General Resources

For a fast and efficient way to file an unemployment claim, please file online at des.nc.gov, or by phone 888-737-0259.  The website also has an informative FAQ section for any challenges that may arise from trying to file.  There is also a library of tutorial videos, including how to file a new unemployment claim. 

Chambers of Commerce Resources: Resources for support, loans, and grants.

• NC Chamber
• The Chamber for a Greater Chapel Hill-Carrboro
• Hillsborough/Orange County Chamber of Commerce

State Resources and Recommendations: NC DHHS Business recommendations

Businesses Loans & Grants 

This has been an especially difficult time for small businesses.  SBA.gov is a helpful resource for any small businesses that need assistance with financing.  You can also find local assistance through the SBA website.  In addition to helping with unemployment claims, the NC Commerce website also has additional resources for small businesses.

Local funding: Orange County Arts Support Fund for local artists, arts industry workers and arts organizations.

U.S. Small Business Administration is encouraging small businesses to apply for the Economic Injury Disaster Loans online.

Thread Capital provides small business loans up to $50,000 to traditionally underserved entrepreneurs as well as disaster recovery loans up to $250,000. 

Carolina Community Impact, Inc. is offering business lending to small businesses affected by COVID-19. Call 919-861-5321.

Carolina Small Business Development Fund provides small business loans, training, and research. View their COVID-19 webpage.

Business Counseling 

Business Edge Services offers support for layoff aversion strategies.

Small Business and Technology Development Center provides management counseling and educational services to small and mid-sized businesses. Most services are free of charge and all are confidential. They have an office in Chapel Hill. 

Small Business Center Network can assist your business with resources and assistance related to COVID-19. Their Durham Tech office can be reached at sbc@durhamtech.edu.

Child Care

Orange County Child Care Subsidy Program provides low-income families with information and financial resources to find and afford quality childcare for their children.

Diapers

Pick up diapers Mondays – Thursdays from 11 a.m.–1 p.m. at El Centro Hispano. Call ahead to make sure they have supplies and to make an appointment. Address: 201 W. Weaver St. Carrboro, NC, 27510. Phone: (919) 945-0132

Pick up diapers once per month at Orange County DSS in Hillsborough. Address: 113 Mayo St. Hillsborough, NC, 27278. Phone: (919) 245-2800

For anyone in need

Dinner: Inter-Faith Council (IFC) serves dinner for pickup, Monday to Friday, 6:15-7pm at 110 W. Main Street (Carrboro).

Lunch: Inter-Faith Council (IFC) provides a lunch daily at 110 W. Main Street (Carrboro). Monday to Saturday from 11:15-12:30pm and Sunday 12:15-1:30pm.

Week of groceries: Inter-Faith Council (IFC) provides any household with a week’s worth of groceries once per month. Call 919-929-6380 weekdays from 9am to 5pm to make an appointment.

Box of food: Every Wednesday, a drive thru distribution from 10 a.m. until the food is gone at Eubanks Park-and-Ride Lot.

Directions: from Martin Luther King Jr Blvd. turn onto Eubanks Road.  Go 0.6 miles, just past Carraway Village Apartments, and turn right into the Park-and-Ride Lot. A box of food is given to Orange County residents on a first come first served basis. Hosted by The Food Bank of Central & Eastern NC and the Chapel Hill Public Housing Office.

2 bags of food: Point Church & Hillside Church are hosting a weekly food distribution of 2 bags of groceries, every 1st, 3rd, and 5th Saturday from 11am-12pm. Pickup at 201 Culbreth Road, Chapel Hill, Lower Gravel Parking Lot.

Farmer’s Market Food Voucher: Carrboro Farmer’s Market is offering "double bucks" for customers who use EBT, WIC FMNP or Seniors FMNP (ex: $20 in EBT is $40 at the market). If you're out of benefits on your card, they will also match cash.

Food/Supply Request: You can submit a food/supply request with Food Not Bombs 919.

State/Federal Food Programs: NCDHHS Food and Nutrition Services (FNS)

For children and families

Home-based food delivery: TABLE is delivering bags of food to families with children in the Chapel Hill Carrboro City School system.

Food program: PORCH Chapel Hill-Carrboro has a food program for families with children in the Chapel Hill Carrboro City Schools. If you have children who attend school in Chapel Hill or Carrboro, contact chc@porchcommunities.org to ask about enrollment options.

