On April 27, Colorado’s safer-at-home order went into effect, easing parts of the statewide stay at home requirements. The new phase in Colorado’s response to the pandemic allows for many businesses to begin reopening under new guidelines to protect safety. Local jurisdictions can maintain or institute more restrictive orders. As a part of the new phase, the Governor has also instituted additional worker protections through executive order.

Major Elements of Safer at Home

• More flexibility is provided to businesses to open if they follow social distancing requirements set out by the state.
• Coloradans should stay home as much as possible, leaving only for a limited number of specific activities.
• When going out, one must follow physical distancing requirements (six feet of space between oneself and others) and wear a mask or face covering.
• Vulnerable people at high risk of severe illness from COVID-19 should follow stay-at-home recommendations, which means only leaving home for medical care and essential activities.
• People who have COVID-19 symptoms must isolate unless they have a negative test result.

New Executive Action Under Safer at Home

• The Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE) has created additional, temporary paid sick leave rules for those returning to work. Workers will be eligible for up to 14 days of paid sick leave at two-thirds of pay if they have tested positive for COVID-19, have COVID-19 like symptoms, or have been directed to quarantine or isolate.
• Instructed CDLE to ensure Coloradans are not in danger of losing unemployment insurance eligibility for refusal to return to COVID-19-related demonstrable, unsafe working conditions.
• Directed employers to accommodate workers with childcare responsibilities and workers who live in the same household as a vulnerable person to the greatest extent possible.
• K-12 school year has been suspended.

Links to Other Informational Resources

• Colorado safer at home website
• Fact sheet providing new guidance on paid sick leave and unemployment insurance
• Executive order for safer at home

At its heart, our current crisis is a health care crisis. Broad, large-scale economic impacts will continue until we find ways to test, treat, and prevent the spread of COVID-19. This reality makes it essential for both state and federal governments to invest in our health care system and ensure Coloradans have access to affordable, accessible, and quality care.

 What Colorado is Doing

• Through executive order, Colorado created a special enrollment period for those who are currently uninsured. Individuals can sign-up for coverage through Connect for Health Colorado between March 20th and April 30th.
• The state required insurance carriers to cover a one-time, early refill of any necessary prescription. This directive is meant to reduce possibilities for exposure to COVID-19.
• Colorado directed insurance carriers to provide COVID-19-related, in-network telehealth services with no cost share (e.g. co-pays, deductibles, and coinsurance).
• Colorado expanded the state Medicaid program’s ability to support and reimburse for telehealth services.
• Applied for federal Medicaid waivers, which would allow for temporary changes to the state’s Medicaid programs. Collectively, these waivers are meant to reduce administrative barriers for enrollees, support providers, and allow for extended services. Approval would allow the state to:
  • • Bolster home- and community-based services by:
      • Providing extended services when there’s a demonstrated need
      • Compensating family caregivers
      • Expanding allowable settings where care can be provided
    • Allow Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHP+) eligibility to continue without redetermination or additional documentation
    • Remove certain eligibility assessment requirements
• Because so many Coloradans rely on their employer for health coverage, the Division of Insurance has directed insurance companies to:
  • Make payment accommodations to prevent businesses from losing coverage when possible
  • Accommodate coverage continuation requests when businesses either reduce their workforce size or employee hours
  • Waive certain COBRA eligibility requirements
• As a requirement of receiving additional federal Medicaid funds through the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, the state will not remove any individual who qualified for the program as of March 18.

