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 offered 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.

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.   

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

• A new federally funded New Hampshire Emergency Rental Assistance Program (NHERAP) provides assistance to eligible residents of New Hampshire who cannot pay their rent and utilities due to the COVID-19 pandemic. NHERAP is administered by New Hampshire Housing Finance Authority (NHHFA), in collaboration with the Governor’s Office for Emergency Relief and Recovery (GOFERR) and the Community Action Partnership agencies. To be eligible for rental or utility assistance, at least one person in the household must have qualified for unemployment benefits, had their income reduced, had significant costs, OR had other financial hardship due to COVID 19. The household must be at risk for homelessness or housing instability, and meet certain income requirements. Details about the program are available at https://www.capnh.org/.
• The White House recently extended the foreclosure moratorium for homeowners through June 30, 2021; the mortgage payment forbearance enrollment window was extended until June 30, 2021 for borrowers who wish to request forbearance; and provides up to six months of additional mortgage payment forbearance, in three-month increments, for borrowers who entered forbearance on or before June 30, 2020. More information can be found here.
• 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 d.balian@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.
• 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/our-services/food-nutrition/.

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.
• In May 2021, the City of Dover began offering targeted Microenterprise Business Assistance Grants and Small Business Assistance Grants of up to $3,000 provided by U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's Community Development Block Grant Program. Microenterprise grants are for businesses with five or fewer employees, including the owner(s). Small Business Assistance Grants are for businesses with 2-15 employees, also including the owner(s). The grants are intended to provide working capital to assist small local businesses in avoiding job loss caused by the coronavirus. Applicants must meet all eligibility requirements, which are included in the application. Find the application for the Microenterprise Assistance Grant here, and the application for the Small Business Assistance Grant here. Contact the Office of Economic Development at 516-6043 for more information. 
• The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) provides loans to help businesses keep their workforce employed during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis. Borrowers may be eligible for PPP Loan Forgiveness.
• The Shuttered Venue Operators (SVO) Grant program was established by the Economic Aid to Hard-Hit Small Businesses, Nonprofits, and Venues Act. Eligible applicants may qualify for SVO Grants equal to 45 percent of their gross earned revenue, with the maximum amount available for a single grant award being $10 million. There is $2 billion reserved for eligible applications with up to 50 full-time employees. More information about the program can be found here.
• COVID-19 Economic Targeted Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) Advance was signed into law, as part of the Economic Aid to Hard-Hit Small Businesses, Nonprofits, and Venues Act. The Targeted EIDL Advance provides businesses located in low-income communities with additional funds to ensure small business continuity, adaptation, and resiliency. More information can be found here.
• 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.

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.