Last updated April 9, 2021
States and localities are responding with unprecedented activity to the health and economic crisis caused by COVID-19. Governments have responded by shoring up safety net programs and implementing policies to safeguard people and economies.
This guide is a spreadsheet compiling more than 160 resources tracking state and local data and policy responses in health care, food, housing, and income supports. It also includes resources on policies to reduce the spread of the disease, support specific populations, and help residents work, learn, and vote from home.
Which topics are covered in this guide? Our guide includes trackers and other resources monitoring data and policy responses in areas critical to residents’ needs during this crisis.
- health care, including access, coverage, affordability, benefits, and telehealth
- food insecurity, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program; the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children; food banks; and school meals
- housing, including eviction, mortgage/foreclosure, and utilities provisions and affordable and public housing
- income supports, including paid leave, unemployment insurance, and child care support
- COVID-19 responses, including disease progression and infection risk, state distancing policies and closings/openings, testing, and health care capacity
- other policy responses regarding the education system, election and legislature schedule changes, and access to the internet
Which populations are covered in this guide? Our guide indicates which resources include policy responses focused on the following populations.
- long-term care residents
- seniors
- children
- people with disabilities
- health care and other essential workers
- justice-involved individuals
- homeless populations
- immigrants
- people of color
Who created the resources in this guide?
Foundations, advocacy groups, research organizations and institutes, educational organizations and universities, federal government agencies, and other entities maintain these resources. The guide also includes resources on how users can access government services in their area.
We have tried to verify that the resources in this guide are relevant and correctly categorized, but we cannot verify that the information in each resource is correct.
How do I use this guide?
Resources are listed in rows and checkmarks (√) in the columns indicate which topics and populations each resource covers. To see only one or more topics, click on “Filter” near the top left corner of the page and choose a topic from the drop-down menu. Then click on “Select values” and select the checkmark. Press the tab key or click outside of the “Select values” menu to go back to the filters and select additional topics, if needed.
If you choose more than one topic, clicking on the underlined link “all conditions” will toggle between listing the resources that meet “all conditions” (meaning rows that cover all the topics selected) or “at least one condition” (meaning rows that cover any of the topics selected). Click “Apply” to view the filtered results.
To undo filtering, click the filter icon again and select “Filter Off” or mouse over the name of your filter (which defaults to “Unnamed Filter”) and click the trash can icon. In this mouseover view, you can also edit your filter by clicking on the pencil icon.
This file may also be downloaded as an Excel or PDF file by clicking on the white dots in the top left corner of the main header bar and exporting.
How can I add a resource or suggest a change?
To suggest additions or changes to the guide’s resources, or to request to be notified when the guide has been updated, please email [email protected].
ABOUT
This feature was funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. We are grateful to them and to all our funders, who make it possible for Urban to advance its mission. The views expressed in the compiled resources are those of the original sources and should not be attributed to the Urban Institute, its trustees, or its funders.
Eva H. Allen, Jennifer M. Haley, and Joshua Aarons created and maintain this guide. Gregory Acs, Gina Adams, Hamutal Bernstein, Abby Boshart, Steven Brown, Mary Cunningham, Linda Giannarelli, Howard Gleckman, Heather Hahn, Jesse Jannetta, Genevieve M. Kenney, Colette Marcellin, Sarah Minton, Natalie Spievack, Brenda Spillman, Tim Waidmann, and Elaine Waxman contributed to the guide.