What the Federal Government is Doing

• The Families First Coronavirus Response Act:
  • Allows states to provide free COVID-19 testing for those who are uninsured. Administration and funding will come from Medicaid.
  • Requires most public and private health plans to cover COVID-19 testing with no cost-share (e.g. co-pays, deductibles, and coinsurance) for consumers.
  • Increases the Federal Medicaid Assistance Percentage (FMAP), or the federal match rate for state Medicaid programs, by 6.2 percent. This infusion of federal funds increases our ability to support medical care for thousands of financially strapped Coloradans, a number which is only expected to grow as more families face economic hardship, while simultaneously relieving some of the growing pressure on the state budget. FMAP has been increased in prior times of economic hardship. Analysis shows these increases helped to maintain a base level of Medicaid benefits, minimized provider rate cuts, and broadly supported state budgets.
• Through the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act, federal funds have been allocated for local and state response efforts. An estimated $9 million is projected to go to Colorado.
• The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act:
  • Requires certain insurance plans to cover preventative COVID-19 services, including vaccinations, without cost-sharing.
  • Nationally allocates over $180 billion to the health system. Money is appropriated to research treatments and vaccines, provide care for veterans, and increase the availability of health care supplies. More specifically:
    • $100 billion is allocated directly to health care providers. Funds are meant to cover both lost revenue and unreimbursed health care expenses as a result of COVID-19.
    • $1.32 billion for community health centers. As in the rest of the country, Colorado’s community health centers are specifically designed to support the medically underserved.
  • Reduces barriers for the use of home-based and telehealth services.
• The fourth federal aid package, an additional $75 billion in emergency aid was allocated to hospitals.

Other Options to Consider

• While the federal government has increased Medicaid matching reimbursement rates, they can be raised further. For example, the National Governors’ Association has requested an increase to 12 percent, which would be more in line with what many states received during the 2008 recession. Recessions and their accompanying spikes in unemployment have major implications for state budgets. Research shows every 1 percent rise in the unemployment rate leads to a 3 percent to 4 percent decline in state revenue. On a national level, the same drop leads to an additional one million people enrolling in Medicaid. Relatively quick infusions of federal money into a ready-made system like Medicaid can help states offset these simultaneous declines in revenue and increased costs.
• Not all health plans are required to provide free COVID-19 testing. This includes short-term health plans, student health plans, and health sharing ministries. Coverage requirements for these providers can be mandated by either the state or federal government.
• While testing costs for most individuals are waived, the same hasn’t been done for COVID-19 treatment. This coverage gap could prevent some Coloradans from getting tested.
• In conjunction with COVID-19 testing requirements and the creation of a special enrollment period, the state can make increased and intentional efforts to educate Coloradans of these offerings.
• Provide additional funding for enrollment and outreach services to ensure Coloradans (especially those who’ve lost their jobs) understand available insurance options.

Other Informational Resources

• Healthier Colorado’s COVID-19 resource page
• Connect for Health Colorado: Website for uninsured individuals to enroll for health insurance
• Comparison of state actions to bolster consumer protections through private insurance
• Medicaid policy options
• Colorado Consumer Health Initiative’s COVID-19 resource page

Sick leave — or limited time off to care for one’s own or a loved one’s health — has always been an essential, but often grossly under provided, benefit. However, the value of and need for paid sick leave becomes all the more obvious during health crises like the one we currently find ourselves in. As we’ve heard time and again, we need sick workers to stay home in order to stop the spread of COVID-19. Paid sick days provide a degree of economic security so workers can do this.

What Colorado is Doing

• Through executive order, Governor Polis directed the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE) to create temporary paid sick leave rules for those returning to work under the safer-at-home executive order. These are an expansion of previous emergency sick leave rules.
  • Workers are eligible for up to 14 days of paid sick leave at two-thirds of pay.
  • Eligible workers include those in leisure and hospitality, food services, retail, real estate sales and leasing, elective health care, personal care, food and beverage manufacturing, child care, education, nursing home/community living care, and office workers.
  • Workers may use leave if they have flu-like or respiratory illness symptoms, are being tested for COVID-19, or are under recommended quarantine or isolation due to COVID-19.
  • Rules will remain in place throughout the emergency.

