The American Rescue Plan Act, which President Biden signed into law on March 11, temporarily increases the child tax credit from $2,000 to $3,000 per child ($3,600 for children 5 years old and younger) for the 2021 tax year. It also authorizes monthly "child allowance" payments to families from July to December. Half the total credit amount will be paid in advance with the monthly payments, while the other half will be claimed on the tax return that you'll file next year.

If you want to see how much money you'll get, answer the four questions in the calculator below and it will give you a customized estimate of the amount you'll receive each month in advance from July to December and how much you'll be able to claim as a child tax credit on your 2021 tax return.

Calculate how much you would get from the expanded child tax credit

2020 Child Tax Credit Calculator and Top 7 Requirements - TurboTax Tax Tips & Videos

The Internal Revenue Service, starting July 15, will begin delivering a monthly payment of $300 per child under 6 and $250 per child 6 or older for those who qualify. The monthly benefits will be deposited directly in most families’ bank accounts on the 15th of every month — or the closest day to that date, if the 15th falls on a holiday or weekend — for the rest of the year, without any action required. The remaining 50% will be claimed as a credit on your 2021 tax return.

Families needing help with housing or rental assistance, should contact 211info. Here are the ways to contact them:

• Dial 211 (toll-free)

• Text your zip code to 898211

• Email help@211info.org (link sends e-mail) (Monday-Friday, 8am-6pm)

• Search 211info.org

Be persistent calling 211, they can only tell you what is available at the time you call. If you are homeless, please identify yourself as such and check JOIN info below.

Multnomah County Restriction on Evictions: Multnomah County residents cannot be evicted for not paying rent during the entire time the county and city are under a state of emergency. This applies to anyone with substantial loss of income due to COVID-19 by way of job loss, job closure, reduction in work hours, missing work due to a child’s school closure, and missing work due to sickness or the illness of a family member. Rent owed to a landlord will continue to accrue during the state of emergency, but without late fees. There will be a six-month repayment grace period, which will begin as soon as the state of emergency ends. As of right now, this is in effect until December 31, with possible extensions. Renters must notify their landlords the day before rent is due. The Governor has also issued a moratorium on foreclosures until December 31.

Oregon Human Development Corp: Can provide rent, utility and food assistance. Must be a resident of Oregon, have photo ID, able to provide copy of lease and W-9 from landlord, and have been impacted by Covid-19. Call 1-855-215-6158, visit www.ohdc.org., or email Info@ohdc.org. Funds available through December 30.

Veterans Services through Transition Projects: If a household member is a veteran, you can receive help from this organization. They can offer support with housing, paying rent, employment help, legal help, and benefits assistance. Call 1-855-425-5544.

Community Action – assistance available for rent payment and utilities. Find out more here

Homeless Shelters – Here is a directory of homeless shelters in Portland. Individuals experiencing homelessness can access these shelters and other services during this time including additional space being opened up at the Oregon Convention Center, Mt. Scott Community Center, and many shelters are issuing hotel vouchers for homeless individuals who are experiencing symptoms of Coronavirus.

For help paying rent, some available resources are 211, Home Forward’s STRA Program, Impact NW, and Neighborhood House

Multnomah County COVID-19 Rent Relief Fund Program | Website

Call 2-1-1 or 503-222-5555

The COVID-19 Rent Relief program may be able to provide assistance to households who have experienced a loss of income, or who have increased health risks or needs, due to COVID-19. Income-eligible households can receive up to 3 months of assistance in past, current and future rent payments. To get started, call 211, text your zip code to 898211 (TXT211) or send an email to help@211info.org (link sends e-mail)

Home Forward works with community agencies to provide hotel vouchers, rent support, help with evictions and housing support for people at risk for homelessness. Offices are currently closed, but you can reach them by phone or email: (503) 802-8300 or info@homeforward.org

Short-Term Help Paying Rent

JOIN – has opened the first of 3 temporary outdoor emergency shelters. Each location has 45 tents on platforms with cots and will be able to store their belongings while staying at the camp. Two shelters are located at SE Main St. and SE Water Ave, and one is located at NW Broadway and NW Hoyt St. More information and help is available through Blanchet House

If you have lost housing, are doubled-up with another family due to economic hardship, living in a motel or community shelter, park, car or campground and need assistance, please contact the Gresham-Barlow Federal Programs office at 503-261-4579 or singleterry@gresham.k12.or.us.

• Farmworkers who need to quarantine may qualify for the Quarantine Fund, which provides financial support of up to $ 1,290 to farmworkers who have been exposed to COVID-19 at work or at home and who quarantine for three weeks (21 days). Who is eligible to apply to this fund? Oregon agricultural workers, 18 years of age or old, who:

• Have had exposure to COVID-19 for which self-quarantining is recommended;

• Are practicing self-quarantining; and

• Are seeking health care assistance during the period of self-quarantine.

Call 1-888-274-7292 to apply for this fund. More information is available on the Oregon Worker Relief Fund website.

Multnomah County Resources to Support BIPOC communities, click here!

Crisis Line for Racial Equity Support, staffed by and focused on supporting BIPOC citizens in trauma. 503-575-3764, Monday through Friday, 8:30am-5:00pm.

Latino Network - Covid resources. 503-283-6881 Website: click here

Asian Pacific American Network of Oregon

Uniting Asians and Pacific Islanders to achieve social justice

apano.org

Black American Chamber of Commerce

Networking for Black-owned businesses
Blackamericanchamber.org

Black Resilience Fund

An emergency fund dedicated to healing and resilience by providing immediate resources to Black Portlanders.
BlackResilienceFund.com

Immigrant & Refugee Community Organization

Support for refugee communities (translation services offered)
Irco.org

Native American Youth & Family Center

Strengthens youth and families in partnership with the community through cultural identity and education
Nayapdx.org

Mercy Connections is a culturally specific nonprofit organization that connects West African immigrants and refugees living in the Portland Metropolitan Area to community resources. Connect with this organization for support Here

New! Oregon Cares Fund for Black Relief and Resiliency Applications. Applications now open for The Oregon Cares Fund. The Oregon Cares Fund for Black Relief and Resiliency is a targeted investment in the Black community from the CARES Act Coronavirus Relief Fund. It is a $62 million targeted cash investment to provide economic relief for the Black community. This fund is meant to provide the Black community with the resources it needs to weather the global health pandemic and consequent recession. The Oregon Cares Fund is for Black individuals, Black-owned businesses, and Black community based organizations.

Holding Space for Black and Brown Youth. Every Wednesday night at 6pm! A Safe Space for BIPOC Girls, Young Trans and Non-Binary Femmes to Engage in Collective Healing and Radical Self-Care AGES 7- 17. Use this LINK to register.

Conversations with Spanish Speaking Latinx Families on issues of mental health: Charlas Comunitarias sobre el Bienestar y la Salud Emocional https://www.facebook.com/charlascomunitarias/ As a resource, here are the links to past recorded workshops:

• Substance and Drug use in Latino Families & Adolescents during COVID-19

• Stress Management during COVID-19

• Fostering Healthy Relationships during COVID-19

• Depression

• Suicide

PGE, NW Natural, and Portland and Gresham Water Bureaus will not disconnect services for non-payment, or charge late fees for those who are unable to afford to right now. Amounts owing will continue to accrue, and the companies will work with customers on repayment plans. More details can be found on their websites.

For help with utilities, residents can call utility companies directly, or contact 211, Human Solutions, Impact NW, Self Enhancement Inc, and the Portland Water Bureau.

City of Gresham Utility Help: Beginning Feb. 8, the city of Gresham is launching a new program to help residents suffering from COVID-19 hardships to pay their utility and garbage bills. Gresham City Council directed $580,000 for utility assistance form the city's allocation of federal Community Development Block Grant (CBDG) CARES Act funds.

Customers must have an existing garbage billing account through one of Gresham's haulers, and/or receive utility services from the city to qualify for the funds. Assistance applies to single-family residences, and the program is targeted toward households making 60% of median family income or less. Assistance can pay for past due account balances dating back to April 1, 2020, and the amount will vary by household.

Apply online at GreshamOregon.gov/Utility-Financial-Assistance. For those without access to a computer, paper applications will be available via contactless pick up outside City Hall, at 1333 N.W. Eastman Parkway. Applications available in English, Spanish and Russian. Further translation or interpretation, or questions about the program, can be directed to 503-618-2373 or by emailing UtilityAssistance@GreshamOregon.gov

If the need for assistance exceeds the available funds, qualified applications received between Feb. 8-18 will be prioritized, and randomly selected through a lottery process.

Multnomah County Energy Assistance Program Website. This program may be able to provide home energy assistance for low-income households for heating and electric costs. The program is on a first-come, first-served basis. To get started, call 211, text your zip code to 898211 (TXT211) or send an email to help@211info.org (link sends e-mail).