Governor Cooper Texting Tool: Reduced price eligible families can text FOODNC to 877-877 to find nearby meal sites. Envíe un mensaje de texto a COMIDA al 877-877. Recibirá un mensaje de texto con la ubicación de los sitios de comida y los horarios de servicio más cercanos.

Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT)provides assistance to families of children who qualify for free- and reduced-price school meals. For Chapel Hill Carrboro City School students, see this letter about applying/reapplying for free and reduced lunch.

WIC is a food assistance program for pregnant mothers and children under 5.  To ask questions or apply, call the Orange County Health Department at 919-245-2422 or 919-245-2447.  You can also call 1-800-367-2229. If you are looking for baby formula, you can also contact them.

Grocery store hours for seniors and at risk populations

Harris Teeter: Open 6:00–8:00 a.m. every Monday & Thursday for guests 60+. 

Fresh Market: Open 8:00–9:00 a.m. Monday – Friday for hours for seniors and at risk populations. 

Dollar General: The first hour of every day is open to seniors. Carrboro hours are 8:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m. 

Target: The first hour of every Tuesday is open to vulnerable guests, 7:00 a.m.-8:00 a.m. for the Franklin Street Target. 

COVID-19

Orange County Health Department COVID-19 webpage or call their hotline at 919-245-6111.

North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services

Center for Disease Control (CDC)

World Health Organization (WHO)

Free COVID-19 Testing: Orange County Health Department. Visit orangecountync.gov/2451/Testing for testing times and locations, including weekday, weekly, and monthly testing events.

Mental & Behavioral Health

Mental Health Phone Lines:

• For anyone: Hope4NC line, 1-855-587-3463
• For anyone: Mental Health Crisis Support (from Cardinal Innovations) Call **ASK (or star, star, 275).
• For Health Care Workers: Hope4Healers, 919-226-2002
• For older adults: Hope Line, call 1-866-578-4673 or 1-866-578-HOPE if you are experiencing isolation from social distancing.
• For older adults: A morning check-in phone call, Monday-Friday. Contact Shenae McPherson for more information: 919-245-4243, shmcpherson@orangecountync.gov.

UNC Trauma Center has resources to help with emotional well-being and risk of injury associated with social isolation and stress.

National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI): COVID-19 Resources

Substance Use Recovery: Virtual AA and NA meetings with Cardinal Innovations

Domestic Violence and Rape Crisis Intervention

Compass Center for Women and Families office and business line, 919-968-4610 are open Mon-Fri from 9am to 5pm. Their 24 hour domestic violence line is open at 919-929-7122.

Orange County Rape Crisis Center: Their 24 hour helpline is available by phone at 919-967-7273 or 866-WE-LISTEN (866-935-4783) or by text at 919-504-5211. Hospital accompaniment is being provided via video chat.

Let us know if we missed something by emailing: housingandcommunity@townofchapelhill.org.  

Housing Assistance Program: The Town of Chapel Hill is accepting donations to assist low-income residents with emergency housing assistance. The program provides low-income residents in urgent need of rent and mortgage assistance with a one-time payment of up to $4,000.

To donate to the Housing and Utilities Assistance Programs please send checks payable to the Town of Chapel Hill to 405 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Chapel Hill, NC 27514. Please send to the attention of the Business Management Department (BMD) and include “Emergency Housing Assistance” in the memo line of the check.

More Information

Donating to Food Assistance Efforts

Inter-Faith Council (IFC): Donate food and supplies to 110 W. Main Street, Carrboro, NC 27510, Monday-Friday 9am-4pm.

Meals on Wheels: Donate money to help support meal delivery to seniors. To give by mail, please send a check or money order to: Meals on Wheels Orange County, NC, PO Box 2102, Chapel Hill NC 27515. 

PORCH: Make an online donation or mail a check, payable to PORCH. Please mail checks to PORCH Chapel Hill/Carrboro, PO Box 16363, Chapel Hill NC 27516.

Public School Foundation: Visit their website to donate to the CHCCS school meal delivery program. Include “Community Meals” in the memo line. You can also sign up to volunteer.

TABLE: Donate food or money to help them deliver bags of food to households that have children in the Chapel Hill Carrboro City Schools. They have a Wish List of items and accept direct food and cash donations. On-line orders through Amazon can be shipped to their Carrboro offices at 209 E Main St., Carrboro, NC 27510.

Local Restaurants

Orange County, including Chapel Hill, also requires face coverings in all indoor public places.