What the Federal Government is Doing

• Congress recently passed the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, which requires sick leave through the end of 2020 for some workers.
  • Provides up to 80 hours of job protected paid leave. 
  • Only applies to those working for an employer with less than 500 employees.
  • Allows the Department of Labor to exempt some employers, including:
    • Businesses with less than 50 employees if they can demonstrate compliance will create a hardship
    • Agencies providing health care and/or emergency response services
  • Paid leave can be used for those who are:
    • Subject to federal and state quarantine and isolation requirements for COVID-19
    • Advised by health care providers to self quarantine
    • Experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 and seeking medical diagnosis
    • Caring for someone who is self-isolating because of diagnosed/suspected COVID-19
    • Caring for a child if their school/place of care is closed due to COVID-19
  • Employers who provide the benefit will receive a refundable tax credit against the full cost of paid-out leave.

Other Options to Consider

• At the state and federal level, emergency rules can be strengthened by extending paid sick leave to all workers who are caring for a loved one. State rules don’t allow paid time off for this, and federal regulations exempt those working for a business with more than 500 workers.

Other Informational Resources

• CDLE paid sick leave FAQs
• CDLE paid sick leave fact sheet

Large scale health crises demonstrate the value of thoughtfully designed paid family and medical leave programs. In the handful of states with pre-existing state-based programs, we see how paid family and medical leave has the ability to help employees better balance work, family, and financial responsibilities. Especially as we continue to see essential family care services — including schools and child/elder care centers — close, paid family and medical leave becomes an essential benefit for thousands of workers.

What Colorado is Doing

• Colorado doesn’t have its own state-based paid family and medical leave program. However, prior to closures as a result of COVID-19, lawmakers were actively working to advance a bill that would have made Colorado the ninth state in the country to create its own paid family and medical leave program.

What is the Federal Government Doing

• Congress recently passed the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, which requires paid family and medical leave through the end of 2020 for some workers.
  • Provides up to 12 weeks of job protected paid family and medical leave. 
  • Only applies to those working for an employer with less than 500 employees.
  • Allows the Department of Labor to exempt some employers, including:
    • Businesses with less than 50 employees if they can demonstrate compliance will create a hardship.
    • Agencies providing health care and/or emergency response services
  • Paid family and medical leave can be used for those who are:
    • Unable to work/telework because a child’s school/place of care has been closed due to COVID-19.
  • Employers who provide the benefit will receive a refundable tax credit against the full cost of paid-out leave.

Other Options to Consider

• The aforementioned emergency rules from the federal government can be strengthened by:
  • Extending the mandate to all employers, regardless of business size. According to information from the Census Bureau, we know more than 50 percent of all employees in Colorado work for a business with more than 500 workers.
  • Expanding who workers can take time off to care for. Notably, current legislation doesn’t allow workers to take time off to care for an older loved one or a loved one with a disability who may be impacted by the closures of day facilities. 
  • Allowing additional family members to take time off to care for their loved ones. Current legislation only applies to biological, adopted, foster, and step parents, as well as those acting in legal place of a parent. By expanding who can take paid family and medical leave, we’ll be doing a better job of recognizing the growing diversity of our families.

Other Informational Resources

• A more in-depth overview from A Better Balance on the newly created federal paid family and medical leave legislation.

Expanded, prompt, and flexible administration of UI benefits will be critical to supporting Coloradans during this crisis and ensuring any recovery benefits those most affected by the economic ramifications of COVID-19. UI can help mitigate the economic impacts of the pandemic and address large-scale job loss during a recession. UI is currently limited in its coverage, so additional steps will be needed to provide assistance to independent contractors (e.g. gig workers) and self-employed individuals (e.g. family child care providers).

