City of San Fernando residents who have experienced financial hardships due to the ongoing federal immigration raids can apply for emergency relief and receive a one-time grant for themselves or their families.
The grants are being provided through an initiative called “San Fernando Together,” launched on July 21 by the city, aiming to provide financial relief and essential services to people affected by the raids. The city has partnered with Home Again Los Angeles, a nonprofit homeless service agency, to offer grants of $250 for individuals and $500 for families.
The city has been advertising the grant through posts on social media, flyers and bulletins at their facilities and parks.
To be eligible, applicants must be a City of San Fernando resident and have experienced a loss in income due to one of the following: reduced pay or decrease in bank balances due to immigration enforcement, or detention of a wage-earning family member, resulting in financial hardship.
Will Pettener, assistant to the city manager, explained that the City Council approved up to $15,000 in a July 7 meeting to support the initiative.
“The grant will be provided as long as the funding remains,” Pettener said. “We encourage anyone who was impacted by recent immigration enforcement operations to either visit our website or come to our Business and Community Resource Center at City Hall to grab an application.”
He added that they’ve heard a lot of concerns from residents who are now afraid to leave their homes due to the raids – impacting their ability to provide for their families.
The city is looking to provide additional assistance and services to the community. Recently, they issued a $5,000 grant to Ignite the Light of Hope Foundation for two free food distribution events at Las Palmas Park earlier this month.
“Additionally, I know we’re trying to provide our rental assistance program that we have through Home Again LA,” Pettener said. “[The nonprofit] has also agreed to provide case management referrals and legal aid service referrals for any impacted families. We’re looking to continue to expand the program to make sure we’re covering different areas because we know … this impacts the community in a number of different ways.”
Beyond the City of San Fernando, LA Mayor Karen Bass announced the city of LA would have its own initiative to provide financial assistance to those impacted by the immigration raids.
This assistance comes in the form of cash cards valued at “a couple hundred dollars” that will be distributed through nonprofit organizations, family resource centers and other direct avenues, including the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA). The funding for these cards comes from philanthropic partners, and not the city itself.
The LA initiative is part of an executive directive signed by Bass to support the city’s immigrant communities. It calls for city departments to strengthen training protocols and preparedness plans surrounding immigration enforcement, and aims to expand access to city department resources for immigrant families.
To apply for the City of San Fernando emergency grant, go to City Hall at 117 Macneil St. or download an online version from www.bit.ly/SFFinancialAssistance.