Dear Recovery Partners,

I am happy to share the FEMA Region 3 Interagency Recovery Coordination Task Force COVID-19’s Impact on the Human and Social Services Sector. The human and social services sector has been hard hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. The demand for services has grown dramatically, at the same time as revenue losses and staff layoffs threaten the safety net so vital to those hardest hit by the economic downturn.

The authors of this report are Laura Olson, Ph.D. – COVID-19 Recovery Advisor for Mental Health and Social Services / FEMA Region 3 Interagency Recovery Coordination Task ForceAlessandra Jerolleman, Ph.D, CFM, MPA – COVID-19 Recovery Advisor for Economic Stabilization/ Both work with the FEMA Region 3 Interagency Recovery Coordination Task Force.

This report raises awareness about the challenges facing this sector that are critical to the safety and wellbeing of our citizens and the survival of the organizations that serve them. Summarizing existing and available research and analysis, the report highlights the situation in Region 3, but also provides data on the situation for the nation. The nonprofit sector has lost 8% of all employees nationwide since February 2020, while in critical fields the losses have been more severe – with 11% unemployment in educational services and 12% in social assistance.