Town of Los Angeles will get $21.8 million in federal funds to assist home and supply help companies to newly arrived migrants, together with migrant youngsters dwelling on Skid Row, officers introduced.
Metropolis officers, with help from the county, had utilized for Federal Emergency Administration Company funds to shelter newly arrived migrants who’ve struggled to search out housing after arriving in Los Angeles.
Native officers and advocates have pledged to welcome migrants who’ve arrived in recent times and provide them assist. However these efforts have been challenged by the town’s acute housing disaster.
A whole bunch of migrant dad and mom and youngsters this yr have gone to stay at Union Rescue Mission, a privately funded shelter on Skid Row, whereas a smaller quantity have been dwelling in tents on the sidewalk. Housing migrant households might be particularly troublesome as a result of they’re typically not eligible for a similar housing help as residents.
The Division of Homeland Safety introduced the funds as a part of the allocation of greater than $380 million throughout the nation by its Shelter and Companies Program, which helps communities present housing and different companies for newly arrived migrants who’re ready to have their circumstances heard in immigration court docket.
Town will oversee the grant funding, which will probably be allotted to a few native nonprofits — the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights, Clínica Romero and the Central American Useful resource Heart.
The cash can be utilized to supply shelter, together with motels, for migrants and to supply help, together with meals, clothes, transportation and different companies.
Mayor Karen Bass had lobbied federal officers for the cash and in early August, 5 members of the Los Angeles congressional delegation, led by Rep. Jimmy Gomez (D-Los Angeles), wrote to FEMA officers, urging them to approve the funds.
“Town has obligated a good portion of their price range to offering assets for newly arrived migrants, however the metropolis’s means to adequately and humanely serve this inhabitants will probably be strained with out extra help,” the letter mentioned, citing reporting from the L.A. Instances. “We fear that with out federal help for sheltering, homelessness all through Los Angeles will probably be exacerbated.”
L.A. County Supervisor Hilda Solis mentioned the cash would assist make sure that migrants coming to the town get the assistance they want.
“These funds will assist to supply much-needed reduction to our shelter system and help current arrivals who’re dealing with homelessness, together with in Skid Row,” Solis mentioned in an announcement.
