New York to distribute bank cards to hundreds of immigrants – Telemundo New York (47)

NEW YORK – New York Metropolis is increasing a program it launched in March that gives pay as you go debit playing cards to immigrants staying in city-funded accommodations, permitting them purchase meals and child merchandise at specialty shops.

Over the subsequent six months, debit playing cards shall be distributed to greater than 7,300 immigrants, at a value of roughly $2.6 million. officers advised the New York Occasions.

Eligible immigrants are those that stay in accommodations which might be shelters underneath the voucher program. 28-day village lodging.

The pilot program, which is a part of a contract with Mobility Capital Finance, was first launched in March and began with round 3,000 immigrants. function a attainable meals supply program in place that created large waste and was anticipated to value $5.6 million (greater than double the worth of the meals bank card program) over the subsequent six months.

The pilot program can be changing 14 extra accommodations into shelters, bringing the overall to 17 accommodations that may serve about 1,230 migrants a month, based on the Occasions. This represents about 2% of the greater than 65,000 immigrants who’ve been assisted by the town’s shelter system.

This system might value as much as $53 million {dollars}.

The enlargement comes at a time when officers are attempting to cut back the prices of caring for immigrants. Town has a authorized obligation to offer meals and shelter to migrants underneath its immigration legislation. “Proper to shelter”and within the final two years greater than 200,000 migrants have arrived.

A cost of $12.52 per particular person shall be positioned on debit playing cards, daily for 28 days, based on Mayor Eric Adams’ chief of workers, Camille Joseph Varlack. The cash can solely be utilized in wineries, grocery shops, supermarkets and comfort shops.

Federally funded packages like SNAP and WIC already use related pay as you go playing cards.

This system acquired an enormous backlash when it was first introduced in February, with individuals expressing fears that the playing cards can be abused. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott that this system “seems to be like there may be insanity behind it.”

Nevertheless, officers stated fraud prevention measures have been profitable and the pilot has lowered prices, based on the New York Occasions.

The debit playing cards are digitally encoded to make sure they solely work at sure shops, and immigrants should signal an affidavit saying they may solely use the playing cards for meals and child objects or they are going to be elimination from this system.

“There isn’t any such factor as free cash,” Deputy Mayor Fabien Levy stated at a press convention in March. “These are usually not ATM playing cards. “You’ll be able to’t withdraw cash.”