VTMBH Article: Body
Advocates of low-income and minority immigrants living in lower Manhattan announced yesterday that $550 million is still available from various September 11th disaster relief funds and called on the charities to review all disapproved cases and to extend the March 8 September 11th Relief Fund application deadline for individuals.
During a March 11 press conference, the advocates reported that due to the changing criteria of the three major charity organizations (American Red Cross, Salvation Army, and Safe Horizon) for disaster relief, many applicants who were originally denied relief will be re-evaluated and may receive help. However, due to the lack of communication channels, many are not aware of these changes. In addition, one half year after the tragedy, the major charity organizations still seriously lack foreign language translation services.
Along with shifting approval criteria, there seems to be bias in the approval process. All three charity groups decided on Canal as the dividing line; classifying only residents and businesses south of Canal Street as eligible for aid. But many severely affected by the tragedy who reside north of Canal were denied the chance to apply for assistance. Immigrant and low-income groups are insisting the three charity groups use the same criteria as FEMA (the Federal Emergency Management Agency). FEMA extended its application deadline to September of this year, and expanded the qualified geographical area to south of Houston.
Shirley Kwan of the Lower Manhattan Residents' Relief Coalition pointed out that human factors have caused many faults in the way funds were distributed. Residents of Tribeca and Battery Park City qualified for disaster relief, and many received phone calls or house visits from American Red Cross volunteers offering rent or mortgage assistance. However, those residing in public housing in Chinatown, close to the higher income areas, did not receive such attention from any of the charity groups.
Community residents met with the Red Cross last Wednesday to discuss this widely publicized (in English newspapers) situation. They asked the American Red Cross why they visited only the upper-income neighborhoods in the southwest section of Lower Manhattan. According to Kwan, the American Red Cross explained there were two ways in which cash assistance was given out to families; through house calls and disaster relief centers. However, the Red Cross was unable to explain why the house call services were only available to upper-income neighborhoods.
Shirley Kwan also mentioned that Mayor Michael Bloomberg, in a speech commemorating the six-month anniversary of September 11th, encouraged all residents to look forward to a brighter future. Without assistance, many residents of poorer neighborhoods in the disaster area are still struggling with basic needs such as rent and mortgage payments. These lower-income victims are still unable to receive any help with their basic needs after six months of waiting.
The Lower Manhattan Community Board, Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund, Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund, and the National Anti-Sweatshop Association requested the three major charity groups extend the March 8 application deadline, continue monetary assistance to victims who lost their jobs, and re-evaluate the policies used by these three groups
During a March 11 press conference, the advocates reported that due to the changing criteria of the three major charity organizations (American Red Cross, Salvation Army, and Safe Horizon) for disaster relief, many applicants who were originally denied relief will be re-evaluated and may receive help. However, due to the lack of communication channels, many are not aware of these changes. In addition, one half year after the tragedy, the major charity organizations still seriously lack foreign language translation services.
Along with shifting approval criteria, there seems to be bias in the approval process. All three charity groups decided on Canal as the dividing line; classifying only residents and businesses south of Canal Street as eligible for aid. But many severely affected by the tragedy who reside north of Canal were denied the chance to apply for assistance. Immigrant and low-income groups are insisting the three charity groups use the same criteria as FEMA (the Federal Emergency Management Agency). FEMA extended its application deadline to September of this year, and expanded the qualified geographical area to south of Houston.
Shirley Kwan of the Lower Manhattan Residents' Relief Coalition pointed out that human factors have caused many faults in the way funds were distributed. Residents of Tribeca and Battery Park City qualified for disaster relief, and many received phone calls or house visits from American Red Cross volunteers offering rent or mortgage assistance. However, those residing in public housing in Chinatown, close to the higher income areas, did not receive such attention from any of the charity groups.
Community residents met with the Red Cross last Wednesday to discuss this widely publicized (in English newspapers) situation. They asked the American Red Cross why they visited only the upper-income neighborhoods in the southwest section of Lower Manhattan. According to Kwan, the American Red Cross explained there were two ways in which cash assistance was given out to families; through house calls and disaster relief centers. However, the Red Cross was unable to explain why the house call services were only available to upper-income neighborhoods.
Shirley Kwan also mentioned that Mayor Michael Bloomberg, in a speech commemorating the six-month anniversary of September 11th, encouraged all residents to look forward to a brighter future. Without assistance, many residents of poorer neighborhoods in the disaster area are still struggling with basic needs such as rent and mortgage payments. These lower-income victims are still unable to receive any help with their basic needs after six months of waiting.
The Lower Manhattan Community Board, Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund, Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund, and the National Anti-Sweatshop Association requested the three major charity groups extend the March 8 application deadline, continue monetary assistance to victims who lost their jobs, and re-evaluate the policies used by these three groups