Visit NC COVID Support for an easy to use, interactive map to find what food, pharmacies, pet supplies, etc. are open.  Information includes if the service is delivery, curbside pick-up, has senior shopping hours, etc. 

Visit the Chapel Hill Downtown Partnership website for information on downtown Chapel Hill restaurants. Free parking spaces in front of Downtown businesses are available for curbside pickup.

Visit the Orange County Restaurant List for county-wide restaurants.

Carrboro United is your one-stop shop for nutritious food and a way to support local businesses and farmers. Pick up fresh produce, quality meats, and prepared meals three times a week and put money back into the local economy.

Other opportunities

Diaper Bank of North Carolina: Donate diapers and other personal hygiene products. Currently their greatest need is for size 4, 5, 6, 4T-5T pull-ups, Menstrual Pads (not liners or tampons); and 2XL & 3XL pull up adult incontinence products. If you have a donation you would like to drop off, please contact them at info@ncdiaperbank.org.

El Centro Hispano: Donate to their COVID-19 Crisis Response Fund to assist families who are being impacted. 

Jackson Center: Donate to support their efforts to care for elderly and shut-in neighbors in the Northside, Pine Knolls, and Tin Top neighborhoods during this time. 

Mutual Aid Carrboro: Donate to help workers who are having to stay home without pay.

OWASA Care to Share: If you are an OWASA water customer, you can contribute money to their water bill assistance program to help make sure no one in the community will have to go without water.

Refugee Support Center and Refugee Community Partnership: Donate to these organizations to help them meet needs of refugee communities in the area.

Transplanting Traditions’ Share-a-Share: Donate to support local farmers and refugees.

United Way of the Greater Triangle: Donate to their Rapid Response Fund to support residents of Wake, Durham, Orange, and Johnston Counties.

Volunteer to check-in on seniors: With seniors being asked to take extra precautions, the Orange County Department on Aging has stepped up efforts to keep in touch with local seniors by phone. Volunteers make “reassurance phone calls” every weekday morning to seniors who sign up, and volunteers are being recruited to do it on the weekends as well. If you want to volunteer, call the department at 919-968-2070.

Support your neighbors, friends, and loved ones

Another important opportunity to help each other during this time is to check in on your loved ones, friends, and neighbors. Physical distancing may mean staying farther apart from each other, but you can still use this time to build deeper connections with each other.

If anyone you know is sick, call them often and have a plan for delivering food and medicine, as well as for back up care of dependents. 

Housing

Rental and Utility Assistance:

Emergency Housing Assistance Program: Helps Orange County residents in housing crisis by providing one-time financial assistance. Learn more here. To apply, contact the Housing Helpline at 919-245-2655 or housinghelp@orangecountync.gov. A program of Orange County and the Towns of Chapel Hill, Carrboro, and Hillsborough.

To donate to the Emergency Housing Assistance Program, please send checks payable to the Town of Chapel Hill to 405 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Chapel Hill, NC 27514. Please send to the attention of the Business Management Department (BMD) and include “Emergency Housing Assistance” in the memo line of the check. For more information, see here.

County-Wide Rental and Utility Assistance Program: Helps Orange County residents in housing crisis by providing one-time financial assistance. Learn more here. Contact the Housing Helpline at 919-245-2655 or housinghelp@orangecountync.gov. A program of Orange County and the Towns of Chapel Hill, Carrboro, and Hillsborough.

Inter-Faith Council: Schedule an appointment by calling 919-929-6380 x2024 Tuesdays beginning at 9 a.m.

St. Thomas More: Offering rental assistance for residents of Chapel Hill and Carrboro. Call *new number* 919-942-6216 on Mondays from 8:30-11:30am.

University Presbyterian Church: Available to take phone calls for utility bill assistance most Tuesday afternoons from 1:30 - 3:00 pm. Call 919-929-2102.

Housing Helpline: Call 919-245-2655, to talk with someone about resources to maintain or re-enter housing: Monday-Friday 10am-4pm.

Evictions: If you are facing eviction, you can call the County Housing Helpline at 919-245-2655 or call NC 2-1-1.

NC HOPE Program: Available to low-income (<80% area median income) renters affected by the economic impact of COVID-19 who are behind on rent or utilities. Visit hope.nc.gov or call (888) 927-5467 for more information.

Fair Housing: If you believe you’ve experienced Housing Discrimination related to the COVID-19, contact Orange County Human Rights and Relations at 919-245-2487.

