Skip the Trip

Many government agencies are allowing residents to do government business online or by mail:

Residents can apply for Food Assistance (SNAP), Cash Assistance (TANF) or Medicaid can apply on-line or call 1-844-640-OHIO (6446). (Please note that due to demand the phone lines are often experiencing long delays.)   

Residents can apply for unemployment benefits on line by clicking here. 

There is also online or phone assistance for those who have struggled from addiction and are struggling during this time.  Franklin County 
Justice Policy and Programs put together a few of those resources residents can use:  

• AA online meetings or they can be reached by phone at 608-222-8989, 24 hours a day.
• NA online meetings or they can be reached by phone at 614-252-1700, 24 hours a day.
• Clean and Cyber available at 7 p.m. on Fridays and Sundays. Use meeting ID 282 893 0125.
• Smart Recovery available online only.
• In the Rooms SoberGrid is an app available on your phone that provides peer coaching that is available 24 hours a day. 

Help for Businesses
Small businesses may apply for Disaster Loan Assistance. Businesses are asked to complete the disaster loan declaration form provided by the Small Business Administration and mail the forms to [email protected]. Loans can be as much as $2 million per small business. If you have questions, please call 614-525-5631.

Training for Unemployed Workers 

Franklin County is partnering with the Workforce Development Board of Central Ohio to assist residents whose employment has been suspended or terminated due to efforts to mitigate the COVID 19 virus. Recently unemployed residents work the Workforce Development Board for a minimum of two weeks on various trainings and career-readiness counseling and then are eligible for a $250 stipend for assistance in the immediate few weeks after being furloughed or laid-off. For assistance or information on this program please go to Economic Development and Planning's website or reach out to: [email protected] or https://www.wdbco.org/contact-us.

If you didn't find what you were looking for here click to our List of Closures which provides quick links to all Franklin County agencies.

Free Meal Delivery for Our Elderly
The Commissioners put in place changes that allowed the Franklin County Office on Aging to waive income levels so that any person 60 and older can have meals delivered. For more information call on weekdays, 614-525-6200.

Guides with Resources for Everyday Life 
Two of our partners - Franklin County Children Services and the City of Columbus - have lengthy, helpful resource guides. Children Services does their guide annually while Columbus created their guide for residents needing help amid the Covid19 outbreak. 

To be linked to the list of resources provided by City of Columbus click on their name or you can view their document here. 

To see Franklin County Children Services' Guide click here. 

COTA bus routes to food pantries.

A quick crisis guide from Franklin County Justice Policy & Programs