Resiliency in Crisis: The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Urban American Indian Nonprofit Sector.
NUIFC released a groundbreaking report that highlights the impacts of COVID-19 on urban American Indian & Alaska Native organizations. NUIFC released an unprecedented report on the COVID-19 pandemic's impacts on some of the largest American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities in the country. The report examines how the pandemic is impacting a majority of AI/AN people (more than 70% live in cities and urban areas). Urban AI/AN communities have experienced decades of underinvestment, generations of forced assimilation, and systems designed to perpetuate generational poverty and disparate outcomes for all quality of life indicators. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic exponentially exacerbates these issues. Without adequate resources and relief, the country’s largest AI/AN communities will see unprecedented levels of socioeconomic decline.
Coronavirus (COVID-19) & Urban Indians
The unprecedented spread of COVID-19, has caused sweeping economic damage and the closure of businesses, school districts, sports leagues, events, and more has left large swaths of people financially insecure and the country unmoored and headed towards a possible recession. Those with the least amount of flexibility and security are the ones poised to bear the brunt of the damage. We anticipate that our urban Native communities will be disproportionally and adversely impacted.
As we work with our partner centers around the country to help provide resources directly to our community, we are also working to turn this into a space that can be of service to everyone. We are hoping to create a comprehensive space of resources and information available to help people during this scary moment in time.
We are heading into difficult times and we don’t know how long we will be there for. Still, it’s important to remember that there are a lot of people working to try and help during this time. Below you will find a list of different government, non-profit, private business, and everything that our team has compiled to help. If you’d like to provide anything we’ve missed, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our Communications and Projects Director, Rio Fernandes, at riof@nuifc.org. We hope to update it as we get more information.
Support the Native American Community Response Fund
If you’re in a position that you can financially support those in need, consider donating to the newly created Native American Community Response Fund (COVID-19) to help those in our communities that need it most. This initiative comes from a partnership with Decolonizing Wealth and Native Americans in Philanthropy and aims to provide a rapid response to American families and communities impacted by COVID-19.
This is about solidarity, not charity. Please join us in giving today!
COVID-19 Support Art from Lee Francis at Red Planet Books & Comics
In moments like this, we want to make sure we are amplifying the importance of arts and culture in our community and the work being done to spread awareness and support around the virus. Take a look at the Lee Francis' C-19 free digital poster series, a set of beautiful pieces that double as informative public service announcement.
Download these free files for yourself at Red Planet Books & Comics.
National Resources
+ National Resources
- Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) COVID-19 Page
- CDC Household Information
- Urban Indian Health Institute COVID-19 Resources
- United Way Community Response and Recovery Fund
- Comcast “internet essentials” free for low-income customers
- Charter Offers Charter Offers Free Broadband to All Households With Students Amid Coronavirus Epidemic
- Find a Food Bank Near You
- Free Adobe Creative Cloud Access for Students
- Health and Human Services Provide Tribes Funding for COVID-19 Response
- Learning in Place - Educational Science Walks for school age children
- Urban Indian Health Institute Facts sheets for Tribes and Urban Indian Communities
- US Small Business Administration Disaster Loan Assistance
- US Small Business Administration COVID-19 Relief Options
- Internet Options for Low Income students
- Guide to Low-Income Internet Options & Affordable Internet Plans
Urban Indian Health & Resource Centers
Click on each state to expand each list.
+ Arizona
+ California
- American Indian Child Resource Center
- Native American Health Center
- American Indian Health & Services
- Bakersfield American Indian Health Project
- Fresno American Indian Health Project
- Indian Health Center of Santa Clara Valley
- San Diego American Indian Health Center
- United American Indian Involvement
- Sacramento Native American Health Center
+ Colorado
+ Illinois
+ Indiana
+ Kansas
+ Maryland
+ Massachusetts
+ Michigan
+ Minnesota
+ Montana
- Indian Health Board of Billings
- North American Indian Alliance
- Indian Family Health Clinic
- Helena Indian Alliance
- Missoula Urban Indian Health Center
+ Nebraska
+ Nevada
+ New Mexico
+ New York
+ North Dakota
+ Ohio
+ Oklahoma
+ Oregon
+ South Dakota
+ Texas
+ Utah
+ Washington
+ Wisconsin
State Resources
+ Washington
- Washington State Department of Health COVID-19 Page
- King County Health Recommendations
- Governor Jay Inslee’s Medium News Account
- King County Important Financial Information newsletter
- Washington Office of Superintendent School Guidance & Resources
- Seattle Public Schools COVID-19 Resources
- Small Business Administration Emergency Loans
- University of Washington Virology Division
+ Oregon
- Oregon Health Department COVID-19 Page
- Companies in Oregon Offering Relief/Support
- Portland Public Schools COVID-19 Resources
+ California
- California Department of Public Health COVID-19 Page
- California.gov COVID-19 Page
- Los Angeles County Department of Public Health COVID-19 Page