While the mayor continues to push for state and federal funds to offset the cost of immigrant assistance programs, he has also promoted independent initiatives to raise funds beyond government coffers. The main endowment fund, raised by the Mayor’s Fund to Advance NYC, has yet to be distributed.
Adi Talwar
August 10, 2022. Immigrants who arrived in New York on one of three buses from Texas wait in front of the Port Authority to be transferred to shelters in the city.
This article originally appeared in English. Translated by Daniel Parra.
Read the English version here.
Immigration is, in many ways, at the heart of New York City’s current budget conversations. For months, Mayor Eric Adams has proposed agency cuts and belt-tightening measures, citing the need to address the costs of asylum-seeker assistance programs.
The city has so far spent $817 million on the crisis and expects to spend between $1.4 and $4.2 billion over the next fiscal year to provide shelter and other resources to asylum seekers, according to Adams, who has been aggressively seeking state funding. and federal to cover part of the cost.
He has also promoted two independent fundraising initiatives to help asylum seekers beyond government coffers, which have raised just over $2 million in monetary donations, though most of it has yet to be doled out, according to reports. figured out City Limits.
Adams’ plan released last month, dubbed “The Road Forward: Blueprint to Address New York City’s Response to the Asylum Seeker Crisis”, sets the goal of raising $25 million from non-profit organizations and businesses.
The first major fundraising effort began in October 2022 through a partnership between the Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City, the mayor’s office, and the nonprofit United Way of New York City (UWNYC). ), to direct monetary donations al bottom UWNYC Emergency Assistance and Community Needs (EACN).
The fund has raised more than $775,000, and so far has distributed approximately $650,000 to community organizations dedicated to helping asylum seekers (United Way keeps a 15 percent administrative fee). Airbnb, Trinity Church of Wall Street* and Share Our Strength were some of the top donors.
“Our EACN fund helps fund organizations that provide direct services, programs, resources and essential items to asylum seekers who come to them for help, connection and hope,” said Corrina Kirby, vice president of strategic initiatives and director UWNYC Development Interim.
In 2022, UWNYC held its first round of disbursements, totaling approximately $150,000, to seven organizations on the ground responding to the emergency: El Puente, Grannies Respond, Gambian Youth Organization, Artists, Athletes + Activists, The Salvation Army, Make the Road New York and MASS.
In the second round of funding, recently announcedUWNYC awarded $500,000 in grants of $50,000 each to 10 organizations: 86 the Barrier, Advocates for Children of New York, Alianza Ecuatoriana Internacional, Bridge Street Development Corporation, Collective Focus, Committee for Hispanic Children & Families, Community Help in Park Slope Inc, Mixteca, St. John’s Bread & Life Program and Vision Urbana.
The other fundraising initiative, launched in January, was the creation of the Asylum Seeker Relief Fund (Asylum Seekers Relief Fund), as part of the Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City, which has raised much more money but has yet to distribute any.
The mayor’s office said the contracts are still being negotiated and enforced. As of April 13, the Mayor’s Fund had raised $1,320,000 in monetary donations and $2,734,949 in in-kind donations.
All funds will go to support the service needs of asylum seekers by funding community organizations. The Rockefeller Foundation, Airbnb, Trinity Church Wall Street* and GrubHub are some of the organizations that have donated the most to the Mayor’s Fund to date.
Since last spring, more than 50,000 immigrants have arrived in New York City after crossing the US border, and more than 30,000 have been in city shelters since March.
A pilot program in need of funding
In January, the New York Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs (MOIA), in collaboration with the Department of Transportation (DOT), the Department of Administrative Services (DCAS) in English), Bike New York, Unlimited Biking, Trek and Recycle-A-Bicycle launched a donation of bicycles to provide free bicycles to asylum seekers and other immigrants recently arrived in New York City.
The program has three phases: donation, repair and distribution. The initial goal was to collect some 200 bikes, and about 250 were received, which are currently being repaired.
Adi Talwar
Bicycles and motorbikes are parked in front of the Watson Hotel in midtown Manhattan on January 25, 2023. Many asylum seekers have found work as food delivery drivers.
The distribution phase, in which five organizations will be selected to distribute the bikes, will be announced in the first two weeks of May, as will details on how to get hold of any bikes, MOIA said.
According to Jeremy Lockett, Bike New York’s director of community relations, more than 80 percent of the bikes were donated directly by New Yorkers.
Those who receive bicycles will also receive locks, a pair of front and rear lights, helmets and will be able to take courses on traffic rules and on how to circulate and navigate the city by bike.
In addition, to help keep bike maintenance costs down, Lockett explained, “we will offer free maintenance at our local shop, Recycle-a-Bicycle“.
Lockett said they hope to repeat the initiative, but future plans will depend on resources.
“There is a need and we can fill it,” Lockett said. “But we need funding to really make it possible.”