For UNC students: If you want to talk with your landlord about a negotiation of lease terms, connect with Carolina Student Legal Services. To schedule an appointment to speak with an attorney, please call (919) 962-1303 or email csls@unc.edu. Office is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. for remote appointments only. If you have an emergency, please call.

Street Outreach, Harm Reduction, and Deflection (SOHRAD) program is a new effort to connect people experiencing homelessness in Orange County with housing and services. Available Monday-Friday 9am-11pm and Saturday 2pm-11pm. SOHRAD Program Phone: 919-886-3351, SOHRAD Program Email: SOHRAD@orangecountync.gov

Utilities

• OWASA: Website: www.owasa.org, Phone: 919-537-4343, Email: info@owasa.org
  
  
• Duke Energy: Website: www.dukeenergyupdates.com, Phone: 800-777-9898
  
  
• Dominion Energy: They offer assistance programs and payment options. Website: www.dominionenergy.com, Phone: 866-366-4357

Major cellphone carriers are offering assistance with keeping users connected. Check your specific provider.

Free and low-cost internet and mobile service: Use this interactive map to find free and low-cost internet and mobile service offerings in their area.

We recommend using the list of resources provided by the Orange County Health Department. 

Orange County Health Department Multilingual Resources

Additional Town of Chapel Hill specific flyers are below. 

What You Need to Know

Español/Spanish | 简体中文 /Mandarin Chinese | Karen | Burmese

Social Distancing

Español/Spanish | 简体中文 /Mandarin Chinese | Karen | Burmese  

Preparing for COVID-19

Español/Spanish | 简体中文 /Mandarin Chinese | Karen | Burmese

General Resources

Orange County Department on Aging: Check out their Resources for Older Adults during COVID-19.

Help with food and medical deliveries: North Carolina seniors and others at high risk of COVID-19 can request help with food and medical deliveries, including needs for pets, and wellness checks. Visit coronacommunity.org or call 919-459-5681 or 1-800-451-1954. Personas mayors/ancianos de Carolina del Norte y otras personas con alto riesgo de COVID-19 puede solicitor ayuda con comida y entregas de medicinas incluidas las necesidades de mascotas, y controles de bienestar. Visita coronacommunity.org o llamar 919-459-5681 o 1-800-451-1954.

Aging Help Line: For any aging related issues, call 919-968-2087, Monday–Friday, 9-4pm

Hope Line for older adults: Older adults can call 1-866-578-4673 or 1-866-578-HOPE if they’re experiencing isolation from social distancing.

A morning check-in phone call for older adults, Monday-Friday. Contact Shenae McPherson for more information: 919-245-4243, shmcpherson@orangecountync.gov.

Food Assistance, for seniors

Home-based food box delivery: Meals on Wheels is delivering meals to older adults once a week. Apply online or call 919-942-2948.

Lunch: Orange County Senior Center Hot Lunch program distributes hot and boxed lunches during the week to qualified Orange County residents who are over 60.To enroll: e-mail ijackson@orangecountync.gov or call 919-245-4256.

Box of food: Orange County Seniors Supplemental Food box program distributes a box of non-perishable groceries once a month to qualified Orange County residents who are over 60.To enroll e-mail shmcpherson@orangecountync.gov or call 919-245-4243.

Grocery Delivery: Do you know an older adult (must be 60+ and an Orange County resident) in need of a grocery delivery? Please contact Orange County Department on Aging online or call 919-968-2087.

Grocery store hours for seniors and at risk populations

Harris Teeter: Open 6:00–8:00 a.m. every Monday & Thursday for guests 60+. 

Fresh Market: Open 8:00–9:00 a.m. Monday – Friday for hours for seniors and at risk populations. 

Dollar General: The first hour of every day is open to seniors. Carrboro hours are 8:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m. 

Target: The first hour of every Tuesday is open to vulnerable guests, 7:00 a.m.-8:00 a.m. for the Franklin Street Target.

HOW TO MAKE TAX PAYMENTS: In our continued effort to help reduce the spread of COVID-19, the revenue office at Chapel Hill Town Hall remains closed to the public. Non-cash tax payments can be placed in the Town’s drop box located outside the main first floor entrance (facing the parking lot). Receipts will only be mailed if requested. More Information

Orange County has added an option to pay property taxes by e-check. Learn more about making payments by e-check.

The Town Call Center is closed.

