CITY OF CHARLOTTESVILLE, VIRGINIA
                 CITY COUNCIL AGENDA



  Agenda Date:         March 15, 2021

  Action Required:     Report

  Presenter:           Kaki Dimock, Director, Human Services

  Staff Contacts:      Kaki Dimock, Director, Human Services

  Title:               Open Society Foundation Emma Lazarus Campaign on Cities
                       Grant Final Report


Background:

On July 20, 2020, City Council appropriated $300,000 to use as emergency relief for community
members ineligible for the Federal CARES stimulus checks. $250,000 was appropriated from a
grant to the Department of Human Services, in coordination with Albemarle County Office of
Equity and Inclusion, from the Emma Lazarus Campaign on Cities, a project of the Open Society
Foundation. An additional $50,000 was previously appropriated from the Department of Human
Services fund balance in support of grant activities.

Discussion:

With assistance from the city’s finance department and treasurer’s office, 600 prepaid VISA
cards in the amount of $500 were purchased for distribution to individuals who were ineligible
for the Federal stimulus checks due to their status as migrant, immigrant, undocumented or
domestic workers. Recognizing that 600 cards was insufficient to provide relief to all members
of the community of our community that would be eligible, individuals were prioritized for relief
based on three additional critieria:

      Severe economic ned
      Presence of children under 18 years of age in the household
      Medical vulnerability
Community providers with existing relationships with individuals likely to meet eligibility
requirements were recruited to distribute cards. These agencies included Sin Barreras, Cville
Cares, Piedmont Virginia Community College, International Neighbors, International Rescue
Committee, Child Health Partnership, Charlottesville Department of Human Services and
Habitat for Humanity.

Community members receiving this financial assistance reported compounded need and medical
vulnerabilities. They self identified as:

72.4% - immigrant
37.6% - domestic worker
15.9%- migrant worker
3.8%- undocumented worker

93% of recipient households included children under 18 years of age
74% of recipient households reported severe economic risk
20% of recipient households included someone with medical vulnerability

79% Hispanic/Latinx
7.4% Asian
5.5% Black
3.8% White
3.1% Multiple ethnicities/races
1.2% Native American/Indigenous

Community Engagement:

City and county staff met regularly with service providers focused on improving the well-being
of undocumented, immigrant, migrant and domestic workers to ensure that implementation could
be achieved in partnership. Decisions around data collection, screening criteria, and government
engagement were informed by community service providers with direct knowledge of the needs,
conditions, and fears of the targeted population.

Alignment with City Council’s Vision and Strategic Plan:

This grant advances the City of Charlottesville’s Strategic Plan Goal #1 of an inclusive
community of self-sufficient residents.

Budgetary Impact:

N/A.

Recommendation:

N/A

Alternatives:

N/A

Attachments:

N/A