What Colorado is Doing

• The Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE) is processing claims for individuals who meet the traditional qualifications for UI (i.e. employees with W-2s) and has started to process claims for self-employed, contract workers, and gig workers.
• Through executive order, Governor Polis made available $1 million from the Disaster Emergency Fund to CDLE to improve and expedite services available to individuals applying for UI benefits.
• Through executive order, Governor Polis expedited UI to have payments occur within 10 days of the receipt of filing a claim and removed certain restrictions.
  • There is no longer a one-week unpaid waiting period
  • Benefits won’t be charged to an employer experience rating accounts (i.e. claims will not increase premiums for employers if claims were related to COVID-19)
  • Extend the notification requirements that parties that may be interested in disputed UI claims are notified before benefits are provided
• Expanded the work-share program, which provides an alternative to laying off employees by allowing them to keep working with fewer hours. While an employee is working fewer hours, he or she may be eligible to collect part of his or her regular unemployment benefits. 
• Clarified protections for workers who may feel unsafe returning to work under the safer-at-home order. Coloradans may be eligible for paid sick leave.
• Clarified employers must make accommodations to the greatest extent possible for workers who are experiencing a lack of childcare due to school closures and a lack of child care could be a qualifying circumstance for Pandemic Unemployment Insurance (PUI).

What the Federal Government is Doing

• Congress passed Families First Coronavirus Response Act, which boosts unemployment benefits, with nearly $1 billion in state grants to cover processing and paying unemployment insurance. It also raises the amount of assistance to states with high unemployment for individuals who have exhausted benefits already.
• It’s anticipated a larger stimulus package will include an expanded version of unemployment insurance.
• Through the CARES Act:
  • $100 million in grants to states to implement, improve, and promote Work-Share programs.
  • Creates three new UI programs, including Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (PUC), Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC), and Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA). All three programs are fully federally funded.
    • Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (PUC): All regular UI and Pandemic Unemployment Assistance claimants will receive their usual calculated benefits plus an additional $600 per week in compensation through July 31, 2020. The $600 equals the amount needed to bring the average worker’s benefit up to 100 percent of wage replacement.
    • Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC): Provides an additional 13 weeks of state UI benefits, which will become available after someone exhausts all their regular state UI benefits. In Colorado, this would equal 39 weeks of possible UI benefits (26 under current state law and 13 more under PEUC). To receive PEUC, workers must be actively engaged in searching for work unless there are COVID-19 related illness or movement restrictions.
    • Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA): Provides emergency unemployment assistance to workers who are left out of regular state UI or who have exhausted their state UI benefits (including any extended benefits that might become available in the future). The additional workers covered include self-employed workers, independent contractors, freelancers, workers seeking part-time work, and workers who do not have a long-enough work history to qualify for state UI benefits. Workers must be authorized to work to be eligible for PUA, meaning undocumented workers will not qualify.

Other Options to Consider

• Clarify “good cause to quit” work includes being forced to work while you or others in the workplace are sick or when you and others in the workplace should be quarantined because of exposure.
• Clarify any layoffs, partial or complete, as a consequence of COVID will not count against an employer’s experience rating.
• Provide UI benefits to anyone who meets an ABC test. This test will be the easiest to administer at the scale and with the speed that Colorado will need. This test would qualify many independent contractors and gig workers for UI. Colorado could also require that anyone who has more than 50 workers in Colorado satisfy the ABC test needs to pay back premiums.

Other Informational Resources

• National Employment Law Project (NELP) Unemployment Toolkit
• NELP UI recommendations
• Unemployment insurance FAQs
  • Helpful Facts About Unemployment Insurance Benefits
  • Datos Útiles Acerca de los Beneficios de Desempleo
• NELP’s fact sheet on federal reforms

As Coloradans are being asked to stay home for the public safety of all, it’s vital Coloradans have homes and maintain those homes during this critical period. Without regular income or increased income support, many Coloradans are in danger of eviction, foreclosure, late fees, utility cutoffs, and/or unmanageable debt. For Coloradans without houses or apartments, the prospect of going to crowded shelters is a severe public health risk. Now more than ever, there can be no prioritization of public health without ensuring everyone has a safe and supportive home to go to and shelter within.

