California will provide up to $4,500 in financial assistance to undocumented immigrants who were impacted by the series of damaging storms that slammed the state in January and March, Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office confirmed on Wednesday. The Storm Assistance for Immigrants Project is a $95 million plan that will be available to most counties in June. It will provide recovery money to those who are not eligible for FEMA’s individual assistance, which was provided to people in counties who fell under the President’s Major Disaster Declaration in January and April. The funds will be available until May 31, 2024, or until all of the money is distributed, whichever comes first. Funds will be provided through pre-loaded debit cards or a check to the applicants in person through nonprofit organizations selected by Newsom’s administration. “The goal of this program is to help people with the recovery process by providing funding for food, shelter, and basic needs. Ensuring support for all Californians impacted by the storms, regardless of immigration status, strengthens the resiliency of affected communities and puts everyone on the road to economic recovery,” said Scott Murray, a spokesman for California’s Department of Social ServicesUnder the governor’s program, each individual would be eligible for a $1,500 payment, and $500 per child. Each household could receive a maximum of $4,500. Newsom’s administration said assistance will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis to eligible individuals and households. Applicants may only seek assistance with the nonprofit organizations assigned to their county of residency or county where they were impacted if they had worked or lived there previously. Those eligible for the assistance must be able to provide the following information: they lived or worked in an impacted county, are at least 18 years old, are not eligible for federal disaster assistance and have experienced a hardship resulting from the storms that occurred in December 2022 through April 2023.The selected nonprofit organizations will do in-person interviews and provide the funds in-person to minimize the risk of fraud, Newsom’s office said. Intake questions will request evidence of hardship, inquire about prior services, and confirm ineligibility for federal assistance. Newsom’s office said that a website will be created to provide more information about the program. At this point, the administration is not yet announcing which nonprofit organizations are involved. Applicants can get more information and updates through the department’s website at cdss.ca.gov. A spokesperson for Newsom’s administration said funds for the program had already been earmarked in last year’s budget for emergency management and response.
California will provide up to $4,500 in financial assistance to undocumented immigrants who were impacted by the series of damaging storms that slammed the state in January and March, Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office confirmed on Wednesday.
The Storm Assistance for Immigrants Project is a $95 million plan that will be available to most counties in June. It will provide recovery money to those who are not eligible for FEMA’s individual assistance, which was provided to people in counties who fell under the President’s Major Disaster Declaration in January and April. The funds will be available until May 31, 2024, or until all of the money is distributed, whichever comes first.
Funds will be provided through pre-loaded debit cards or a check to the applicants in person through nonprofit organizations selected by Newsom’s administration.
“The goal of this program is to help people with the recovery process by providing funding for food, shelter, and basic needs. Ensuring support for all Californians impacted by the storms, regardless of immigration status, strengthens the resiliency of affected communities and puts everyone on the road to economic recovery,” said Scott Murray, a spokesman for California’s Department of Social Services
Under the governor’s program, each individual would be eligible for a $1,500 payment, and $500 per child. Each household could receive a maximum of $4,500.
Newsom’s administration said assistance will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis to eligible individuals and households. Applicants may only seek assistance with the nonprofit organizations assigned to their county of residency or county where they were impacted if they had worked or lived there previously.
Those eligible for the assistance must be able to provide the following information: they lived or worked in an impacted county, are at least 18 years old, are not eligible for federal disaster assistance and have experienced a hardship resulting from the storms that occurred in December 2022 through April 2023.
The selected nonprofit organizations will do in-person interviews and provide the funds in-person to minimize the risk of fraud, Newsom’s office said. Intake questions will request evidence of hardship, inquire about prior services, and confirm ineligibility for federal assistance.
Newsom’s office said that a website will be created to provide more information about the program. At this point, the administration is not yet announcing which nonprofit organizations are involved.
Applicants can get more information and updates through the department’s website at cdss.ca.gov.
A spokesperson for Newsom’s administration said funds for the program had already been earmarked in last year’s budget for emergency management and response.
