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As COVID-19 continues to progress, home care agencies are faced with temporary client loss. While some clients may not wish to risk exposure to Coronavirus (COVID-19) there is no need to lay off workers.
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is offering a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) to help alleviate financial stress. The PPP is a loan program that helps small businesses keep their workforce employed during the coronavirus pandemic. By applying for the PPP loan, agencies can keep paying their employees and prevent them from going back into the labor market.
How to Apply?
Step 1: Find Out Eligibility
According to the SBA, the following are eligible for PPP relief: [1]
- Any small business concern that meets SBA’s size standards (either the industry based sized standard or the alternative size standard)
- Any business, 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, 501(c)(19) veterans organization, or Tribal business concern (sec. 31(b)(2)(C) of the Small Business Act) with the greater of:
- 500 employees, or
- That meets the SBA industry size standard if more than 500
- Any business with a NAICS Code that begins with 72 (Accommodations and Food Services) that has more than one physical location and employs less than 500 per location
- Sole proprietors, independent contractors, and self-employed persons
Step 2: Consult Local Lenders
You should consult with your local lender to see if they are participating in the program. According to SBA, you can apply through any of the following that are participating: [1]
- Existing SBA 7(a) lender
- Federally insured depository institution
- Federally insured credit union
- Farm Credit System institution that is participating
Step 3: Apply
If you qualify and have spoken to your local lender, the next step is to apply. You can find the application by clicking here.
What’s Next?
Upon approval of the PPP your agency will be able to properly fund its employees, but what do you do with workers that cannot go into client’s homes?
Easy, provide them with online training! Online training will allow caregivers to enhance their skills while remaining loyal to their home care agency. Use this time to upskill workers to improve the quality of care your agency has to offer.
With CareAcademy’s online, mobile-compatible platform you can provide just that, while tracking the progress of your caregiver’s training.
Additional Resources
For more information you can visit the SBA Paycheck Protection Program page by clicking here.
To access a list of FAQ’s, click here.
Sources:
[1] "Paycheck Protection Program."SBA, 5 May 2020, https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/loans/coronavirus-relief-options/paycheck-protection-program.