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The COVID-19 pandemic, like most catastrophes, has revealed the fissures across America and in New York City as well. Poor and working families, as well as people of color, have suffered disproportionately from the ravages of the pandemic.  The low-income neighborhoods of the Bronx, northern Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens had the highest rates of infection and death in the country. This is no surprise: residents of these communities live in overcrowded apartments, in buildings with elevators that are slow and cramped; they shop for food in crowded and poorly-stocked stores; they travel to work on public transportation to perform essential labor, as grocery workers, delivery people, nurses- that increased their exposure and subsequent risk. 

As New York City enters the fifth year of the pandemic, the longer-term impacts of the pandemic are beginning to reveal themselves also- unfortunately, with a profile that highlights the impact on the city's poor, less-resourced communities.  Many people were unable or unwilling to take advantage of government relief programs; these programs, in any case, have dwindled, and tens of thousands- hundreds of thousands- of New Yorkers are confronting joblessness and the threat or reality of homelessness.  Food lines stretch around city blocks; food pantries that open one day a week are now open five or six days. Small businesses that cannot access federal relief programs struggle to survive.

Most Flushing residents have limited English proficiency and have trouble accessing essential government programs such as job training and business services like consumer loans. This neighborhood has the highest number of low-income immigrants with limited English proficiency and the fourth largest population of individuals aged 55 and older compared to any other neighborhood in New York City. Over 40 percent of area renters face a severe rent burden, with rent costs consuming at least half of their household incomes. An estimated 25% of Flushing residents live in poverty, compared to 19% in all of Queens and 20% in all of New York City.

According to Bankbranchlocator.com, 34 different banks with 82 branches operate in Flushing. According to federal data, despite being a neighborhood particularly devastated by COVID-19, small businesses in Flushing, out of any neighborhood in the entire city, saw the least success getting Paycheck Protection Program loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration.