New York City officials are expanding a program that gives immigrant families living in city-funded hotels debit cards to buy food, according to the New York Times.
The program was proposed in February and initially served nearly 3,000 migrants, but is expected to distribute debit cards to 73,000 migrants over the next six months at a total cost of about $2.6 million. according to New York City has accepted more than 200,000 immigrants over the past two years, according to the New York Times, and the influx has forced the city to make budget cuts. (RELATED: ‘New York City can’t handle this’: New York officials ask White House, governor for more help with city’s migrant crisis)
The program, which previously partnered with three hotels to house migrants, has now expanded to 17 hotels and can accommodate about 1,200 migrants per month, The New York Times reported. The debit cards have a digital code that ensures they can only be used at certain stores, and participants pledge to use them only to buy food and baby products.
TOP SHOT – Migrants camp outside their former hotel in New York City’s Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood on January 31, 2023, resisting city efforts to relocate them to a refugee facility in Brooklyn, which local media said is the city’s fifth relief center amid a continuing influx of refugees. (Photo by Ed Jones/AFP) (Photo by Ed Jones/AFP via Getty Images)
New York City must provide food for immigrants Right to housing The requirement was originally introduced to house the homeless, the outlet reported. Immigrant families eligible for the debit cards must meet a 28-day citywide disability allowance. voucher Emergency shelter programs. (Related: “The money is flowing”: Former hotel employee reveals why hotels “love” New York City’s illegal immigrant shelter program)
The $2.6 million program is cheaper than a previously proposed program that would have cost taxpayers $5.6 million, according to the NYT.(Related article: As illegal immigration surges in New York City, Governor Eric Adams imposes curfew on illegal immigrants)
“While we appreciate that this is cheaper than our failed system of no-bid contracts, this is a sign that the immigration crisis will continue in perpetuity, one that taxpayers will foot the bill until the second coming,” City Council Republican Minority Leader Joseph Borelli told The New York Times.
The city has a contract with Mobility Capital Finance that could cost up to $53 million, according to The New York Times. The city relied on DocGo to provide services to migrants, but the $432 million contract with the city was canceled. fell The company closed in April amid allegations that it was wasting food and giving false documents to migrants.
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