Low Cost Internet and Computer Offers for Eligible Contra Costa Residents
EHSD Partners with California Emerging Technology Fund to Ensure Affordable Internet and Computer Access
Contra Costa County supports digital equity for all – this means ensuring that everyone has access to affordable home internet and computers so individuals and families can stay connected. This goal is especially important in light of COVID-19. Many students are in stay-at-home/remote learning modes, telemedicine is sometimes replacing medical office visits, job seekers must apply for work online, and employees are often working from their homes.
Under these circumstances, many low-income community members are at a significant digital disadvantage in sustaining critical elements of their lives and livelihoods. Fortunately, a number of internet service providers and equipment distributors are offering special promotions to support individuals and families who might not otherwise have adequate digital access.
We are pleased to announce that the Employment and Human Services Department (EHSD) is partnering with the California Emerging Technology Fund (CETF) on an outreach campaign to distribute information about affordable internet and equipment offers for low-income Contra Costa residents. Early next week, we will be texting approximately 35,000 active Medi-Cal, CalFresh and CalWORKs recipients (only those who have opted in to receive texts), providing links to an EHSD flyer (English) (Spanish) that describes the program. By filling in a zip code and checking boxes with eligibility criteria, people are presented with the discount options that may be available to them.
In addition to reaching out to benefit program participants, we posted a Get Connected, Contra Costa page with more information on EHSD.org. We are further promoting via social channels, traditional media, and through partners like you. We hope you will forward the information to individuals and organizations that you believe may benefit from discounted digital access.
Last month, Governor Newsom signed a new Executive Order aimed at accelerating improved connectivity around the state, particularly within the context of COVID-19. As developments unfold, EHSD will continue to pursue partnership opportunities that focus on enhancing digital equity and access for every individual and family in our community.
Data Snapshot: Social Service Impact & Response to Critical Needs During COVID-19
COVID-19 Amplifies Need for Social Services
To Our Community Partners:
- Enrolling 15,000 more individuals to CalFresh
- Establishing Emergency Child Care for children of essential workers
- Launching a Small Business Call Center
- Distributing more than $900,000 in COVID-related cash assistance through the Season of Sharing Emergency Relief Fund (March through July).
- Enrolling 15,000 more individuals to CalFresh
- Establishing Emergency Child Care for children of essential workers
- Launching a Small Business Call Center
- Distributing more than $900,000 in COVID-related cash assistance through the Season of Sharing Emergency Relief Fund (March through July).
- Benefit Programs
- Food & Nutrition
- Equitable Economic Recovery
- Children’s Well-Being
- Family Violence Prevention.
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The City of Concord recently updated it’s website to include COVID-19 tip sheets for people with disabilities, their families and caregivers. The downloadable materials are available in multiple languages. Please check out the following page on the City’s website:
https://www.cityofconcord.org/889/Listos-California
Scroll to the bottom of the page for the IDD materials. Please note in particular that the downloadable Health Profile Template for People with IDD is applicable to any emergency and can be particularly useful to include in a ‘go-bag’ packed ready for an evacuation.
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St. Vincent de Paul of Contra Costa County
are continuing to distribute food from most of our 20 food pantries and emergency help through our SVdP branches
Your Neighbors Need You- St. Vincent de Paul is Here to HelpThe individuals and families that St. Vincent de Paul of Contra Costa County, (SVdP), help are struggling now more than ever. They live paycheck-to-paycheck, and now their paychecks are gone. Many families have never needed assistance before, but do now.Visit St. Vincent de Paul’s website for an detailed update on services available: http://www.svdp-cc.org, or call (925)439-5060.
St. Vincent de Paul of Contra Costa County is here to help:
- SVdP’s 750 Volunteers, “Vincentians”, from 29 branches throughout the county are still helping – providing emergency assistance and operating 20 food pantries.
- SVdP Family Resource Center in Pittsburg: The Emergency Food Pantry and Free Dining Room are open M-F, and we are taking calls to help people locate additional resources.
- St. Vincent de Paul’s Thrift Stores have closed, and as this is the organization’s “earned-income” we have lost a major source of revenue. This also resulted in laying off 28 employees.
- St. Vincent de Paul’s branches, who receive funding from their local parishes, have lost their quarterly collection – 100% of it gets distributed to local neighbors-in-need. This is a loss of $270,000 for the community.

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Get CalFresh!
https://files.constantcontact.com/fc90a5b9001/4d6d93e1-06df-43d1-9fd3-8654e4c13437.pdf
https://files.constantcontact.com/fc90a5b9001/8cbc29fa-7a0d-404c-aebe-c84efef01e7d.pdf
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Find Food Support Easily
Easily find food bank, school meal, and senior center food distribution sites
As the economic toll of #COVID19 hits our communities hard, hunger is a growing concern. Easily find food bank, school meal, and senior center food distribution sites!
Fortunately, free and low-cost food providers are ramping up their service, in a way that maintains social distancing.



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MONUMENT CRISIS CENTER HOURS through 5/15
Location: 1990 Market Street, Concord, CA 94520
• MONDAYS 9AM -12 NOON FOOD DISTRIBUTION AND DONATIONS
• TUESDAYS 9AM -12 NOON FOOD DISTRIBUTION AND DONATIONS
• WEDNESDAY 9AM -12 NOON DONATIONS ONLY!
OR DONATE FROM HOME BY TEXTING MCC TO 41444!
Life Church East Bay, 4255 Clayton Rd., Concord, CA 94521 Collecting donations of non-perishable food 8AM-4PM Mon-Fri in their multi-purpose room to be delivered to Monument Crisis Center for the next two weeks.
“NO TOUCH” Drive Up Food Drive St. Joan of Arc Parish Parking Lot 2601 San Ramon Valley Blvd. San Ramon, CA 94583 WEDNESDAY APRIL 29TH, 10 AM- 12 NOON Drive up, pop your trunk, donate non-perishable food for Monument Crisis Center.
https://www.monumentcrisiscenter.org
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NAMI Connection
Join Zoom Meeting: https://zoom.us/j/480221654?pwd=TUFWd0VXeW1DMUQrSlBlc0ZqcGpUUT09
Meeting ID: 480 221 654
Password: 247326
Dial in Option: 16699009128, Code: 480221654#
NAMI Peer Support Group:
Join Zoom Meeting: https://zoom.us/j/590216652
Meeting ID: 590 216 652
Dial in Option: 16699009128, Code: 590216652#
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The Peer Employment Training that was going to be offered virtually through RI International has been postponed. Once we receive new information, I will send it out.
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From the Executive Director of the 211 Contra Costa Crisis Center:
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New Posters on Covid-19 Testing from the County.