Message from the City Manager and Chief of Equity and Inclusion

Dear Residents of Dallas,

The City and County have begun their COVID-19 vaccination efforts throughout the city. It is important to understand that currently the vaccine is only available to individuals who fall under Phase 1A or 1B. These are individuals who are frontline workers- doctors, nurses, and first responders- as well as individuals 65+ and 16+ with underlying medical conditions. To learn more about how to register to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, check below at our vaccine FAQ.

While the vaccine is not available for all residents, we can all take individual precautions for the collective good of the entire city. Mask up, maintain your distance, wash your hands constantly and thoroughly, and avoid crowds! Despite the current vaccination efforts, COVID-19 numbers in the city continue rising. In the meantime, #StayonGuard Dallas!

As we continue to maintain our distance, please take a look at some of the online virtual programming available for families and students to enjoy.

Sincerely,

                                        T.C. Broadnax                    Liz Cedillo-Pereira

                                         City Manager              Chief of Equity and Inclusion

Dallas Community Based Testing Sites

Criteria for testing sites is as follows:

• Persons with symptoms of potential COVID-19 infection, including fever, cough, shortness of breath, chills, muscle pain, new loss of taste or smell, vomiting or diarrhea, and/or sore throat; OR
• Anyone 65-years-old or older, OR
• Anyone with chronic health issues (diabetes, asthma, heart issues, etc.); OR
• If your employer was open during the Dallas County Safer at Home Order, you can get tested even if you don't have symptoms. For a full list of CISA employees available to get tested click here. 
• Persons with symptoms who have been actively engaged in large group settings, such as public gatherings or congregations of people, within the past fifteen (15) days

The community-based testing sites operate Monday through Saturday with varying times:

• Eastfield College, 3737 Motley Dr, Mesquite, TX 75150
• 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• This location is for City of Dallas and Dallas County residents only
• Must provide documentation of address (ex. Utility bill)
• Ellis Davis Field House, 9191 S Polk St. Dallas, Texas 75232
• 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. (or until testing limit is reached) 
• This location is for City of Dallas and Dallas County residents only
• Must provide documentation of address (ex. Utility bill)

Requirements (Eastfield & Ellis Davis): If you meet the criteria for COVID-19 testing, please do not delay acting. Any photo ID is sufficient including a recreation center ID, a Student ID, an ID with your name and photo. It does not need to be a government-issued ID.

• For more information contact OEMdepartment@dallascityhall.com. 

The City has expanded COVID-19 testing to provide mobile testing to residents in underserved communities without transportation. Eligible residents may schedule appointments between:

• 9 a.m. and 9 p.m., 7 days a week by calling the UrgentCare2GO screening line at 1-888-601 0568.
• For more information regarding the requirements for mobile testing, please click here.

There are now various drive-thru COVID-19 testing sites sponsored by the State of Texas, to find a location near you visit Texas Department of State Health Services webpage and enter your zip code.

Walk Up Locations

Walk-up locations are open Monday to Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., or until testing limit is reached. No appointment required. Must be a Dallas city or county resident. Address verification required (utility bill or library card). 

Waiting period up to 1 hour No restroom on site

• Sam Tasby Middle School 7001 Fair Oaks Avenue , Dallas, Texas 75231
• Parkland’s Irving Health Center 1800 N. Britain Road, Irving TX 75061
• West Dallas Multipurpose Center 2828 Fish Trap Road, Dallas, Texas 75212
• Tuesday to Saturday

Inquiries related to test results, please contact:  covidresults@phhs.org. 

