Public Hearing: YES ☐ NO ☒ Department: Board of Commissioners - District 6
SUBJECT:
Title
Commission District(s): Commission District 6
Approve a $40.000.00 from District 6 Tranche 1 ARP appropriations for Raksha to provide emergency client assistance - rent, food, and other emergency assistance.
Body
Information Contact: Commissioner Edward C. “Ted” Terry
Phone Number: 404-371-4909
PURPOSE:
Approve a $40.000.00 from District 6 Tranche 1 ARP appropriations for Raksha to provide emergency client assistance - rent, food, and other emergency assistance-$34,000 for housing assistance, $5,000 for food assistance, $1,000 for transportation assistance.
NEED/IMPACT:
Raksha, meaning “protection” in many South Asian languages, serves the South Asian community. The South Asian Community consists of individuals from Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Pakistan, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. Since 2020, the need for immigrant survivors to access financial, rental, and food assistance has increased due to the pandemic. Many clients were not eligible for stimulus packages or unemployment because they are waiting for immigration relief based on being abused by their spouses or other victimizations.
Raksha also serves victims of crimes who have severe mental health needs as a result of victimization that occurred years ago and resulted in PTSD that prevented them from applying for victim compensation while they were eligible and immigrant survivors who were never notified of victim compensation when their loved one was killed by their spouse. Since many of the survivors they work with have language barriers, they have not been able to access county based financial assistance even though they are in dire need of financial assistance in order to remain housed and able to feed their families.
This funding is allocated to provide emergency assistance to approximately 15-20 clients at an average of $2,000 per client.
FISCAL IMPACT:
$40,00.00- District 6 ARP Tranche 1 POETA Account 105744.63258.521209.01.06.602479
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommended Action
To approve the requested D6 ARP appropriation to Raksha and authorize the Chief Executive Officer or his designee to execute all necessary documents.