By Lana Wood
City of Madison
The COVID-19 pandemic has been hard on many Madison families, and COVID relief policies and programs are continually changing. To help residents navigate these difficult times, the City of Madison and the Madison Public Library are providing a free service, the Financial Resources Hotline.
Madison residents seeking help due to COVID-19 can contact the hotline to be connected with a “Financial Navigator,” a person they can talk to about their financial concerns.
Financial Navigators are available at no cost to provide guidance over the phone to help residents access available programs and services to manage income loss and other financial concerns they may be experiencing. With one-on-one discussions, navigators will help address personal financial issues, identify immediate steps to manage expenses and maximize income, and make referrals to services such as bill paying assistance, government benefits and other programs that may be available from current and future stimulus packages.
Navigators provide up-to-date and timely information, like where to find local free tax preparation support and information about COVID-19 impacts to tax filing.
The Affordable Care Act Insurance Marketplace has open enrollment until May 15. A navigator can help connect you to local resources which will ensure you are getting the most affordable coverage for your situation.
If you are struggling to pay rent or other daily living expenses, and have never applied for government assistance before, or are not familiar with local resources, a navigator can help identify those resources and next steps to see if you qualify.
Residents can access the hotline one of two ways: (1) go to cityofmadison.com/financialhotline to fill out the interest form and sign up for a session; or (2) if you would like assistance signing up over the phone, call the Financial Resources Hotline at 608-266-6300 (new number) Mondays‒Fridays, 10 am‒6 pm, or Saturdays, 12‒5 pm.
After signing up, you will be contacted by a Financial Navigator to begin your personal session, which may last about 30 minutes. Service is available in English, Hmong, Spanish, Mandinka and Wolof, with ASL and other languages available through the city’s interpretation services.
For more information visit cityofmadison.com/financialhotline.