San Mateo County's Immigrant Relief Fund In Substantial Demand

SAN MATEO COUNTY, CA — Considering that its inception in July, San Mateo County’s Immigrant Reduction Fund has awarded over $11 million in grants to immigrant households needing reduction during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The fund delivers grants of $1,000 to qualifying households who, due to their immigration status, do not qualify for federal assistance like unemployment benefits or a stimulus look at. But as swiftly as applications are authorised, extra get there.

The Mission Asset Fund (MAF) is a single of the lead corporations coordinating the fund, along with the Lawful Aid Modern society of San Mateo County, Samaritan Property and Faith in Motion Bay Spot.
Joanna Cortez Hernandez, advocacy & engagement director for MAF, explained that apps go on to roll in at a regular rate.

“We proceed to get pre-applications every single working day,” Hernandez said, estimating that they obtain approximately 100 to 200 pre-purposes everyday. “The need is tremendous in that neighborhood ideal now.”

MAF’s workforce reviews pre-programs and invitations men and women to total the software depending on readily available cash. They prioritize people with the most need.

Hernandez mentioned they experienced acquired just more than 25,000 pre-apps in complete, as of Dec. 21. Of these, they had invited about 11,000 family members to submit a entire application. MAF carries on to assessment and take apps on a rolling foundation.

As indicated by the high demand, the struggles of the pandemic are far from more than for lower-money immigrant family members. Like a lot of folks – citizens and non-citizens alike – they face unemployment, shed wages or lowered several hours. Lots of simply cannot shell out for rent, foods and essential necessities. Some are sole money earners with lessened hrs, and numerous family members have no income earners in their homes.

“The stories are heart-wrenching,” Hernandez mentioned. “Quite a few are chatting about the wellbeing of their youngsters and how they are concerned about not currently being equipped to place foodstuff on the desk for their youngsters.”

Of all the economical burdens, paying out rent is one of the most commonplace issues for grant recipients, Hernandez explained.

“Nearly all of them have talked about lease.” Hernandez claimed. “They fear about not getting in a position to pay rent and not being able to have a roof around their heads.”

In the beginning funded by a contribution from genuine estate developers and philanthropists John A. and Susan Sobrato through the Sobrato Organization, the fund amassed above $13 million. San Mateo County also contributed a big chunk of the fund, as the board of supervisors allotted $4 million of Measure K resources.

The Immigrant Aid Fund is just just one of the county’s various reduction funds. Via Evaluate K, Coronavirus Assist, Reduction and Economic Security (CARES) Act funds and personal donations, the county has supplied reduction for tenants and smaller assets homeowners, little organizations, food items banking companies, nonprofits and additional. A total record of aid money, along with their status and utilization, is out there at the county’s restoration initiative web site https://smcrecovery.org/.

The Immigrant Relief Fund is open up to San Mateo County residents who are ineligible for CARES guidance. Applicants must also have a house cash flow significantly less than 80 per cent of the location median income and need to have missing cash flow thanks to the pandemic.

Hernandez encouraged individuals needing support to utilize.

“The will need is very substantial and we are not observing it reduce at any time shortly, primarily in 2021. When we still have the fund open and whilst we are continue to accepting pre-programs, we’re also performing to raise additional money,” Hernandez mentioned.