PGE Matching Bill Payment Program - They have a bill assistance program to help get families back on track regardless of income. They will match dollar for dollar on eligible accounts. Call 800-542-8818, Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Customer service help is available in over 200 languages.

Emergency Broadband Benefits.

• Up to $50/month discount for broadband services;
• Up to $75/month discount for households on qualifying Tribal lands; and
• A one-time discount of up to $100 for a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet purchased through a participating provider.

A household is eligible if one member of the household:

• Has an income that is at or below 135% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines or participates in certain government assistance programs;
• Receives benefits under the free and reduced-price school lunch or breakfast program;
• Received a Federal Pell Grant during the current award year;
• Experienced a substantial loss of income due to job loss or furlough since February 29, 2020; or
• Meets the eligibility criteria for a participating provider’s existing low-income or COVID-19 program.

How To Apply: Contact your preferred participating provider directly to learn about their application process or go to GetEmergencyBroadband.org to submit an application and to find participating providers near you. You can also complete a mail in application and send it along with proof of eligibility to: Emergency Broadband Support Center, P.O. Box 7081, London, KY 40742.

Community Action

Assistance available for rent payment and utilities. Find out more here

Comcast/Xfinity is offering wifi free of charge to new customers for the first 60 days. They are also waiving late fees during the outbreak. A hotspot locator as well as other information is available at Comcast Announces Comprehensive COVID-19 Response to Help Keep Americans Connected to the Internet

Internet- Comcast also offers Internet Essentials for $9.95/month (prices subject to change). For qualifying customers who apply before 12/30/2020, they are offering two months free. After that time, customers can cancel or they will be charged the monthly rate. (1-855-846-8376) or 1-855-765-6995 (Spanish).

Lifeline operates as part of the Universal Service Funds and gives either free or great discounts on monthly phone service purchased from participating providers. In addition, it is available to residents with an income that is at 135% or below of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. However, you may need to provide proof of income or proof that you have participated in the program. Click here

For Oregon Health Plan or Medicaid member, click here – http://www.assurancewireless.com/Public/Welcome.aspx

School based clinics serve all school-age youth, regardless of ability to pay.

Parkrose Student Health Center

Parkrose High School - 12003 NE Shaver (back side of building next to gym entrance).

Hours are M-F 8:45 - 4:45 for in-person, video, and phone visits. 503-988-3392.

Reynolds High School Health Center
Reynolds High School - 1698 SW Cherry Park Rd, Troutdale
Hours: Mon, Tues, Wed, Fri | 8:45am-4:45pm
Thursday, phone and video appointments only

Roosevelt Student Health Center (opens 9/8/20)

Roosevelt High School - 6941 N Central St., Portland

Hours are M-F 8:45 - 4:45 for in-person, video, and phone visits. 503-988-3909

David Douglas Student Health Center

David Douglas High School - 1034 SE 130th Ave., Portland

Hours are M-F 8:45 - 4:45 for in-person, video, and phone visits. 503-988-3554

All County dental locations are now open, with appointments provided in-person and by teledentistry (by phone).Due to the COVID-19 emergency, some in-person routine or non-urgent dental services may be limited, including dental cleanings. Urgent dental care is available at all locations. Examples include:

• Tooth pain

• Serious injury to the face that damages your teeth, gums or the bones in your face

• Swelling in your mouth or gums

New patients and uninsured: Call 503-988-6942 between 8am-4:45pm Monday-Friday.

Established patients: If you have insurance and have been seen before at a Multnomah County dental clinic, then you should call your clinic directly.

Billi Odegaard Dental Clinic
33 NW Broadway, Suite 380
Portland, OR 97209
503-988-5770
Hours: Monday-Friday, 7:30am-6:30pm

County Dental Clinic
600 NE 8th Street, Gresham

503- 988-4900

Hours: Monday - Friday 7:30am - 6:30pm.

Mid County Dental Clinic

12710 SE Division St.
503-988-3410

Hours: Monday-Saturday, 7:30am-6:30pm

Northeast Dental Clinic

5329 NE MLK Jr Blvd

503-988-3664

Hours: Monday-Saturday, 7:30am-6:30pm

Rockwood Dental Clinic
2020 SE 182nd Ave
503-988-4988
Hours: Monday-Friday, 7:30am-6:30pm

Southeast Dental Clinic
3653 SE 34th Ave
503-988-4410
Hours: Monday-Friday, 7:30am-6:30pm