Pima County sets up hotline anticipating unemployment increase

The Pima County One-Stop Career Center has set up a dislocated worker hotline at 724-5735 to handle the increase in unemployment due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The hotline will be open March 26 and will be staffed from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays. Spanish-speakers will be available to callers. Leave a message if the call goes to voice mail, and your call will be returned as soon as possible.

Specifically, the program’s workforce development specialists will be able to refer job-seekers to open job listings that are coming in from One-Stop’s business services team and can provide guidance on how to navigate the online application for Arizona unemployment insurance benefits.

In-person visits at the Kino Service Center at 2797 E. Ajo Way are OK but it is recommended to call the hotline first.

One-Stop is also telling callers that due to COVID-19 disruptions:

• Sun Tran bus service is free
• Arizona governor Doug Ducey issued an executive order delaying enforcement of eviction action orders for renters impacted by COVID-19
• The Pima Community Action Agency has information on local utilities not disconnecting services

Additional information from utility companies is at the following links:

• Tucson Electric Power
• Southwest Gas
• Tucson Water
• Trico Electric Cooperative

Those who are not laid off and in need of other One-Stop servicesshould call the Rio Nuevo office at 520-724-7650.

For more information about Pima County’s COVID-19 response, go to www.pima.gov/covid19.