2020 Emergency Relief Fund for COVID-19
Information and Instructions for Emergency Relief Fund: COVID-19
The Emergency Relief Fund: COVID-19 (Fund) has been receiving donations to provide emergency assistance to yoga professionals worldwide who are experiencing financial hardship caused by the current COVID-19 crisis. We seek to assist as many people as possible through these funds. All applications will be assessed on a rolling basis and prioritized on basis of need.
Explained below are the criteria that have been established for eligibility and use of funds. We ask that all applicants read the information below.
[su_spoiler title=”Eligibility Requirements / Who can apply” open=”no” style=”fancy” icon=”plus” anchor=”” class=””]
- All yoga professionals around the globe who are experiencing financial hardship due to COVID-19 are eligible to apply for funding support (including Yoga Alliance members and non-members)
- 21 years of age or older;
- Yoga School owners can apply as individual professionals
- Preference will be given to applicants at or below 100% of the Area Median Income (AMI) prior to loss or reduction of income due to the coronavirus/COVID19 crisis (see below)
- Applicants must demonstrate a loss of income as a result of the COVID-19 crisis
- Proof of yoga teaching, residency, income eligibility, and proof of loss or reduction of income due to COVID-19 (coronavirus) must be provided
- Immigration status will not be considered in determining eligibility (i.e. undocumented residents are eligible).
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[su_spoiler title=”What can the Emergency Relief Funds be used for?” open=”no” style=”fancy” icon=”plus” anchor=”” class=””]
Approved applicants will receive a minimum of $150 USD and maximum $15000 USD.
The funds will be allocated for expenses that qualify as basic needs: rent or mortgage and utilities such as food and electricity. The Fund will also be available to assist with other needs as detailed below.
Approved applicants will receive a minimum of $150 USD and maximum $1750 USD.
- Rent Payments
- Mortgage Payments
- Utility Payments
Note: The Emergency Relief Fund is not for overdue rent payments, overdue mortgage payments, or overdue utility payments owed prior to the loss or reduction of income due to COVID-19 (Coronavirus).
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[su_spoiler title=”Are the funds received taxable income?” open=”no” style=”fancy” icon=”plus” anchor=”” class=””]
A payment of funds from the Emergency Relief Fund for COVID-19 to the applicant is not income for the applicant because such a payment of funds is a qualified disaster relief payment under the federal law of the United States of America. Please refer to your country’s guidelines on disaster/emergency relief specifications for further information. Because a payment of funds is not income, we will not provide a tax form for any payment of funds to an applicant.
If an applicant has further tax questions, the applicant should contact a tax professional.
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[su_spoiler title=”How to apply” open=”no” style=”fancy” icon=”plus” anchor=”” class=””]
Applicants can apply online here <insert form link>
Once submitted, the application will be reviewed by a committee and applicants will be notified
The four basic steps to submitting this application:
- Complete the application form
- Upload supporting documents – The application does NOT require social security numbers or other Governmental identification numbers. Therefore, prior to submitting, please make sure to cross out all social security and id numbers where present.
- Confirm and submit
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
[su_spoiler title=”Proof of yoga teaching must be demonstrated through one or more of the following documents:” open=”no” style=”fancy” icon=”plus” anchor=”” class=””]
- Yoga Teacher Certificate or Credential
- Professional Yoga CV
- Yoga Support Letter from current/former employer verifying duration and experience of teaching
- Independently contracted Yoga teachers or professionals, who are unable to submit the above can provide relevant contracts or bank statements highlighting proof of income.
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[su_spoiler title=”Proof of Residency must be demonstrated with one of the following documents:“> ” open=”no” style=”fancy” icon=”plus” anchor=”” class=””]
- A current Government photo I.D. with address,
- A current signed lease, mortgage statement, or signed tenant agreement,
- School enrollment documentation of a dependent child for the 2019-2020 or 2020-2021 school year,
- Other valid documentation such as a utility bill for the applicant’s residence dated within the past 30 days or current car registration with the applicant’s residence.
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[su_spoiler title=”Proof of income eligibility must be demonstrated in one of the following ways:” open=”no” style=”fancy” icon=”plus” anchor=”” class=””]
- A 2019 income tax return (first page),
- A 2018 income tax return (first page) and 2019 year end income statement,
- An affidavit concerning 2019 income (affidavit here)
The application does not require government identification numbers, so please delete them or cross them out prior to submitting.
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[su_spoiler title=”Proof of loss or reduction of income due to COVID-19 must be demonstrated in one of the following ways:” open=”no” style=”fancy” icon=”plus” anchor=”” class=””]
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- Two pay stubs/pay slips, one showing income before loss or reduction of income, and one paystub showing income after loss or reduction of income and dated after January 1, 2020.
- A letter from employer that indicates change of income due to COVID-19,
- A business closure notice from the applicant’s employer dated March 1, 2020 or after,
- A Department of Revenue or other official statement that shows reduction of child support payments since January 1, 2020,
- An affidavit from a family or child support provider indicating that they are unable to pay applicant because of COVID-19, OR
- An affidavit of loss of income and wages since January 1, 2020.
Income reduction may include, but not be limited to: reduction of hours of employment, loss of employment, loss of other income sources (such as reduction or loss of family or child support, or other significant income disruption). Loss of income does not include loss of investment income.
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[su_spoiler title=”Other Important Eligibility Information:” open=”no” style=”fancy” icon=”plus” anchor=”” class=””]
- This application does NOT require any Government ID numbers to apply for these funds. Please cross out or delete ID numbers from any documents submitted.
- Immigration status will not be considered in determining eligibility (i.e., undocumented residents are eligible).
- All applicants will be asked for a government issued picture I.D. to prove identity.
- We reserve the right to request additional information from applicants as needed to ensure the integrity of the program.
- Income reduction may include, but not be limited to: reduction of hours of employment, loss of employment, loss of other income sources (such as reduction or loss of family or child support, or other significant income disruption).
- Loss of income does not include loss of investment income.
- Applicants will receive an automated acknowledgement message of the Fund’s receipt of their application. The Fund will thereafter notify applicants of either an award of relief funds, a denial of funds.
- Rejected applications are not subject to appeal. Even if rejected every applicant will be considered as and when more funds are available.
- If an award is made, the award notification will indicate the total amount and for what purposes the award was made.
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