For more than a week, debit cards began to arrive; some use it to pay the rent

Hardly Pedro Rodríguez made effective the financial assistance that he gave The state of California, through the Disaster Relief Immigrant Aid (DRAI) program, was able to complete the rent for their May home that they had been unable to cover because they were unemployed.

He is an immigrant of Mexican origin who is among the more than 20,000 who have been approved to receive DRAI assistance. She applied for it through the Human Rights Coalition (CHIRLA), and this week she received a debit card with $ 500, plus $ 2.50 to pay the cost of the transaction for the use of plastic.

The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) reports that they have received 49,000 applications, and 23,950 have been approved. CHIRLA has processed 9,542 aid applications for Los Angeles and Orange counties.

The application process opened on May 18; And three days later, on May 21, the first approved cards began to be sent out.

"We hope to support 150,000 individuals through $ 75 million. Additionally, through philanthropic efforts, we plan to raise $ 50 million to support more immigrants, "says Jason Montiel, spokesperson for the CDSS.

undocumented help
CHIRLA explains how to take photos of documents. (Courtesy CHIRLA)

Pedro's financial problems began in March when the pandemic emergency was declared. His working hours were drastically cut from eight hours a day to at most twelve hours a week.

On April 10, he lost his job as a fryer at a restaurant in the city of Inglewood in southwest Los Angeles County, and has not worked since. As a consequence, she was unable to pay the rent for her home in April and May.

However, at the end of last month, thanks to a collection of $ 290 made by some of the members of the Sonora Federation U.S.TO., and at the street sale of masks he was able to complete the payment of the back rent of April.

He was disappointed when he had to stop selling face masks on the street after insistent threats of heavy fines from inspectors in Hawthorne, the city where he lives in southwest Los Angeles County.

After CHIRLA notified him that his application for state aid was approved, he waited anxiously, counting the hours to receive the $ 500 card.

When he finally arrived, Pedro exploded in joy. You could finally fill the gap for the pending rent for May. “It was quite difficult for me to activate the debit card and create a key number to enter the ATM because I am an older person who does not know anything about technology. As a recommendation for the future, I would tell them that the process should make it easier. ”

Angelica Salas, CHIRLA director with the first boxes of aid cards for the DRAI program for residents of Los Angeles and Orange County. (Courtesy Chirla)

Pedro's biggest concern since he became unemployed has been paying the rent for his home so as not to end up on the street.

"For me it is more important to calm the anxiety of the owner of the rent than to calm my anxiety to eat", He says.

He adds that fortunately there are many places where they give away groceries, but not programs to assist them with rent payments.

“I applied for rental assistance number 211 in Los Angeles County. I was very excited when the employee who was taking my data told me that if they approved me, they would give me help to pay my rent for three months. The payment would be directly to the landlord. I was very happy. When all of a sudden, the employee tells me, don't get excited, the beneficiaries of this help will go out in a draw"

Pedro is aware that there is a moratorium to avoid evictions, and that landlords are required to wait for them with the rent payment for up to twelve months due to the coronavirus.

The cards contain an additional $ 2.50 to charge for the use of the card. (Courtesy Pedro Rodríguez)

However, he comments that due to lack of income, he is in a state of vulnerability that he does not have the energy to fight for his rights against a landlord who is irritated by not receiving the rent payment.

“One day he called me on the phone very upset to complain. He said he couldn't understand how he hadn't saved for an emergency. Do not tell me that you are waiting for government help and that is why you have stopped renting. He was really mad. I was able to remain calm because at that moment I was praying. ”

Pedro explains that many people do not understand that if immigrants do not have the capacity to save, it is because in the only places where doors are opened for them to work, wages are very low.

"ANDOr I spent ten working at Pollo Loco earning the minimum. I am not lying, I can show you"

Pedro feels very down because in the past, he was the one who always organized collections to support the poor people of Quetchehueca, his hometown in Sonora, but being the one who now has to apply for help has cost him a lot of work to accept .

"What I want is to work, not that they give me nothing for free," he says.

He has his hopes pinned on the reopening of the restaurant where he worked for three years. "I already spoke to tell you that I am at your service."

Pedro has emigrated to the United States for more than 30 years, and since then there has not been a year that he has not paid taxes with the hope that this will serve to regularize his status when immigration reform comes.

In response to the COVID-19 outbreak, California created the DRAI to provide one-time assistance to undocumented adults who do not qualify for unemployment or the federal stimulus check due to their immigration status..

Angelica Salas, director of CHIRLA asks immigrants who need help to continue calling CHIRLA. (Courtesy CHIRLA).

The state is supporting $ 500 for each immigrant, and $ 1,000 per household.

Twelve nonprofits in the state were selected by the California Department of Social Services to receive, process, and deliver applications.

For the Los Angeles area, the organizations in charge of distributing the funds are Chirla, Carece and the Asian American Advancing Justice. Together they aim to assist 55,000 immigrants through June 30.

Montiel reveals that nonprofits have adjusted and expanded the capacity of their phone lines to facilitate access for applicants who still experience waiting times due to overwhelming interest in the program. "We will continue to work to improve the experience for applicants."

To apply for DRAI help in Los Angeles and Orange, call CHIRLA: 213-201-8700 and 213-395-9547. They can also call CARECEN at 213-315-2659.

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