The town of Los Angeles will get $21.8 million in federal funds to assist home and supply help providers to newly arrived migrants, together with migrant kids residing 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 seek out housing after coming to Los Angeles.
Native officers and advocates have pledged to welcome migrants who’ve arrived lately and supply them assist. However these efforts have been challenged by town’s acute housing disaster.
Tons of of migrant mother and father and youngsters this yr have gone to dwell at Union Rescue Mission, a privately funded shelter on Skid Row, whereas a smaller quantity have been residing in tents on the sidewalk. Housing migrant households will be particularly troublesome as a result of they’re usually 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 way of its Shelter and Companies Program, which helps communities present housing and different providers for newly arrived migrants who’re ready to have their instances heard in immigration courtroom.
The town will oversee the grant funding, which will likely be allotted to a few native nonprofits — the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights, Clínica Romero and the Central American Useful resource Middle.
The cash can be utilized to offer shelter, together with motels, for migrants and to supply help, together with meals, clothes, transportation and different providers.
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.
“The city has obligated a significant portion of their budget to providing resources for newly arrived migrants, but the city’s ability to adequately and humanely serve this population will be strained without additional support,” the letter stated, citing reporting from the L.A. Occasions. “We worry that without federal assistance for sheltering, homelessness throughout Los Angeles will be exacerbated.”
L.A. County Supervisor Hilda Solis stated the cash would assist be certain that migrants coming to town get the assistance they want.
“These funds will help to provide much-needed relief to our shelter system and support recent arrivals who are facing homelessness, including in Skid Row,” Solis stated in an announcement.
