dovercares

The COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic is an unprecedented health crisis that has disrupted our local, national and worldwide economy. This disruption is creating significant financial hardships and potentially lasting economic impacts that affect Dover residents, businesses and nonprofits. To assist in overcoming the financial and emotional challenges many are experiencing now and in the weeks and months ahead, a number of programs and services are already in place or being implemented by the City of Dover. These measures are being coordinated with federal, state and private efforts, and provide economic support and financial relief to all residents, businesses and nonprofits affected by the COVID-19 crisis and in need of assistance.

Dover CARES (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security) is a comprehensive and continually updated list of programs, services and assistance available to the community during these difficult times.

Important Numbers

For questions and concerns about the COVID-19 coronavirus, call the state's hotline at 2-1-1.

Wentworth-Douglass Hospital's COVID-19 Community Hotline serves as a nursing triage phone line for those with symptoms of COVID-19 or have general COVID-19 questions. The line is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The COVID-19 Community Hotline is (603) 609-6000.

How Do I Find Help For:

PROPERTY TAX RELIEF

Financial Hardship

• All property owners with demonstrated financial hardship are eligible to apply for reductions on their tax bills. This also includes waivers of past due interest charges accrued during the COVID-19 emergency. For more information, contact the Assessor's Office at 516-6014.

Low and Moderate Income Homeowners

• Homeowners with income less than $20,000 per year ($40,000 married or head of household) are eligible to apply for a rebate on their taxes. Through this program, the State of New Hampshire's Department of Revenue Administration allows residents of low to moderate income to apply for a reduction to the state portion of the education property tax, which is provided as a property tax rebate. For more information, or to apply, visit https://www.revenue.nh.gov/forms/low-moderate.htm. The filing period is May 1 to June 30.  

Extended Property Tax Payment Plans

• All property owners with demonstrated financial hardship are eligible to establish pay plans for tax bills to be completed over an extended period. For more information, contact the Tax Collector's Office at 516-6018.

Existing Exemptions and Credits

• All homeowners meeting certain criteria are eligible to receive partial exemptions and/or credits on their tax bills. Exemptions and credits are available for the elderly, blind, deaf, disabled and all veterans. For more information, contact the Tax Assessment Office at 516-6014 or visit https://www.dover.nh.gov/government/city-operations/finance/tax-assessment/index.html.
  
  
• The City of Dover will receive state and federal grants being distributed to local communities in conjunction with the federal Coronavirus Relief Act (CARES Act). These funds will provide reimbursement and offset budgeted expenses related to the municipality’s response to COVID-19 crisis. To the extent allowed by grant requirements, these funds will be utilized to directly offset the burden of local property taxes in current and future budgets for all property owners.

HOUSING AND FOOD ASSISTANCE

Housing Assistance

• All residents in Dover at immediate risk of losing housing, including those requiring help with rent and/or mortgage payments, are eligible to apply for public assistance. To find out what assistance is available, contact the Public Welfare Department at 516-6500, by email at s.gaston@dover.nh.gov or by visiting bit.ly/doverwelfare.
• Additional assistance for residential tenants unable to pay rent is available by contacting Community Action Partnership of Strafford County at cap@straffordcap.org or visiting straffordcap.org.

Food & Household Commodities

• All residents in Dover in need of food or other household essentials and otherwise financially unable to adequately sustain themselves will be eligible to apply for access vouchers and/or local food bank supplies which may include referrals to private charitable organizations. To find out what assistance is available, contact the Public Welfare Department at 516-6500.

• Summer has arrived, and for many Dover children, that means a decrease in available food, including food distributed over the last three months by the Dover School District. Grab and Go, a nonprofit program that provides food to the children, will offer healthy food to Dover children every week throughout the summer.

  Now in its sixth year, Grab and Go has distributed over 10,000 weekend food bags.

  Those in need of food this summer can pick up food bags at one of several locations throughout the city. Food bags are generally available at each site for approximately 45 minutes.

  The program will continue through Friday, Sept. 4.

  Pick-up locations and times are as follows:

  Thursdays

  • Dover Teen Center, afternoon
  • Dover Public Library, afternoon
  • Dover Public Welfare, afternoon
  • Garrison Elementary School, 1:15 p.m.
  • Whittier Falls, 1:30 p.m.
  • Park Street Park, 1:45 p.m.
  • Henry Law Park, 1:45 p.m.

