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Gov. Gavin Newsom pledged $95 million to aid undocumented workers affected by winter storms and floods. However, only $18 million has been distributed so far, and there are translation issues with the state’s website. The program, called the Immigrant Storm Assistance Program, was launched to provide relief to undocumented Californians who were ineligible for federal assistance or state unemployment insurance. Over 20 nonprofits have contracts with the Department of Social Services to distribute the funds. Currently, about $6 million has been given to 4,000 residents in San Joaquin County, while other counties have received lesser amounts. Smaller qualifying counties have not received any aid yet. The funds will be available until May 31, 2024, or until they run out. However, there have been concerns about the program’s accessibility, particularly for Spanish-speaking individuals. The state’s information about the program is mostly in English and has not been translated into Spanish or other languages. Experts have questioned the state’s outreach efforts and reliance on independent organizations, which can result in inconsistent results across counties. The state’s Department of Social Services spokesperson clarified that the nonprofits are responsible for conducting outreach and that Spanish versions of some program documents have been provided to them. To qualify for storm damage aid, individuals must be undocumented residents living or working in the 25 counties that received “direct assistance” from FEMA. Families can receive up to $4,500, while individuals can qualify for $1,500. The funds are distributed through prepaid debit cards or checks by the nonprofits. Many of the affected individuals were farmworkers who not only lost income but also their homes and other property. The state’s website for the storm assistance program has a Google Translate tool, but key program documents have not been translated. This lack of translation has been a recurring issue, with previous programs also having English-only information. Despite the language barrier, nonprofit organizations like El Concilio and the Binational Center for the Development of Oaxacan Indigenous Communities have been successful in distributing funds to their communities. However, concerns remain about the limited funds available for the program and the need for increased accessibility and outreach.
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