Additional Testing Sites

• Walgreens, no-cost drive-thru testing site:
• 2060 S. Buckner Blvd, Dallas, TX,
• Hours of Operation: Open from 9:00 am - 5:00 pm, seven days a week.
• Requirements: Residents must complete a screening survey to determine if they qualify for a test.
• For more information regarding eligibility and how to sign up, visit: Walgreens COVID-19 information
• Walmart no-cost drive-thru testing site is administering COVID-19 tests at four locations:
• Locations: To find a location near you, click here.
• Hours of Operation: Monday, Wednesday, Friday from 7 am to 9pm.
• Requirements: Residents who are interested must take a pre-screening test to see if it is necessary. Once they qualify the resident will make an appointment to get tested
• To take a pre-screening test and set up and appointment visit Do I Need a COVID-19 test. For questions about testing call 800-635-8611.
• CVS has opened up four new no-cost, drive thru COVID-19 locations in the North Texas region:
• Locations: To find a location near you click here, and enter both your ZIP code and distance from your home to find a testing location near you. 
• Hours of Operation: Patients must schedule an appointment for a COVID-19 test.
• Requirements: More information about CVS Health and their testing sites can be found at their COVID-19 resource center.
• To schedule an appointment, patients must register here. 
• Paul Quinn College, free no-cost testing:
• Location: 3837 Simpson Stuart Road, Dallas, Texas 75241 •
• Hours of Operation: Saturdays from 10am to 4pm
• Requirements: Valid email address & phone number required, no insurance, residency, or symptoms required for testing
• Baylor Scott & White no-cost, drive-thru testing site:
• Location: 4500 Spring Ave, Dallas, TX 75210. 
• Hours of Operation: Monday- Friday 9am to 1pm appointment only.
• Requirements: Patients must be screened in order to schedule an appointment. To be screened for an appointment, call 214-933-8811
• For more information or to make an appointment visit the Baylor Scott & White website.

For up to date information regarding Dallas testing sites be sure to keep up with county updates. 

City of Dallas COVID-19 Vaccine Registration Sites

The City of Dallas has created various COVID-19 registration sites for members of the public in Groups 1A and 1B. These will be open throughout the city in different council districts. To view updated registration locations and dates go to the city's COVID-19 website.

• To explore the new registration sites announced recently, click here. 

Dallas County COVID-19 Vaccinations

COVID-19 Vaccine is still in very limited supply and is still being prioritized to Phase 1A Healthcare Workers. However, limited supplies of vaccine may be available for persons who meet the Phase 1B criteria (Persons 65 and older, or persons 16+ with underlying medical conditions).  Dallas County Health and Human Services (DCHHS) is collecting names of persons to register for the vaccine, as the vaccine becomes available. To register for the vaccine, you need to be in Phase 1A or 1B at this time. 

• To learn more about Dallas County’s vaccination policy, click here.

CDC COVID-19 Vaccination FAQ

The COVID-19 pandemic is changing rapidly and requires different strategies to maintain clinical preventive services, including immunization. The CDC has created an FAQ on the COVID-19 vaccine to familiarize individuals with the process as states roll out their plans.

• To learn more about the vaccine, please click here.

IRS Economic Impact Payments

The second round of Economic Impact payments were approved by congress late December and began being distributed early January. The payments are work $600 for eligible individuals, or $1,200 for couples, and those with children can receive an additional $600 for each child under the age of 17.

• To check the status of your payments or learn if you are eligible to receive the stimulus payments, click here.

Human Trafficking Prevention Month Resources

As the U.S. anti-trafficking movement has grown in our understanding of this diverse and complex crime, we are learning more about how people can help identify and report possible trafficking. Everyone can help by learning the types of trafficking and paying attention to the people around us. 

• To explore the resources that the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services has compiled to learn about the indicators of human trafficking and how to help, please click here.

Texas Department of Agriculture Commodity Supplemental Food Program

The Commodity Supplemental Food Program’s purpose is to improve the health and nutritional status of elderly persons, 60 and older, who are vulnerable to malnutrition and are income eligible. USDA provides USDA Food for food packages that are used for home consumption. Local organizations distribute the food packages and provide nutrition education to eligible participants.

• To learn more about the program and sign-up, please click here.

Childcare Options for Texas Workers

Texas is working hard to ensure the health and safety of all of its residents . There are thousands of workers who may qualify as COVID-19 Frontline Essential Workers. In order to help prioritize available child care, the following essential workers are given priority:

• Healthcare and pharmacy workers
• First responders
• Workers in child care services, in support of workers in other essential functions
• Critical infrastructure workers in grocery, utilities, trucking, and more!

To search for childcare options available in your area, please click here.

Arts and Culture

MAKE! Festival

Celebrate the power of creativity and all the ways we MAKE in this fun-filled week of free virtual and in–person activities for the entire family alongside the Dallas Museum of Art. This virtual celebration will take place between February 6-13, 2021 with activities for people of all ages!

• To learn more about the virtual activities and how to be a part of the celebrations, click here.

Celebrating Chinese New Year

Celebrate Chinese New Year with the Oak Cliff Cultural Center on February 6th! Participants will create a red envelope bookmark, incorporate lucky coins into the design, and learn about the Chinese New Year celebration with artist Jin-Ya Huang. Registration opens January 28 at 7:00 PM. The event will be first come, first serve.

• To sign up for this event, click here.

Community Building

Dallas Public Library "The Big Read Down" Free Amnesty Program

The Dallas Public Library will conduct a fee amnesty program called “The Big Read Down” from February 1 – February 28, 2021. During this period, library customers may log minutes read as well as other activities, such as taking an online class or completing a STEM activity offered by the Library, to earn amnesty for accrued fees. The schedule for the fee amnesty program will be as follows:

• 15 minutes read = $1.00 toward fee amnesty
• Activities completed = $17.00

To learn more about the program and who to contact for further help, click here. 

Food Drive for Refugees

The Northwest Community Center is collecting non-perishable food items to stock the shelves for Tasby Middle School’s food pantry which serves up to 60 families each week. Northwest Community Center will continue to be a drop-off point for food donations throughout the 2020-21 school year.

• To learn more about how to help and what items to donate, please click here.

The Black and Indigenous History of Agriculture

The Skip Shockley Foundation & Oak Cliff Veggie Project Presents: The Black and Indigenous History of Agriculture. You can learn about the agricultural legacy of Black and Indigenous people through a panel discussion. This event will be taking place February 1, 2021 at 12:00pm CT.

• To learn more about the panelists and the event, please click here

Education Resources

U.S. News Scholarship Finder

Scholarships are available for students of nearly every identity, interest area, professional aspiration and race. Most scholarship deadlines are in the spring, with many falling on March 1, so now is the time for high school seniors to search for awards. The U.S. News Scholarship Finder can help individuals narrow their search by stats like test scores, location, type of award and school type.

• To explore this scholarship-finding resource, click here.

Bilingual Storytime

The Dallas Public Library will begin hosting a Bilingual Storytime withstories, songs and rhymes in Spanish to get ready to read! The suggested age is for children 6 years old and under. This program is only offered online. Registration is ongoing.

• To register for this event, please click here.

National Hispanic Scholarship Fund: Road to College Webinar

The HSF: Road to College Webinar is a free, 90-minute workshop designed to help middle and high school students- and their parents- prepare, plan, and pay for college. The program will be presented in both English and/or Spanish. The webinar will be taking place Tuesday, April 27, 2021 at 6:00pm CT.

• To register for this event, click here.

Employment Resources

Workforce Solutions Greater Dallas

A robust workforce is a key component in the economic engine of the Greater Dallas Area and that's why Workforce Solutions Greater Dallas (WFSDallas) exists. Amidst the pandemic, Workforce Solutions is connecting to individuals virtually. They can help jobseekers with job searching and childcare options.

• To explore their resources and expand your job search, click here.

Wilkinson Center Adult Education Programs

For more than 10 years, the Wilkinson Center Adult Education program has provided services that help people learn the skills they need for career and life. Clients can obtain a GED, learn English, computer skills, financial management, or participate in career development and job readiness classes. Due to Covid-19 and practicing social distancing, all classes are now online. Classes are offered at no cost to students.

• To learn more about who to contact to register for classes, click here.

Work in Texas

WorkInTexas.com is an online application that offers job seekers immediate and continuous access to job matching services. Even when job seekers are not logged on, they continue to match job openings with qualified job seekers and generates notices to alert them to potential job opportunities. Job seekers can also browse thousands of job postings, refer themselves to open positions, and complete resumés.

• To explore this resource, please click here.

Get Shift Done

Get Shift Done connects the hospitality workforce affected by the COVID-19 virus with local non-profits to serve and provide hunger relief to North Texas communities. Their Shiftsmart platform connects volunteers to organizations to bring critical stability to communities.

• To learn more about the program and sign up for the platform, click here.

Fair Housing

Housing Crisis Center

The Housing Crisis Center provides permanent supportive housing, rapid rehousing, and supportive service for families and individuals in need. They provide safety and shelter to Veterans, single-parent families, dual-parent families and other individuals.

• To learn more about their programming and who to contact, please click here.

Dallas County Housing Programs

The County's Emergency Rental Assistance/Welfare Program provides short-term rental assistance to individuals who do not yet receive social security, workers compensation or other disability benefits. Additionally, the county sponsors Section 8 Rental Assistance Programs, loan counseling, and energy-related programming.

• To learn more about what program best suits your needs, please click here.

Dallas Housing Authority

The Dallas Housing Authority provides quality, affordable housing to low-income families and individuals through the effective and efficient administration of housing assistance programs across North Texas. The provide two different housing options to meet the various needs of residents.

• To learn more about their options, click here.

Food

Brother Bill’s Helping Hand Grocery Store

Brother Bill’s is a partner of the North Texas Food Bank to offer groceries to individuals and families in need. Due to COVID-19 their Grocery Store Program is now a contactless drive thru model to ensure everyone’s safety. Individuals must make a grocery appointment before coming to receive food.

• To register click here or call 214-638-2196.

Pleasant Grove Food Pantry

Pleasant Grove Food Pantry is a Client Choice pantry utilizing a Points System. At the beginning of each month households are awarded monthly points based on the number of individuals in the household. Those points are used by clients to ‘shop’ for food.  This allows clients the dignity to select their own food from pantry shelves and learn how to budget. They only serve zip codes 75217, 75227, or 75253 AND those whose  income is at or below TEXCAP guidelines.

• To learn more about their requirements, please click here.

City Square Food Pantry

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, City Square has extended their hours to Tuesday through Friday from 9AM to 1PM. There is no zip code restriction, and they have provided both drive-through and walk-up service options (first come, first serve). The Food Pantry distributes pre-packaged groceries (no client choice).

• To learn more about their service hours and location, please click here.

Food for Families with Students

Dallas ISD Curbside Meals

Food & Child Nutrition Services is providing meals to students at no cost whether in school or virtual! Our curbside service is every Wednesday from 4:30 PM – 6:30 PM. Meals will be served at schools throughout the district.

• To learn more about any additional pick-up times, please click here.

Health KIDZ Bop Fitness! With the pandemic continuing the closure of schools and youth sports, exercise is now more important than ever for kids. KIDZ Bop offers over 20 kid-friendly exercise dance videos to help kids get their daily dose of activity. To explore the videos and get to dancing, click here. Dallas Parks Fitness Centers The City of Dallas Parks and Recreation Fitness Centers are open & ready to help you reach your fitness goals! Pre-registration is required. They are open Monday-Thursday from 10am-8pm and Fridays 2pm-7pm. Masks are required at the 35 facilities located all over the city. To learn more about the fitness centers and pre-register, click here. COVID-19 Vaccine PSA The DPD Community Affairs Division is hosting a COVID -19 Vaccine Public Service Announcement on February 3, 2021 at 3:00pm. The conversation will include guest speakers Dr. Huang and Mr. Alvaro Hobbs. This event is to answer questions that the community may have regarding getting vaccinated. Registration is free and available here. For more information please contact Sergeant Wanda West at 214-671-4053.

Immigrant Affairs

Catholic Charities Immigration Legal Services

With the reinstatement of programs like DACA, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, free legal immigration services are available to all eligible clients. Interested applicants are encouraged to contact 214-634-7182 for direct assistance regarding qualifications for no-fee immigration services.

• To learn more about the requirements and how to receive an appointment, please click here.

Legal Aid

Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas

Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas is a nonprofit organization that provides free civil legal help to low-income residents in 114 Texas co​unties throughout​t North and West Texas. They provide legal services for a variety of issues and cases.

• To learn more about their services, click here.

Small Business Support

PeopleFund Paycheck Protection Program Assistance

PeopleFund is now accepting applications for the PPP program for both first-time and second-time borrowers. The Paycheck Protection Program provides small businesses with funds to pay up to 8 weeks of payroll costs including benefits. Funds can also be used to pay interest on mortgages, rent, and utilities.

• To receive assistance from PeopleFund to receive PPP funding, please clickhere.

LiftFund

LiftFund has special public and private partnerships to assist small business across their footprint. They provide loans as well as business and financial training. LiftFund can help individuals start, stabilize, or expand their businesses.

• To learn more about their resources, please click here.

Hispanic Small Business Center

The Hispanic Small Business Center helps support small businesses across the U.S. facing the impact of COVID-19. In a partnership with Hello Alice, they have designated a portion of their COVID-19 Business for All Emergency Grants specifically for Hispanic founders. They also offer a Spanish-language version of their COVID-19 Business Resource Center to help business owners access government funding.

• To access their resources, click here.

The Office of Native American Affairs

The SBA’s Office of Native American Affairs is dedicated to promoting and supporting Native American entrepreneurs. Their entrepreneurial development program seeks to provide tools and education on lending and other matters to give Native American Business Owners the tools needed to run a successful business.

• To learn more about their programming, click here.