Refugee and asylee families will be disproportionately affected by COVID-19's impacts on our communities. Help IRC ensure our clients have the resources they need.
Many IRC clients work in hospitality and food service, industries hit hardest by COVID-19. When schools and daycare centers close, IRC clients often do not have other options for childcare. Newcomers do not qualify for unemployment benefits or other COVID-19 employment-related benefits, because they have not yet worked in the U.S. long enough to qualify. This means many families will need extra support with rent, utilities, groceries, and other essentials until hiring freezes are lifted.
Help IRC prepare for clients' resilience as we recover together from COVID-19's cascading effects in the weeks and months to come.
The NY & NJ Emergency fund, named the Robert P. DeVecchi Fund in honorable memory of the former IRC president, is dedicated to addressing acute needs of those we serve, including temporary housing assistance, access to psycho-social support, medical costs, food, and other survival necessities. These funds will support COVID-19 recovery assistance for the most vulnerable in our community. Thank you.