What Colorado is Doing

• Governor Polis limited state resources that could be used to carry out evictions. He also discouraged landlords from evicting tenants and charging late fees. He did not institute a moratorium on evictions or late fees.
• Through executive order, Governor Polis made available $3 million from the Disaster Emergency Fund to provide short-term rental and mortgage assistance to low-income households facing financial hardship due to economic disruption associated with COVID-19, prioritizing assistance to those who had continuous prior work history and lost employment related to public health orders.
• Governor Polis ordered state agencies to work with state-chartered financial institutions to identify practices and policies to combat the threat of residential and commercial foreclosures and displacement to individuals and small businesses.
• Governor Polis ordered state agencies to work with all public utilities in the state to suspend service disconnections for delayed or missed payments from residential and small business consumers.

 What the Federal Government is Doing

• The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) is suspending some foreclosures and evictions for FHA-backed single-family mortgages through April.
• Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will suspend foreclosures and evictions for at least 60 days for homeowners with a single-family mortgage.
• Through the CARES Act:
  • $5 billion for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), which provides flexible funding to state and local governments for housing and economic development activities.
  • $4 billion for homeless assistance grants, which provide funding to nonprofits and state and local governments to provide services and different forms of shelter for homeless individuals and families.
  • $1.25 billion for Tenant-Based Rental Assistance, which is assistance to individual households to help them afford the housing costs of market-rate units.
  • $1 billion for Project-Based Rental Assistance, which provides rental subsidies to a particular unit of housing, not a particular individual (i.e. even if the tenant moves, the unit remains subsidized for the next tenant)
  • $685 million for the Public Housing Operating Fund, which supports the ongoing operation of public housing units
  • $300 million for Native American programs
  • $65 million for Housing Opportunities for Person with Aids (HOPWA)
  • $50 million for Section 202 housing for the elderly
  • $15 million for Section 811 housing for persons with disabilities
  • $2.5 million for additional fair housing enforcement

Other Options to Consider

• Enact an executive order requiring (rather than suggesting) all evictions and foreclosure proceedings be suspended statewide, for Colorado renters and homeowners (including those paying lot rents for mobile homes).
• Enact an executive order prohibiting (rather than suggesting) all household utilities, including internet services, from being disconnected due to late or nonpayment.
• Enact an executive order prohibiting (rather than suggesting) the imposition of late fees and interest on past due rent and utility bills.
• Instruct state agencies to work with appropriate federal authorities to waive negative credit impacts that might accrue during this time.
• Further boost funding through the Disaster Emergency Fund for existing emergency rental and mortgage assistance programs for those who need it, including seeking federal support and educating the public about additional resources.
• Instruct local governments to increase income supports so those impacted can continue to meet their basic needs and those of their families while staying safely in their homes. 
• Encourage all state and local governments to use all vacant units to house the homeless, both private and public. All homeless Coloradans should be moved to safe, quality housing as fast as possible.

Other Informational Resources

• National Low-Income Housing Coalition’s recommendations
• Enterprise Community Partners’ recommendations, letter to Congress
• Temporary Rental and Utility Assistance program (TRUA) offers resources to Denver residents who are facing a housing crisis or hardship to help prevent eviction or displacement.
• Energy Outreach Colorado is a statewide nonprofit organization that helps Coloradans pay their utility bills during hardship.
• Xcel Energy has agreed not to disconnect residential customers until further notice.
• Comcast is increasing internet speeds for all customers and offering 60 days of free internet services to low-income families. 
• Enterprise Community Partners’ overview of CARES Act related to housing
• National Low-Income Housing Coalition COVID-19 resources

Nearly half of child care providers nationwide are losing income since the COVID-19 pandemic and one-third fear they cannot survive a two-week closure without public investment to cover basic needs. Lost wages aren’t the only challenge, as extended K-12 school closures and family child care home closures mean emergency responders and direct care workers are without child care for their own children. Addressing this child care crisis will require solutions from both the state and federal governments.

