The Navajo Nation

Office of the President and Vice President

CONTACTS

Jared Touchin, Communications Director (928) 274-4275

Crystalyne Curley, Sr. Public Information Officer  (928) 274-2758

nnopvp.communications@gmail.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 2, 2020

CARES Act Hardship Assistance Program application now available online, paper applications continue to be accepted

WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. – On Monday, the Navajo Nation Office of the Controller officially launched the online application for the CARES Act Hardship Assistance Program, which is now available at https://hardship-assistance.app.bakertilly.digital. The Office of the Controller experienced some minor technical issues with the online application, which have been resolved. If you experience technical issues, please call the toll-free help line at 1-833-282-7248.

The program is not first come first served, which means every application will be provided equal consideration, according to the Office of the Controller. Paper applications will continue to be available to elders, individuals with special needs, and for those who are unable to file an online application at participating chapters and the following locations: https://www.ndoh.navajo-nsn.gov/COVID-19/Hardship.

“The online application is available to all enrolled members living on and off the Navajo Nation. If you have elderly parents or grandparents who need assistance to complete and submit an application, we encourage you to assist them by either submitting an application online or at your local chapter or one of the alternative locations. As we have indicated before, with an initiative of this magnitude, there will be issues that come up and it will take some time to resolve those issues. Please be patient and please be respectful to everyone as we move through this process together,” said Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez.

According to the Office of the Controller, the application period will remain open until Nov. 30, 2020. Chapters and other application sites will provide paper applications and access to the online portals, if they are able to. The Office of the Controller will pick-up completed paper applications from chapters on a weekly basis, until the application period ends. Once again, the application process is not based on first come first served, which means every application will be provided equal consideration. Checks will be mailed in December, according to the Office of the Controller.

Last week, President Nez and Vice President Myron Lizer also directed Division Directors to assist with the hardship application outreach and to provide assistance to help elderly people and special needs individuals to apply. The Nez-Lizer Administration will have staff members, including fluent Navajo speakers, available to provide application forms and technical assistance. Please visit https://www.ndoh.navajo-nsn.gov/COVID-19/Hardship to view the locations and contact information for this week.

“As we move forward with the online and in-person application process, it is very important that we keep our guard up to protect our elders and those with underlying conditions. If you have internet access, we highly recommend completing and submitting your application online. Please be safe and comply with CDC guidelines if you must complete your application in-person,” said Vice President Lizer.

All Navajo Nation residents and officials are advised to follow CDC guidelines when visiting chapters and interacting with chapter officials and staff members, to reduce any potential risks associated with COVID-19. Wear a mask in public at all times, practice social distancing, wash your hands often or use hand sanitizer frequently, and avoid gatherings of five or more people.

Navajo Nation Chapters that have questions relative to the Hardship Assistance Program, email nncareshelp@nnooc.org and do not contact the Navajo Division of Community Development. For more information about the Hardship Assistance Program or the Chapter Distribution Program, visit www.nnooc.org/CARESHelp.html.