http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/media/Coronavirus
Orange County Public Healthcare Agency
http://www.ochealthinfo.com/phs/about/epidasmt/epi/dip/prevention/novel_coronavirus
California Department of Public Health (CDPH, State)
https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/Immunization/nCOV2019.aspx
State of California Coronavirus COVID-19 Response website, includes resources & information
https://covid19.ca.gov/
Centers for Disease Control
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
World Health Organization (WHO, International)
https://www.who.int/health-topics/coronavirus
Safety Precautions to Help Prevent the Spread of COVID-19
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Stay home when you are sick.
- Do your best to maintain “social distancing.” Keep 6 feet of space between yourself and others whenever possible. Posters are being developed to explain this process to clients.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth.
- Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when coughing or sneezing and throw the tissue away after use. If a tissue isn’t available, cough or sneeze into your elbow or sleeve, not your hands.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing. If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty.
- Practice other good health habits. Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat nutritious food.
- Clean and disinfect doorknobs, switches, handles, computers, telephones, bedside tables, bathroom sinks, toilets, counters, toys and other surfaces that are commonly touched around the home or workplace. Our cleaning crews are doing this at our offices.
- To the extent possible, avoid touching commonly used surfaces in public places like elevator buttons, door handles and handrails and avoid handshaking with people. Use a tissue or your sleeve to cover your hand or finger if you must touch something.
En Español
En respuesta a COVID-19, Community Legal Aid SoCal ha establecido procedimientos para proteger la seguridad, la salud y el bienestar de nuestros clientes, empleados y voluntarios.
Desde el miércoles marzo 18, nuestras localizaciones físicas están cerradas hasta nuevo aviso, pero continuaremos sirviendo a nuestros clientes por medio de entrevistas y consultas telefónicas.
Nuestros talleres en el Condado de Orange estarán cerrados hasta el 24 de Abril, según la corte.
El Centro de Ayuda Propia de la corte de Compton está cerrado y todos los litigantes deben de llamar a nuestra Línea de Consejos Legales al número (800) 834-5001.
Los talleres de Violencia Doméstica en las cortes de Compton y Whittier estarán cerrados hasta nuevo aviso. Los talleres de Dueño/Inquilino y Colección de Deuda en la corte de Norwalk estarán cerrados, pero aún así, los servicios normalmente disponibles en el taller de Violencia Doméstica y Dueño/Inquilino continuarán siendo proporcionados remotamente y en una forma limitada. El taller de Colección de Deuda será puesto en espera. Los clientes y litigantes pueden tener información sobre esos servicios remotos a través de la corte o pueden dirigirse a esos servicios remotos llamando a nuestra Línea de Consejos Legales al número (800)834-5001.
Los clientes o solicitantes que necesiten citas en persona como una acomodación razonable se manejarian basados caso por caso.
Estamos siguiendo nuevas normas con respecto a cualquier reunión en persona con los clientes, el trámite de documentos y firmas de los clientes, y estamos siguiendo una lista de verificación para la desinfección de los espacios de reunión.
A medida que continuemos monitoreando la situación, actualizaremos este aviso con cualquier cambio en nuestra respuesta a COVID-19.
Recursos para la Comunidad
Violencia Doméstica
Linea Nacional para Asistencia con Violencia Doméstica
https://www.thehotline.org/help/
Beneficios Publicos
Agencia de Servicios Sociales del Condado de Orange
http://ssa.ocgov.com/
Administracion del Seguro Social
https://www.ssa.gov/
Departamento de Servicios Sociales Publico del Condado de Los Angeles
http://dpss.lacounty.gov/wps/portal/dpss
Empleo
Departamento de Desarrollo del Empleo (Estado de California) Información para los trabajadores
https://edd.ca.gov/about_edd/coronavirus-2019.htm
Salud
Alianza de Consumidores de Salud
https://healthconsumer.org/covid19/
Centros de Servicios de Medicare y Medicaid
Guía para ayudar al Medicare Advantage y a los planes de la Parte D a responder al coronavirus COVID-19
https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/press-releases/cms-issues-guidance-help-medicare-advantage-and-part-d-plans-respond-covid-19
La cobertura de Medicare y las exanimaciones para el coronavirus COVID-19
https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/coronavirus-test?utm_campaign=20200305_gmd_prv_gal&utm_content=english&utm_medium=email&utm
Planes de atención médica administrada por Medi-Cal COVID-19 Pruebas y exámenes
https://www.dhcs.ca.gov/services/Documents/MMCD/COVID-19Memo.pdf
Cobertura y beneficios relacionados con COVID-19 Medicaid y CHIP
https://www.cms.gov/files/document/03052020-medicaid-covid-19-fact-sheet.pdf
Página web sobre destinos de salud para los viajantes
https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/list para recomendaciones actuales antes de viajar.
Información general
211.org
http://211.org/services/covid19
Departamento de Salud Pública, Condado de Los Ángeles
http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/media/Coronavirus
Agencia de Salud Pública del Condado de Orange
http://www.ochealthinfo.com/phs/about/epidasmt/epi/dip/prevention/novel_coronavirus
Departamento de Salud Pública de California (CDPH, Estado)
https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/Immunization/nCOV2019.aspx
Centros para el Control de Enfermedades
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS, Internacional)
https://www.who.int/health-topics/coronavirus
Precauciones de seguridad para ayudar a prevenir la dispersión de COVID-19
- Evite el contacto cercano con personas que estén enfermas.
- Permanezca en casa si está enfermo.
- Haga lo mejor para mantener una ” distancia social”. Mantenga 6 pies de espacio entre usted y los demás cuando sea posible. Se están desarrollando carteles para explicar éste proceso a los clientes.
- Evite tocarse los ojos, la nariz o la boca.
- Cúbrase la nariz y la boca con un pañuelo de papel al toser o estornudar y tire el pañuelo después de usarlo. Si no tiene un pañuelo, tosa o estornude en su codo o manga, no en sus manos.
- Lávese las manos constantemente con agua y jabón al menos 20 segundos, especialmente después de ir al baño, antes de comer y después de sonarse la nariz, toser o estornudar. Si el jabón y el agua no están disponibles, use un desinfectante de manos con base de alcohol con al menos 60% de alcohol. Siempre lávese las manos con agua y jabón si sus manos están visiblemente sucias.
- Practique buenos hábitos de salud. Duerma bien, sea físicamente activo, controle su estrés, beba muchos líquidos y coma alimentos nutritivos.
- Limpie y desinfecte las chapas de las puertas, interruptores, agarraderas, computadoras, teléfonos, mesas de centro, lavamanos, baños, mostradores, juguetes y otras superficies que se tocan con frecuencia en el hogar o en el lugar de trabajo. Nuestros equipos de limpieza están haciendo esto en nuestras oficinas.
- En lo posible, evite tocar las superficies de uso común en lugares públicos como los botones de los ascensores, las agarraderas de las puertas y los barandales, y evite el saludo de mano con las personas. Use un pañuelo de papel o su manga para cubrir su mano o dedo si debe tocar algo.