What Colorado is Doing

• Through executive order, Governor Polis directed the Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS) to access additional Child Care Development Block Grant funds for counties to reimburse child care providers in the Colorado Child Care Assistance Program (CCCAP) for absences or closures related to COVID-19.  
• In partnership with advocacy organizations and state agencies, Governor Polis created an emergency child care system to provide child care for the children of workers essential to support treatment and prevention of COVID-19.
• Local advocacy organizations sent a federal advocacy letter to congressional leaders requesting significant investment for child care including funding requests for Child Care Development Block Grants, Head Start, business support, and support to child care providers providing emergency child care.
• Governor Polis signed an executive order authorizing state agencies to extend the expiration date for child care center and family child care home licenses.
• Governor Polis’s new safer-at-home order guidelines for child care facilities help providers prepare to resume care from April 27 with social distancing restrictions. Examples of new guidelines include facilities maintaining ratios of no more than 10 children in a group, requiring all staff and children over the age of three to wear face masks, and maintain three feet to six feet social distancing as much as possible.
• In partnership with Healthy Child Care Colorado and Early Milestones, the Office of Early Childhood (OEC) helped develop a process for temporary jobs during COVID-19 for early childhood educators unable to work because of center closures or reduced enrollment. Healthy Child Care Colorado had an existing job board and expanded this platform for free access to employers to post temporary child care jobs. OEC will conduct background checks and validate educator credentials to maintain Colorado state license requirements.

What the Federal Government is Doing

• The Office of Head Start has directed programs to continue to pay wages and benefits to staff impacted by COVID-19 closures until April 30th.
• Family Child Care Home providers are at risk for permanent closures due to reduced or lost income from COVID-19 closures. Recognizing Family Child Care Home providers as small business owners like child care centers, the U.S. Small Business Administration is offering guidance and low-interest loans to child care providers to remain in business.
• The CARES Act provides relief to child care providers through flexible federal funds:
  • $3.5 billion will go to the Child Care Development Block Grant (CCDGB) program, which will support state child care programs with additional funds for emergency child care for essential workers, ongoing child care subsidies, and sanitation supplies. For Colorado, this would translate to approximately $41 million in CCDGB funds. 
  • $750 million in Head Start funds will support increased staffing needs and expanded operations. 
  • The Small Business Administration will administer $562 million to fund Economic Injury Disaster loans to nonprofit and for-profit child care providers with less than 500 employees to cover eight weeks of payroll, mortgage/rent payments, and utility payments.
• Many family child care providers are self-employed, meaning they are currently ineligible for state unemployment insurance (UI) benefits. The CARES Act creates a federally funded Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program which provides emergency unemployment assistance to groups that do not typically qualify for UI, including self-employed individuals. (See UI section for more details.)
• Congress approved an additional $310 billion to the Small Business Administration (SBA) to further fund the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). For the child care industry, this means small businesses and self-employed child care providers that were unable to access PPP funds or in the SBA queue can now access funds to keep their businesses from closing.
• Congress approved another $60 billion for SBA’s Emergency Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) and Grants program, an existing SBA program which has been expanded by the CARES Act. EIDL provides loans to small businesses impacted by COVID-19 to cover payroll and operating costs. Of the $60 billion, $10 billion has been allocated for emergency loan advances for eligible businesses, like child care centers and self-employed providers. These loan advances are grants that do not need to be repaid if eligibility guidelines are met. Businesses can apply for advances of $1,000 per employee, and no more than $10,000 to maintain payroll and pay other debt obligations that cannot be met due to revenue loss associated with COVID-19 through December 30, 2020.

Other Options to Consider

• Implement policies to better support child care providers with leniency on rent and mortgage payments and utility support for three to six months. 
• Use the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) or other funds made available through the CARES Act to develop an emergency stabilization grant program to child care providers for lost revenue related to COVID-19.

Other Informational Resources

• Colorado Department of Labor and Employment information and resources for workers and employers
• The Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) created the Colorado COVID-19 Business Resource Center, which provides state and federal resources and guidelines to businesses.
• The Office of Early Childhood has provided guidance on the Emergency Child Care Collaborative FAQs for families and child care providers.
• The Office of Early Childhood has provided and updates FAQs regularly for child care providers caring for essential workers through the Emergency Childcare Collaborative Initiative.
• Child care providers and small business owners can access Colorado Small Business Development Center Network (SBDC) resources, including resources for loans and grants.