• Parks and Recreation: 919-968-2784; parksrec@townofchapelhill.org
• Public Works: 919-969-5100; publicworks@townofchapelhill.org
• Chapel Hill Transit: 919-969-4900; chtransit@townofchapelhill.org
• Questions about other Town services: 919-968-2743; info@townofchapelhill.org

To limit spread of COVID-19 (coronavirus), the Town of Chapel Hill has closed Town facilities including Town Hall, Chapel Hill Public Library, and Parks and Recreation indoor facilities.

• Chapel Hill Public Library
  
• Park & Pick Up Service
  • Place holds through the online catalog and wait for your email notification. Limit of 10 holds.
  • Call 919-932-2942 on the day you want to pick up your items.
  • Park at the Library and walk to the main entrance. *
  • Wear a mask and wait outside for staff to assist you.
    *Mobility issues? Let us know when you call and park in the designated area.
  • Visit the catalog to place holds.
    
    
• Parks and Recreation
  Stay connected with us at www.chapelhillparks.org for updates and detail information regarding facilities and recreation programs      
  • Parks, Park amenities, Greenways, Trails, Dog parks are open from dawn to dusk.  Use our social distancing guide as you enjoy the outdoors with others. 
  • Registration is now open for a variety of modified recreation programs.
  • Most indoor recreation facilities remain closed to the general public. Some indoor recreation facilities have reopened for scheduled programs (with strict precautions). See www.chapelhillparks.org for details.
  • Administrative staff are available by email or (919) 968-2784 between 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m., Monday-Friday.
    
    
• Chapel Hill Transit (CHT) is on a reduced schedule.  More info here. CHT has adjusted seating capacity to 16 customers on regular-sized buses and 21 customers on larger, articulated buses, due to observed face covering usage and demand on for this service. Chapel Hill Transit buses are being cleaned with a solution that sanitizes the inside surfaces with which you may come in contact. It is important to note that the surfaces can only stay sanitized until someone touches them. Therefore, if you need to take public transportation (including transit, taxis, or ride shares), be conscious of what you touch, and be sure to wash your hands when you exit the vehicle. Do not touch your face or eat before you’re able to wash your hands.

• Anyone with critical, timely needs for transactions at Town Hall can call 919-968-2743 and ask to speak with the department with which you are working. Permit applications may be dropped off at Town Hall each Tuesday and Thursday 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. noon.

• Payments can be made to the Town Revenue Office as follows:
• Payments by credit card can be made by calling 919-968-2759 between the hours of 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.
• Payments by check or money order can be made by mail to “405 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Chapel Hill, NC 27514 Attn: Revenue Office” or can be delivered in person to the Town’s drop box outside of Town Hall (address above).
• Payments by cash (if no alternate payment method is available) can be delivered in person to the Town’s drop box outside of Town Hall between the hours of 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Please have exact change only.
  
  
• The Chapel Hill Town Council is holding virtual meetings. For a schedule and to view meetings, visit chapelhill.legistar.com/Calendar. Meetings will also be streamed on GovTV (townofchapelhill.org/government/newsroom/multimedia).

• Town employees are working to ensure day-to-day operations continue to the extent possible. Some employees are staffing offices and practicing social distancing. Others are working remotely. All are working to ensure that day-to-day operations of local government continue to the extent possible.
  
  
• Yard waste and bulky item collection has resumed. Place yard waste in Town yard waste carts, rigid containers, or paper yard waste bags. We expect the yard waste collection volume to be larger than normal, and it may take a couple of weeks for collections to be completed. Place your yard waste in its container at the curb by 6 a.m. on your typical yard waste collection day and leave it out until it is collected.
  
  • Don’t place yard waste in plastic bags; use paper bags. Yard waste in plastic bags will not be collected. Residents can discard their yard waste and bulky items at Orange County's Waste and Recycling centers at no charge. For hours of operation and locations, check  or call 919-968-2788. 

• Loose leaf collection has begun. Collection might be slower due to limited staffing during the COVID-19 pandemic. Residents are encouraged to put their leaves in containers for the regular yard waste pickup (yard waste carts or other rigid containers, or paper yard waste bags) or compost leaves. 
  
  
• Solid Waste Services' employees are still collecting household trash, and they need your help to minimize risk of exposure to themselves and others.  The best way to do that is to make sure your trash is tied inside a trash bag and placed inside a trash cart, if possible, we encourage you to sanitize the cart's handles and lid.