Specifications include, but are not limited to: UpTogether shall provide direct, unrestricted cash assistance to eligible Santa Fe County and City of Santa Fe residents impacted by the economic hardships of the COVID pandemic through two funds: 1) One-Time Economic Relief, and 2) Short-term Economic Payments, as outlined below. UpTogether will distribute the cash through the UpTogether Community, a technology platform that transfers unrestricted cash investments directly to individuals through bank account transfer or UpTogether digital/physical card. 1. One-Time Economic Relief Fund The funds will be distributed as direct financial assistance to eligible residents in the form of one-time payments (through ACH transfers and/or UpTogether digital/physical cards) of $1,250. The payments will be unrestricted. The City will identify local nonprofit organizations in the CONNECT network to identify potential recipients and verify and document their eligibility, including income and indigency. Information and backup documentation will be stored and accessed through the CONNECT network. Individuals will be eligible if they meet the following criteria: ● The recipient resides in Santa Fe County; ● Have experienced financial hardship due to COVID-19 resulting in an inability to cover basic living expenses such as food, transportation, housing or medical expenses including one or more of the following: 1. Meet at least one of the following conditions: o Experienced a reduction in hours between March 2020 and current; o Experienced unemployment at some point during the pandemic between March 2020 and current; and o Experienced a temporary job loss due to a workplace shut down because of COVID-19 outbreak or a New Mexico state imposed closure between July 1, 2020 and current; and o Accrued additional expenses due to COVID-19 sickness (i.e. quarantining, hospitalization, etc.) ● Meet the State’s definition of indigent ● Are at least 18 years old, as screened by the UpTogether platform based on date of birth ● The City will work with local nonprofit organization(s) that they identify to verify the above criteria through documentation provided by the potential recipient. Documentation allowed by the City will be sufficiently broad to reduce the burden on applicants and ensure inclusion. UpTogether will not verify this information. ● Individuals will self-attest that only one individual in their household is submitting an application