With unemployment on the rise, food banks understaffed, and schools closed, a growing number of people are facing food insecurity. Beyond providing food security, food assistance programs like Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Woman, Infants, and Children (WIC) help stretch dollars as families across the nation have their lives disrupted by COVID-19. 

What Colorado is Doing

• Colorado is continuing to administer SNAP and WIC benefits with greater capacity due to federal supports.
• Food banks are operating and providing food. While donations from grocery stores and restaurants have decreased, which customarily make up a significant share of food banks’ inventory, federal assistance is expected to allow banks to purchase and distribute food. Food banks have implemented grab and go models, however they face increasing demand as a growing number of Coloradans are unemployed. 
• Students who are eligible for free or reduced price lunch may continue picking up meals to go at certain locations in nearly all districts. Given Colorado’s local control model, districts have each implemented a variety of programs that vary in terms of meals provided, who is eligible, and what time meal pick-up is available. Typically, meals must be consumed by students on campus, however a federal waiver has allowed for the grab and go model that is being used by districts. One key barrier to families receiving meals is that districts are not providing transportation to these pick-up sites. 

What the Federal Government is Doing

• Through the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, Congress has
  • Provided an additional $500 million in funding for WIC.  
  • Provided funding for food banks to purchase and distribute food through the Emergency Food Assistance Program.
  • Provided greater flexibility for states to administer SNAP benefits such as by waiving work requirements and allowing schools to provide meals on a to-go basis
• Through the CARES Act, the U.S. Congress has provided additional funding for a number of food assistance programs, including:
  • $8.8 billion for school districts to administer meals for low-income students.
  • An additional $15.5 billion for SNAP in anticipation of increased demand.
  • An additional $450 million for food banks and local food distribution organizations.
• USDA has created the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program. This will provide support to farmers and ranchers, and also includes $3 billion for food purchases for food banks and local nonprofits providing food to communities.

Other Options to Consider

• Through the Families First Coronavirus Response Act states can create plans to provide families who have children that would receive free or reduced price lunch with SNAP assistance. Colorado should ensure that any districts not providing meals, or where families cannot travel to pick up sites, are taking advantage of this option.
• Currently, there is a patchwork of nonprofits, local, state, and federal resources trying to ensure that everyone receives the assistance they have. Ensuring that there is information about available resources is critical. 

Other Informational Resources

• Information on additional assistance programs in Colorado
• A number of nonprofits are providing food assistance, such as the Emergency Food Network in the Denver Metro Area

The economic shock caused by COVID-19 is unique in its acute impact on individuals in low-wage jobs, who often work in the service sector, and do not have the ability to work from home. Beyond the number of other programs that exist, one way that families can receive help for essential expenses is through Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), or as it is referred to in Colorado, Colorado Works. 

What Colorado is Doing

• Colorado provides cash assistance through Colorado Works.

What the Federal Government is Doing

• Congress is considering providing direct cash payments to most Americans on a sliding scale. As this is still being negotiated, we will update when a final plan is approved and signed into law.
• Through the CARES Act:
  • Providing most Americans direct cash payments of $1,200 and $500 for each child in a family. The payments are phased out starting at $75,000 for individuals, $112,500 for head of households, and $150,000 for joint filers.
  • Allocating $900 million to the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, which helps families cover the cost of their heating or cooling bills. 

Other Options to Consider

• Individuals who have lost their jobs due to COVID-19 should refer to the unemployment section of this resource hub.

Other Informational Resources

• Information on additional assistance programs in Colorado

With small businesses across Colorado closing doors and business traffic significantly decreasing, both the state and federal government will need to find solutions that help to offset these effects, as well as provide capital and loans for businesses to stay open or reopen when able.

