We hope this message finds you in safety and good health. As New Yorkers are preparing for new, unprecedented changes to daily life in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, we at the MinKwon Center for Community Action remain committed in serving, educating, and organizing Korean American, Asian American, and immigrant communities.

Your health and wellbeing is our highest priority, so we are reminding you of effective measures you can take to protect yourself, as recommended by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC), New York Dept. of Health, and NYC Dept. of Health.

Below are important updates regarding the MinKwon Center's operations, and important updates on social services, housing, immigration, and civic participation.
 

MinKwon Center

• All in-person community meetings, Youth Empowerment Program (YEP) meetings, and volunteer opportunities at the MinKwon Center are CANCELED until further notice. We are making this decision to align with NYC's recommendation to cancel and postpone gatherings of 50 people or more, and to prevent unnecessary travel and overcrowding of the public transit system. YEP meetings will now be digital: contact Ying for details.
   
• The MinKwon Center will continue to be accessible by email and phone. Starting March 17, most MinKwon staff will be working remotely and will not be regularly available in the office until further notice. This may cause potential delays in staff members' response to community members and organizational partners. We apologize in advance for any inconvenience and appreciate your patience.
   
• Starting March 23, MinKwon will be operating on LIMITED hours and services. MinKwon will not be operating on our normal business hours of 10 AM to 6 PM Monday to Friday, but will be operating on limited and variable hours that are subject to NYC recommendations. While we are still taking new and recurring cases, we will be prioritizing cases that have unchanged deadlines (i.e. for DACA, Green Card applications).
   
• We strongly recommend community members to CALL first and AVOID walking in without an appointment. We will be working closely with our existing clients to assist with their cases remotely and avoid in-person appointments whenever possible. Per our Social Services policy, we do not serve clients on a walk-in basis but by appointment only.

Social Services

• All NYC public benefits remain in effect. If you receive Food Stamps (SNAP), WIC, SCRIE, HEAP, or other public benefits, your status or benefits will NOT change because of COVID-19. The NYC Human Resources Administration (HRA) offices remain open, and if you have an in-person appointment with HRA, you may reschedule it or have it transferred to a phone appointment. Contact the MinKwon Center at 718-460-5600 if you have questions about your case.
   
• As of March 16, the official IRS deadline to submit your 2019 taxes is April 15, 2020. This deadline is subject to change by the U.S. Treasury Dept., and we will inform you on any changes. The MinKwon Center will continue providing free income tax filing and preparation as a VITA-certified tax site.
   
• If you have an immediate need for food, there are resources that may help. Find your local food pantry or soup kitchen with this online map, or call the Emergency FoodLine at 1-866-888-8777.

Immigration

• All immigration deadlines remain in effect until notice is given by the Dept. of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). We are recommending community members to NOT assume their deadlines have changed until they receive a notice by DHS/USCIS. If you are a current client with MinKwon and have questions about your deadlines, please call us or email immigration@minkwon.org. If you have an in-person appointment or check-in at a USCIS office and become sick for any reason, regardless of any link to COVID-19, USCIS is asking people to cancel and reschedule their appointment.
   
• If you have an active immigration case, please check its status as it may have been postponed. The nondetained master calendars are postponed, which means that if you are currently not in detention, your court date may change. Contact the MinKwon Center if we are assisting you with an active case. NYC Family Court has postponed all "non-essential" cases, including VAWA and SIJS cases.
   
• The New York State Office of New Americans hotline remains in effect. The hotline provides free consultation and referrals to New Yorkers across the state and they recommend it as a trusted community resource. You can call the hotline here: 1-800-566-7636.
   
• Public Charge will NOT apply to immigrants who receive testing, treatment, or preventative care for COVID-19. Certain Green Card and visa applicants can be assured that any healthcare they receive for COVID-19 will not be used against their case eligibility, even if the care they receive is publicly funded.

Housing

• Starting March 16 at 5 PM EST, all eviction proceedings have been POSTPONED until further notice. New York courts will not hold hearings in eviction cases against tenants, and housing court will remain open only for "essential functions" such as landlord lockouts, repair orders, and serious code violations. If you have an upcoming housing court date, you should receive a notice from the court with a new date.
   
• You may be eligible for emergency Cash Assistance to cover rent or utilities. Also known as "One Shot” deals, Cash Assistance may be applied for at any time but may be especially helpful during this public health emergency. Visit a HRA Job Center to apply, or you can apply online on the HRA website if you already have an active Cash Assistance case. Call 311 to find your local Job Center, or call the MinKwon Center for assistance.

Civic Participation

• The Queens Borough President Special Election, originally scheduled for March 24, has been postponed indefinitely. Please do NOT visit polling locations at this time, pending further notice from the NYC Board of Elections.
   
• The 2020 Census is ongoing. We urge everyone to submit their 2020 Census online, by phone, or by mail, without having to leave their homes.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE!