With the passing of AB 5, California moved to extend employee protections to freelancers this year, but many creative professionals still work for themselves and don't have typical salaried-worker safety nets like extended sick leave. Some self-employed people will not qualify for unemployment insurance, particularly artists who rely on informal, direct cash payments or practice without a business license.

With those challenges in mind, KQED has rounded up a list of mutual aid funds that distribute emergency grants to artists, creative professionals and freelancers facing financial hardships.