While there is some light at the end of the tunnel with regard to the pandemic, many of our neighbors will continue to face health, mental health, and financial crisis for months and even years to come. As such, LICF staff will continue conversations with our nonprofit partners to assess needs and identify gaps in funding to ensure the needs of our most vulnerable populations are being addressed.
We thank all the generous donors who have given to this critical Fund and have made it possible for Long Island nonprofits to provide crucial services during the pandemic. We are actively starting to fundraise again as there are still such daunting needs.
Overview
The year 2020 amplified complex challenges facing Long Island. Inadequate healthcare, food insecurity, increasing rates of unemployment, housing cost burden, educational disparities, environmental distress, and racial inequity are among the compounded issues that plagued our diverse communities. While not new, these problems have been exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic which disproportionately affected racial and ethnic populations, many of whom are essential low-wage workers, including undocumented individuals who are ineligible for public relief programs. At the height of the pandemic in 2020, Long Island was the second hardest-hit region in New York with a higher per capita infection rate than New York City. Today, with nearly 250,000 infections and 5,200 deaths, Long Island’s seven-day infection rate is the highest in New York State. Since the beginning of the pandemic, food insecurity increased nearly 50 percent; unemployment reached 16.1 percent – concentrated among low-paying jobs and workers with low-level education; mental health providers report a 20 percent increases in referrals including children; police departments report up to a 10 percent increase in domestic violence cases, and homelessness has increased by 20 percent. These challenges are expected to persist in 2021 and will impede the capacity of the region to rebound.
Due to the generosity of foundations and individuals that contributed to the COVID-19 Long Island Philanthropic Response Fund, $1,521,500 was granted to 75 Long Island-based nonprofits responding to pressing community needs. This funding enabled organizations on the frontlines to strengthen their capacity to respond, attend to people in need, protect the human and civil rights of the most vulnerable, and provide a pathway to strength and recovery in a crisis. A summary of outcomes follows.
FIRST ROUND GRANTS (APRIL – JUNE 2020)
Child Care – Awarded $50,000 to four nonprofits:
Organizations
Barry & Florence Friedberg Jewish Community Center, Child Care Council of Nassau County, Child Care Council of Suffolk, and YMCA Long Island
Outcomes
Onsite childcare was provided for children of essential workers. Childcare providers across Long Island received resources and capacity building support to operate effectively and safely within the State guidelines.
Education – Awarded $45,500 to three nonprofits.
Organizations
Belmont Child Care Association, City of Glen Cove Youth Bureau, and Turkish Cultural Center of Long Island
Outcomes
Early childhood education programs were provided to children of Belmont Racetrack backstretch workers, one of the most impoverished communities on Long Island. Computers and mobile hotspots were provided to students without access to technology for their full participation in virtual learning, and afterschool enrichment programs were provided to reduce learning losses, particularly among students of color.
Food and Necessities – Awarded $325,500 to 27 nonprofits.
Organizations
Allied Foundation Diaper Bank, Bethany House of Nassau County, Choice For All, Community Action Southold Town, Eastern Farm Workers Association, Friends of Huntington Station Latin Quarter, Heart of the Hamptons, Interfaith Nutrition Network, Island Harvest, Long Beach Christmas Angel, Long Beach Soup Kitchen, Long Island Cares, Maureen’s Haven, Mid Island Y JCC, New Hour for Women and Children LI, North Fork Spanish Apostolate, Open Arms Care Center, Opening Word Program, People Loving People, Race Track Chaplaincy, Shelter Rock Food Pantry, Resurrection House, Rural & Migrant Ministry, Sid Jacobson JCC, Springs Food Pantry, Suffolk Y JCC, and Tri Community & Youth Agency
Outcomes
Organizations purchased and provided food, personal protective equipment, cleaning products, sanitizing services, medical devices, essential baby products, and personal care items. Organizations provided supermarket, phone, and gas gift cards, and assisted with filling prescriptions. Funding supported the expansion of food delivery systems, including the distribution of food to the homebound, the hosting of large-scale drive-through food distribution sites, and school backpack programs. Materials containing health-related information and locations of service providers were printed in English and Spanish and widely distributed. Organizations assisted with applications for social services, legal and medical services, utilities, rental assistance, emergency short and long-term housing, and other essential necessities to assist homeless individuals who did not want to access shelters. Organizations also purchased equipment and implemented facilities improvements (e.g., plexiglass dividers, etc.) that enabled them to serve their constituents safely during the pandemic.
Healthcare – Awarded $198,000 to 11 nonprofits.
Organizations
Adults & Children with Learning & Developmental Disabilities, Angela’s House, Backstretch Employee Service Team of NY, Cerebral Palsy Association of Nassau, Family Residence & Essential Enterprises, Long Island FQHC, Long Island Select Healthcare, Northwell/Dolan Family Health Center, Quality Services for the Autism Community, Transitional Services of NY, United Cerebral Palsy of Long Island
Outcomes
Healthcare agencies and nonprofits were able to safely care for and protect clients and staff by providing personal protective equipment, facilities cleaning, and medical equipment. Computers, tablets, and mobile phones were purchased enabling staff to communicate with more than 5,000 residents/clients and respond to urgent situations (e.g., accessing medications, medical transportation, mental health counseling, etc.). COVID testing was provided in high-need areas. Telehealth and mobile medical unit programs were implemented to ensure continuity of care and limit unnecessary doctor visits for individuals with special needs and disabilities. Mobile housing units and hotel rooms were secured to provide accommodations for residents requiring quarantine.
Legal – Awarded $28,500 to two nonprofits.
Organizations
Community Legal Advocates of NY and Touro College Law School
Outcomes
Low-income immigrants were assisted with citizenship applications, work card renewal, and other such services. A pro bono legal assistance clinic was established to assist Long Islanders with disputes related to housing, employment, and business rights.
Mental Health – Awarded $340,000 to 24 nonprofits.
Organizations
Brighter Tomorrows, Catholic Charities of LI, Central Nassau Guidance & Counseling Services, Centro Corazon de Maria, Circulo de la Hispanidad, EAC Network, Family & Children’s Association, Federation of Organizations, Hope For Youth, Horizon Hearts, Little Flower Children & Family Services of NY, Long Beach Latino Civic Association, Long Island Against Domestic Violence, MercyFirst, Mercy Haven, North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center, OLA of Eastern Long Island, Retreat, SEPA Mujer, The Safe Center, Victims Information Bureau of Suffolk, Youth Environmental Services Community Counseling Services, and Youth Enrichment Services
Outcomes
Through technology upgrades (e.g., computers, tablets, HIPAA compliant chat platforms, etc.), outpatient treatment centers transitioned their mental health and therapeutic service delivery from in-person to a telehealth model, enabling their clients to maintain access to providers, medications, and other support services. Technological upgrades also enabled the delivery of webinars, trainings, support groups, educational workshops, and website upgrades. Personal protective equipment and cleaning services enabled staff at residential homes to safely provide ongoing care for the developmentally disabled. To accommodate new workplace demands and risks, additional staff was hired, and hazard pay incentives were provided. Bilingual (English/Spanish) hotlines, online and printed resource guides, and YouTube videos were created to inform our immigrant population about relevant services available. Technology also enabled dozens of young people to continue teletherapy services; participate in work training, online certifications, and virtual after-school programs; and remain engaged in services promoting social-emotional wellbeing, substance abuse, and violence prevention.
Regional Advocacy – Awarded $64,000 to 3 nonprofits.
Organizations
Health & Welfare Council of LI, ERASE Racism, and New York Communities Organizing Fund
Outcomes
A regional crisis response mechanism was developed that provided resources and coordinated responses and strategies to support the health and human service needs of Long Islanders. Student leaders were mobilized to advocate for education equity and Long Island renters were organized to advocate for eviction moratoriums and rental assistance for low-income residents.
Shelter – Awarded $35,000 to two nonprofits.
Organizations
Family Service League and Maureen’s Haven
Outcomes
The funding paid for cleaning supplies for and deep cleaning of several residential facilities, including homeless shelters.
OVERVIEW SECOND ROUND GRANTS (DECEMBER 2020)
21 grant awards totaling $435,000 for work through March 2021.
Food and Necessities – Awarded $175,000 to ten nonprofits to address ongoing food insecurity, human service needs, and personal and baby product distribution.
Organizations
Allied Foundation Diaper Bank, Choice For All, Eastern Farm Workers Association, Family Service League, Interfaith Nutrition Network, Island Harvest, Long Island Cares, North Fork Spanish Apostolate, OLA of Eastern Long Island, and SEPA Mujer
Health – Awarded $50,000 to two nonprofits to support healthcare needs for the uninsured and underinsured.
Organizations
Dolan Family Health Center and Long Island Federally Qualified Health Center
Mental Health – Awarded $170,000 to eight nonprofits to support ongoing tele mental health treatment for depression and domestic abuse.
Organizations
Catholic Charities, Central Nassau Guidance & Counseling, EAC Network, Family & Children’s Association, North Shore Child & Family Guidance, The Retreat, The Safe Center, and Victims Information Bureau of Suffolk
Regional Advocacy – Awarded $40,000 to Health and Welfare Council of Long Island to support continued facilitation of Volunteer Organizations Active in Disasters operations for response and recovery efforts.