Meeting Time: May 19, 2020 at 2:30pm MST
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Agenda Item

1 Refugee Assistance Program

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    Robert Moore over 4 years ago

    Refugees and asylum seekers will be disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic both now and in the months ahead. It is appropriate to allocate funding to the most vulnerable populations in our communities. I urge the Phoenix City Council to support $2 million dollars in emergency relief funding for refugee and asylum-seeking communities to overcome challenges accessing COVID relief support.

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    Maria Gigourtaki over 4 years ago

    I support assistance to refugee and immigrant businesses. They bring their unique skills and talents to our city adding on diversity and building strong connections in our communities.

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    Jessalynne Howard over 4 years ago

    “I urge the Phoenix City Council to support $2 million dollars in emergency relief funding for refugee and asylum-seeking communities to overcome challenges accessing COVID relief support.”

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    Khue Paige over 4 years ago

    Refugee and asylum seeking families are some of the most vulnerable populations that have been impacted. I urge the Phoenix City Council to support $2 million dollars in emergency relief funding for refugee and asylum-seeking communities to overcome challenges accessing COVID relief support.

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    Ted Myers over 4 years ago

    Please provide funding for these vulnerable people. The need is urgent!

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    Lisa Schilling over 4 years ago

    The last few years my family and I have assisted many asylum seekers and refugee families. They are a great asset to our economy and bring so much to our communities. Please help them financially during this time.

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    Nicky Walker over 4 years ago

    Refugees struggle accessing assistance programs due to language and cultural barriers. I urge the Phoenix City Council to support $2 million dollars in emergency relief funding for refugee and asylum-seeking communities to overcome these challenges. I also urge the council to work with agencies and community groups already working with this population to ensure that support gets into the hands of those who need it most as efficiently as possible. I don't wish to speak during the live hearing.

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    Jill Scherer over 4 years ago

    Assistance is needed for this segment of our AZ population.

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    Sarah Lords over 4 years ago

    We have long known that low-income communities face disproportionate vulnerabilities in matters of public health, but additional barriers in the refugee community—linguistic/cultural barriers; limited access to transportation; condensed housing; & a reduction in community-based support—present challenges that make this unprecedented time all the more difficult to navigate. The City of Phoenix should continue welcoming refugees and approve funds to serve this vulnerable-yet-resilient population.

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    Barbara Lewkowitz over 4 years ago

    As one of the leaders of a 166 member Interfaith volunteer group that assisted over 45,000 asylum refugees to be fed, clothed, housed, transported and WELCOMED, I thank the City of Phoenix for assisting these families. They often work in the service, hospitality, factories, farms and for janitorial/cleaning---services that are keeping the rest of us safe and fed. Thank you for recognizing the need to help them during this pandemic.

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    Cassandra Belson over 4 years ago

    I ask that the city fund programs and services that will help us recover from the pandemic and DO NOT give more money to the police department. I also ask that the city fund mental health resources that don’t involve the police. Please keep funding programs that keep the police accountable, especially the Office of Accountability and Transparency and the Traumatic Response Unit. Lastly, we need a privately resourced relief fund for undocumented people impacted by COVID-19.

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    Jessica Gonzalez Martinez over 4 years ago

    Support to our undocumented, asylee, and refugee community is an investment in ensuring the people who contribute to the front lines during the COVID-19 pandemic. Their contributions keep businesses operational and workers having the ability to sustain their income. It is a support towards humanity and how we seek to treat all people who choose Phoenix to be their home.

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    LaNaya Comsa over 4 years ago

    Refugees are particularly vulnerable at this time of crisis. Because they are often in the process of learning English, they usually work in factories, hotels, and restaurants, locations that are currently closed to the public or are functioning at reduced hours. They tend to lack the work experience required to get UI and they often do no have the skills to apply for it on their own. They need financial support so that after this pandemic, they can return to their economic-supporting roles.

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    Sage Santana over 4 years ago

    Our refugee families, who contribute to our local economy and work alongside essential workers, are also some of the most vulnerable within the community. I moved across the country to Phoenix because it is a welcoming home for refugee communities. I encourage the city to continue to be that welcoming home, a true refuge for the weary.

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    Michelle Faudoa over 4 years ago

    My stance on this is that refugees do so much for our state. They work in essential jobs and without them, the state would greatly suffer without them. So, to honor their efforts there must be a relief fund. Refugees have been hit the hardest since they do not have the privilege of staying home. Most covid 19 cases come from going to work. We should be grateful towards them. Not take away or worsen the problems. Thank you.

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    Nicole Garcia over 4 years ago

    How about you STOP allowing them in in the first place! Take care of your own residents before approving more and more refugees into our city and allowing them to live off of our tax dollars. These are taken in with little to no education and cost our taxpayers about 80k in the first 5 years of resettlement. Please start spending our money better & stop trying to play Savior. We can't afford it as a city.https://www.fairus.org/issue/legal-immigration/fiscal-cost-resettling-refugees-united-states

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    Viridiana Hernandez over 4 years ago

    Refugee, asylee and undocumented communities are being hit he hardest from this pandemic. They deserve relief and a city that respects their contributions.

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    Connie Phillips over 4 years ago

    I am encouraging the Council to support the request for support of refugees and asylum seekers who are working so hard as part of our community. I am the CEO at Lutheran Social Services. Refugees that have been able to support their families working in the janitorial, hospitality, restaurant, and transportation sectors have lost their jobs entirely or had their hours cut. There are many barriers to their qualifying for unemployment and other benefits.

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    Bridget Ott over 4 years ago

    Refugees are being significantly impacted by COVID-19. After arriving in the US, many of the first jobs refugees have are in the service or hospitality industries. As both industries have been effected by COVID-19, refugees have suffered from lack of income. Language barriers have also presented challenges in terms of accessing COVID-related assistance. The City of Phoenix should continue making Refugee Welcome and contribute $2 million to emergency relief funding for this unique population.

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    nejra sumic over 4 years ago

    While AZ refugee & asylee families have made contributions to our communities,they have also been impacted by COVID-19. Due to the majority of them working in service or hospitality industries, approx70-90%of working families have lost their jobs.In addition, many families did not qualify for federal relief funds Others are having challenges in accessing state benefits& others are experiencing language barriers. Furthermore, community orgs are struggling to keep up with urgent needs of families.