Vermont’s Covid equity relief fund has drawn almost 900 applications since it was launched two weeks ago.
The state-funded program is set up to provide stimulus payments to people living in Vermont who didn’t receive federal stimulus payments last March because of immigration status. The $5 million appropriated by the Vermont Legislature is enough to cover payments to everyone who qualifies, an estimated 3,700 to 3,800 adults and 1,000 children.
Organizers say those initial numbers are high because participating organizations have established relationships with undocumented immigrants.
Eli, an undocumented immigrant who lives in Vermont, is one of the applicants. She started fighting for the fund back in the spring, when she learned that federal stimulus payments sent out last year would exclude people like her.
For Eli, the pandemic upended her life, making plans to reunite with her 13-year-old-daughter in Mexico impossible. In Vermont, she said, finding steady work and adequate family housing has been especially hard this year. And going through a pregnancy during the pandemic meant she had to do almost all of her checkups over the phone.
After these stressful months, getting a payment now will come as a relief. “I feel really happy because there are a lot of families that are going to benefit,” Eli said. “I’m applying for me and for my daughters.”
She applied through Migrant Justice, an organization led by migrant workers that started advocating for the equity fund early last spring. The application is available online, and has been translated into Spanish, Arabic, French, Chinese, Somali, Swahili and Nepali.
Registration for the program will be open through March 1. Information about eligibility is available online.
Eli said the application was straightforward and took her about 15 minutes to complete. She urged others who are eligible to apply, too.
Indra Acharya, who manages the program, has also met with Vermont Law School to set up open hours for people who have legal questions.
Acharya is working with the Vermont Community Foundation, the independent organization selected by the government to administer the program. The community foundation is in a good position to handle the contract with the state, said Sarah Waring, vice president of grants and community investments.
“We are thrilled to be a part of this because one of the very clear impacts of the pandemic in Vermont this year has been the disparate challenges that vulnerable and invisible populations face,” Waring said. “If you were already outside of the system or struggling to make ends meet, the pandemic has made it worse.”
According to Waring, the first round of payments should be distributed by the end of the month. The foundation is waiting to receive the money from the state government.
In the meantime, outreach efforts are underway. Acharya has been working with organizations connected with eligible members, such as Migrant Justice, the Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity, and the Association of Africans Living in Vermont.
Applicants can choose the organization they want to work with, as well as how they want to receive payment, whether by check or cash, an important detail to make the money accessible to people who don’t have a bank account.
The program is off to a good start these organizations already have established relationships with most of the people the fund is meant to reach. Acharya said that, so far, a lot of people are applying through Migrant Justice.
Acharya said a verification process ensures that applicants qualify for the funding, while protecting all personal data. Many undocumented immigrants are wary about any personal information being shared with the government, as it could lead to deportation or other legal problems. That’s why the community foundation is distributing the money, to ensure that applicants’ personal information remains private.
“Nobody’s personal information will be transferred to any government agency,” Acharya said. “From day one, that’s been my priority.”
“A lot of thought has gone into it and fairly strong measures have been taken,” said Will Lambek, an organizer with Migrant Justice. He said it’s a good sign that hundreds of people have already signed up.
