Starting last week, the federal government is disbursing checks of at least $1200 to most Americans (with the exception of those that are listed as dependents on someone else’s taxes). But unfortunately, there is a huge group of people who won’t be able to access the federal stimulus checks: our undocumented community members. About 10% of California’s workforce is undocumented, but people that are not legal residents are not eligible for the federal stimulus funds. The good news is that in California there is another option.
Governor Gavin Newsom has announced a new program to distribute $125 million to undocumented Californians: $75 million will come from state funds, and another $50 million has been promised from nonprofits like the Chan Zuckerberg Foundation. The program is the first of its kind in the nation.
“California is the most diverse state in the nation. Our diversity makes us stronger and more resilient. Every Californian, including our undocumented neighbors and friends, should know that California is here to support them during this crisis. We are all in this together,” said Governor Newsom.
The funds will be disbursed in $500 payments, with a maximum of $1000 per household. Undocumented Californians can apply for the funds starting next month. In total, the state plans to distribute money to 150,000 undocumented adults in the state.
If you are undocumented and need funds, the best way to access them is to reach out to local immigrant rights groups in your area. The governor is distributing the funds through nonprofits with connections to undocumented communities. The twelve nonprofits that have been selected to distribute funds are available here, grouped by geographic region.
Be sure to get in touch as soon as possible, so that a member of the organization can help you. You will not be penalized for seeking assistance through the disaster relief fund.
Jae Maldonado, Associate Director of Community Health for the Oakland community organization Unity Council, says organizations like his are welcoming new clients during the crisis. “ I would say the best thing to do is to establish a relationship. With limited funds, most agencies are going to have some distribution structure. So it is worthwhile for folks that are currently disconnected to engage, and our efforts as a service provider should be reaching those that are most disconnected during this time,” he said.
There are also other forms of aid that are available to undocumented immigrants in California. The Blue Shield foundation, a major contributor to COVID response efforts in California and beyond has a list of organizations on their website that they are distributing aid to. They include the Asian Pacific Fund, the East Bay Community Foundation and many others.
If you need medical care, the governor has also expanded availability of testing in our community clinics throughout California. You may not need to go to an emergency room to be tested; there are tests available at community clinics. You can get testing even if you do not have health insurance (including Medicaid.) You can find a testing center near you at our YoGov testing page.If you are documented and would like to support the fund, you can donate here. Undocumented Californians play a vital role in our communities, many of them in essential roles like caregiving, agriculture and food preparation. We are proud to support our undocumented neighbors.