What Colorado is Doing

• The governor’s office applied to and was approved by the U.S. Small Business Administration for a statewide disaster declaration, a move that will free up billions in emergency loans at low interest rates for small businesses in the state. Businesses with 500 and fewer employees that can show their business operations have been impacted by the coronavirus outbreak can apply for SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan program.
• The city of Denver is creating a $4 million relief fund that will offer cash grants of up to $7,500 local businesses hurt by closures and other social distancing measures.
• Governor Polis’ executive order D 2020 12 directs the Division of Banking to encourage state-chartered banks to suspend foreclosures as well as consider other financial accommodations such as loan payment deferments. DORA, through the Divisions of Banking and Financial Services, was directed via executive order to work with state-chartered financial institutions to identify practices and policies to combat the threat of residential and commercial foreclosures and displacement to individuals and small businesses.
• Governor Polis has announced the creation of an economic advisory council. Comprised of business and civic leaders, the council will focus its efforts on stabilizing and restoring economic activity in the state as quickly as possible.

What the Federal Government is Doing

• The Small Business Administration is expanding its Disaster Assistance Loan and their loan guarantee programs.
• Federal stimulus package discussions include a large expansion of low interest loans, many that would be forgiven if the business is able to keep existing staff.
• Through the CARES Act:
  • $349 billion for loans to small businesses who have 500 or fewer employees and certain nonprofit organizations of the same size, all through the Small Business Administration (SBA).
    • The loan may equal up to 250 percent of an employer’s average monthly payroll and will be forgiven if employer maintains payroll and spends on payroll, mortgage, rent and utility
  • $10 billion for emergency grants of up to $10,000.
  • $17 billion for to cover 6 months of payments for small businesses with existing loans.
• The most recent bill passed by Congress included $250 billion for the Payroll Protection Program, as well as $60 billion for banks that hold less than $50 billion in assets, mostly community banks and smaller institutions.

Other Options to Consider

• Rent relief for commercial property
  • Loan forbearance for current debt.
  • Greater use of worksharing, which allows employees to be eligible to collect part of his or her regular unemployment benefits if working shorter hours.
  • Expansion of unemployment insurance that ensures employers are not penalized for current layoffs (i.e. current layoffs to not affect future risk ratings).
  • Paid sick leave that is initially supported through government funding as opposed to a mandate to provide without assistance.
  • Protection from predatory loan products

Other Informational Resources

• • The Small Business Administration is expanding its Disaster Assistance Loan program to help small businesses weather the storm during the pandemic. Governor Polis has applied for state-level disaster relief to support Colorado’s small business owners and has been approved. 
  • Daily updates for small businesses
  • Colorado guidance and resources for small business
  • Venturize: A resource for small business loans

What Colorado is Doing

• Previous non-partisan budget projections for Colorado showed $832 million in revenue to spend on public priorities, but projections since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic show only $27 million more in revenue than last year’s expenditures.  
• Accounting for population growth, inflation, and case load growth in existing programs, our legislators will likely have to close a shortfall of $425 million in the budget for fiscal year 2020-2021.
• It’s likely the true budget numbers are significantly lower and will show bigger funding gaps in our education, health, and human services systems.

What the Federal Government is Doing

• The federal government has passed multiple bills that aim to help states in this time of crisis. This includes money for unemployment insurance claims and Medicaid reimbursements to free up state dollars for other crucial programs.
• Through the CARES Act:
  • $150 billion for state and local governments to use to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.
    • Colorado will see approximately $2.23 billion, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. That money will be used at both the state and local levels.
  • $30 billion given to all states and territories within the Education Stabilization Fund to be used to help with remote and distance learning.

 Other Options to Consider

• Whenever the Colorado legislature returns from the session pause, we will have to see measures aimed at helping small businesses and workers throughout the state’s economy. That will have to include measures aimed at closing tax loopholes and deductions in order to finance these economic proposals. 

Other Informational Resources

• Senate strikes $2 trillion deal on coronavirus stimulus. Here’s what’s in it.
• CFI review: March 2020 revenue forecast
• Legislative Council March 2020 revenue forecast

• The economic impact of the coronavirus is huge. Now Colorado lawmakers are looking at a budget deficit.