St. Louis Family Law Attorneys

Community Resources Available Providing Financial Assistance during the COVID-19 Pandemic~ 2 min read

ByJennifer Piper Hours Categories Resources

With more than 17 million Americans filing for unemployment, and the numbers continuing to escalate daily, it is essential now, more than ever, to utilize all available resources and assistance programs during this pandemic.

If you need assistance with food, rental & utilities, unemployment and small business services, and other available benefits, here are some recommendations of available services in the area:

  • St. Louis Area Foodbank: Safely distributes nutritious food to individuals and families in need.
  • Operation Food Search: Assists with finding community food agencies and additional benefits.
  • Meals on Wheels America: Provides senior citizens adequate nutrition and healthy meals.
  • United Way: Provides additional services available for Missouri and Illinois residents for food, rent and utilities, health and wellness benefits, student services, unemployment and small businesses, and other miscellaneous services.
  • Urban League of Metropolitan Saint Louis, Inc.: Provides resources for federal, state and community agencies providing assistance in Missouri and Illinois.
  • Ameren Missouri: Temporarily suspending all disconnections for non-payment and forgiving any late payment fees for residential and business customers. Ameren also provides additional resources to help assist with payment of your energy bill.
  • Missouri American Water: To help prevent the spread of the coronavirus, Missouri American Water has temporarily suspended billing-related shutoffs, restored service to customers who were previously shut off for non-payment and suspended late fees until further notice.
  • Spire: Temporarily suspending disconnects and late fees until May 1, 2020 for residential and business customers.
  • Heat Up St. Louis: Assisting senior citizens, physically disabled adults or low-income persons with their Ameren bills.

If you need assistance with paying your mortgage or credit cards, reach out to your mortgage provider or credit card provider to see what options are available. Many companies are offering immediate waiver of payments, simply upon a request.  Reach out to your provider, either online or by calling. Be sure to be aware of any fees or interest that may accrue if payments are waived or pushed back, some companies will expect a larger payment at the end of the waiver period, which could only make the situation worse.

Family Ally is dedicated to helping your family through these extraordinary times. We have implemented procedures designed to help combat the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic and are here for you while working remotely. Our office is fully operational, and we are able to meet all of your needs. Contact our office today at for any questions or for a confidential consultation, call 314-449-9800.

Jennifer Piper

Jennifer R. Piper is a family law attorney, mediator, and parenting coordinator with more than 20 years of experience serving families in the St. Louis area. She is certified as a Guardian ad Litem and frequently appointed by courts to represent children in high-conflict cases. Jennifer is a former Chair of the Family and Juvenile Law Section of the Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis and an active leader in local and state bar organizations.
Her professional recognition includes being named to The Best Lawyers in America® (2017–2025), Missouri Super Lawyers (2021–2024), and receiving a Women’s Justice Award from Missouri Lawyers Weekly. Jennifer also holds an AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell. She regularly speaks on family law topics and has helped shape family court procedures through her service on multiple committees.

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