Friends and Neighbors,
As you all have probably heard, Governor Walz extended the stay at home order last week to May 18th, but allowed some retail & businesses to reopen with certain criteria. I would just like to thank all of you for observing the stay at home order and helping reduce new cases of the Coronavirus. As we face this unprecedented challenge, here are some resources available for to support you.
Safety at Home: Stay at Home should never mean you have to stay somewhere unsafe. There are places of sanctuary open for anyone facing abuse or violence. Please call Minnesota’s statewide crisis hotline – available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week – at 1-866-223-1111 or text 612-399-9995.
Unemployment Support: Minnesota is one of the first states in the nation to implement both the $600 per week additional compensation and the 13 week extension of benefits available under the CARES Act. Find these and answers to other unemployment questions here.
Mental Health: If you’re worried about a loved one, or if you want someone to talk to, know you can reach out. You can find mental health resources here.
Child Care: COVID-19 has disrupted child care plans for many families. The child care landscape has been greatly impacted by this pandemic. Find resources and information for child care providers and families here.
Housing: This web page will provide you with all Minnesota Housing updates and information related to COVID-19.
Emergency food support: Due to COVID-19 pandemic it may be hard to pay bills and find food to stay healthy. If you or someone you know has been laid off from work or seen work hours cut, help may be available. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) can help you buy food while budgets are tight.
You can find links to these resources and additional help for employers and employees, volunteer opportunities, and information about donating personal protective equipment on the COVID-19 website.
This week, we celebrate the amazing teachers of Minnesota. From the classroom to distance learning, teachers are stepping up and finding innovative ways for our students to learn.
Teachers have always been selfless public servants who put everything on the line for their students, but this year they have truly gone above and beyond. They are leaders in our communities, helping our students and their families try to find some normalcy during these challenging times. Over the coming days especially, I encourage all of you to take some time to appreciate all that our teachers have done for our students, families, and communities. Happy Teacher Appreciation Week 2020!
In the coming weeks, the Legislature will be working with the Governor to craft a Bonding Bill. If there was ever a time to pass a robust bonding bill, it’s now. We already have $5 billion of requests to improve crumbling public buildings, deteriorating roads, and other infrastructure across our state. The COVID-19 pandemic has made the urgency for the jobs these investments will create even greater.
If you have any questions or wish to unsubscribe from this Newsletter please feel free to contact my office at 651-296-2556 or by email at sen.jerry.newton@senate.mn.
Thank you and stay safe,
Jerry Newton
State Senator
District 37