   

  Fridays

  • Westgate Apartments, 9:30 a.m.
  • Woodman Park, 9:30 a.m.
  • Strafford Farms, 10 a.m.
  • Belknap Street, 10 a.m.
  • Dover High School, 10 a.m.
  • White Cliffs, 10:30 a.m.
  • Rutland Manor, 10:30 a.m.
  • Lilac Gardens, 11:45 a.m.
  • Redden Gardens, 11:45 a.m.

  Grab and Go is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization.

  For more information, email dovergrabandgo@gmail.com.
  
  
• The University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension's Food Access Map shows where in Dover free or low-cost food is offered, volunteers are needed and donations are accepted. The map can be found at https://extension.unh.edu/resource/new-hampshire-food-access-map.
• Community Action Partnership of Strafford County helps provide food to all families and individuals in need during the COVID-19 pandemic. For a list of food plans, food pantries and meals to go, visit https://straffordcap.org/covid-19-meals/.

Homeless Services

• Local homeless are able to receive shelter, food and medical care through existing public assistance programs and services provided by religious and private charitable organizations. Shower and laundry facilities are also available and can be accessed by referrals provided through Public Welfare and Community Action program offices.

BUSINESS ASSISTANCE

• Businesses seeking assistance are encouraged to contact the Office of Economic Development at 516-6043.
• Additional information about relief from the effects of COVID-19 on local businesses can be found at the State of New Hampshire's COVID-19 web page at https://www.nh.gov/covid19/, the CDC's COVID-19 page for businesses and employers at https://go.usa.gov/xdeVN, and the state's Department of Business and Economic Affairs page at https://www.nheconomy.com/covid19.
• The State of New Hampshire offers a number of services for employees who have been laid off. New Hampshire Employment Security has a list of available services at www.nhes.nh.gov. Individuals will need to file for unemployment each week of temporary unemployment and this can and should be done online or by calling 603-271-7700.
• The Paycheck Protection Program, created as part of the CARES Act relief bill signed into law March 27, ensures that small businesses can continue to pay employees and cover certain costs during the health crisis caused by the COVID-19 coronavirus. The Paycheck Protection Program is a loan designed to provide a direct incentive for small businesses to keep their workers on the payroll. The Small Business Administration will forgive loans if all employees are kept on the payroll for eight weeks and the money is used for payroll, rent, mortgage interest, or utilities. After the program's funds were depleted in two weeks, a new federal stimulus package this week infused an additional $320 billion into the program. Businesses interested in the program are encouraged to apply as soon as possible. All businesses - including nonprofits, veterans organizations, sole proprietorships, self-employed individuals, and independent contractors - with 500 or fewer employees may apply. Loans of up to $10 million can be used to cover payroll, paid sick leave for which you are not receiving a tax credit under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, insurance premiums, rent, utilities, and mortgage interest payments. If you retain your full staff and payroll, and use the loan proceeds on payroll and other eligible expenses, all of your loan will be 100 percent forgiven. A number of local lenders in Dover are now available to process loan applications. For a list of lenders eligible to accept Paycheck Protection Program applications, visit https://www.sba.gov/paycheckprotection/find/?address=03820. The program is open until Aug. 8, 2020.
• The majority of business tenants are eligible for financial relief through the Federal CARES Act. Business tenants should immediately contact their local lenders to access funds for expenses such as lease payments at www.SBA.gov/paycheckprotection/find.

• Additional resources are available at the City of Dover's "Supporting Businesses Through COVID-19" page here: www.dover.nh.gov/business-in-dover/dover-businesses-and-services/covid19/index.html.

WATER AND SEWER UTILITIES

Extended Payment Plans

• All utility customers with demonstrated financial hardship are eligible to establish payment plans for utility bills to be completed over an extended period. For more information, contact the Water and Sewer Billing Office at 516-6028.

Non-Payment Shutoffs Deferred

• All utility customers subject to shutoff due to non-payment will have shutoffs deferred during the COVID-19 declared emergency and while complying with an approved extended payment plan. For more information, contact the Water and Sewer Billing Office at 516-6028.

RECREATION

Financial Hardship

• All residents with demonstrated financial hardship are eligible to apply for reductions or fee waivers associated with recreation program registrations. For more information, contact Dover Recreation at 516-6401.

Program Membership/Registration/Facility Rental Credits

• All residents and organizations having paid for recreation memberships, registration or rental fees that have not been used during the COVID-19 crisis will be provided with credit to be applied in the future for same.

WAIVED FEES, CHARGES AND DELAYED DEADLINES

• The Public Library is waiving all fines for March, April and May.