LOCAL BUSINESS CHALLENGES PROBLEM: Social distancing measures have forced some businesses to shift operations or close entirely, and many of those that remain open struggle to turn a profit, even though the state began to reopen its economy May 1.
funding assistance, Cupcake Cachet will not reopen. “Every dollar I have ever earned is tied up in this business,” she said. “We’re hopeful, definitely, but reality is starting to set in with me, and I’m pretty scared.” Mental healthchallenges As Bay Area residents adjust to social isolation and deal with the effects of the coronavirus, local mental health experts said anxiety and depression are prevalent among their patients. Attempting to work full-time and play a more teacher-like role in their children’s education is a stressor for many parents amid the pandemic, said Julia Poritz, a licensed psychologist at University of Texas Medical Branch Health. Families with an essential worker leaving the house every day are also struggling, as jobs that were not considered dangerous before now involve potential exposure to illness. Even people who were fairly sta- ble before the coronavirus outbreak are feeling increasingly anxious and depressed, she said. However, patients also tell her they are grateful for the increase in quality family time and are grateful to not be struggling alone. “There’s just that overall comforting
feeling that everyone is going through this shared experience together,” Poritz said. “I know that’s been a source of comfort for a lot of people.” Isolation can exacerbate mental and emotional health issues for many people and greatly increase the risk of substance abuse, said Randy Brazzel, the CEO of New Dimensions Day Treat- ment Centers. New Dimensions, which has various Houston-area locations, offers psychiatric substance abuse pro- grams for adults and adolescents. Many people develop addictions early on in life, so they may lack the necessary coping skills to properly nav- igate trauma, Brazzel said. Any event so overwhelming that it overrides one’s ability to cope—including a pandemic— can cause post-traumatic stress disor- der in a person, Brazzel said. To that end, he added that more challenges can be expected once normalcy returns and people try to go about their lives. Picking up the pieces of a traumatic event will be dif- ficult for many, he said. “We anticipate the impacts are going to be long-lasting,” Brazzel said.
RESPONSE: Harris County enacted a $10 million loan program for small- businesses owners, in which successful applicants can receive up to $25,000 from the Houston-Galveston Area Council.
RESPONSE: The Seabrook Economic Development Corp. is awarding $3,500 to $10,000 to businesses through the Seabrook Emergency Business Retention Incentive, with a total of $250,000 available.
RESPONSE: League City City Council on April 14 created an emergency turnaround task force to supplement Texas’ gradual reopening of businesses.
SOURCES: HARRIS COUNTY PRECINCT 2, LEAGUE CITY, SEABROOK ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORP./COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
and she’s here to stay.” Cupcake Cachet owner Traci Dean said Valentine’s Day to graduation time is her business’s busy season, but the bakery has had to refund
many prepaid orders with event can- cellations. The bakery operated for a few weeks in March with restricted hours and eventually closed. Dean said without some kind of
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BAY AREA EDITION • MAY 2020
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