A 2020 survey conducted among immigrant communities showed that 78% of households with at least one undocumented family member face food insecurity. (rescue.org) New Destiny is well known among our community, and families come to us for support in times of need. Last month, our Community Health Worker assisted a family in applying for the SNAP program. Mr. J and his wife came to the office and commented that their third baby’s expected birth was the next day, but that did not stop them from coming in for their appointment. Mr. J explained his family has been struggling because he is the primary breadwinner, and most weeks, he does not complete 40 hours of work. As we have seen during the Covid-19 pandemic, immigrants have been highly affected by unemployment rates, contributing to the lack of access to nutritious food. Mr. J said his family of five needed financial support. Ms. G expressed that it is extremely hard for them because she and one of their daughters are undocumented and are not eligible to receive assistance from the government at the time, they were seeking assistance. According to a study by the Urban Institute, “1 in 7 adults in eligible immigrant families reported that they did not enroll in government programs because of worries that it would affect their legalization efforts.” (rescue.org) After completing the application, the Community Health Worker explained to Mr. J that he would receive a call or an email from the SNAP program and that he could access his application online. Close to two weeks later, Mr. J stopped by the office and happily shared with the Community Health Worker that his application was approved for SNAP! The amount they were approved to receive each month was going to be more than enough. In the end, Mr. J was incredibly grateful and said the funds would significantly help his family. We are proud to continue supporting our families to ensure access to resources and services to reduce stress. Mr. J can now focus on caring for his wife, newborn, and children.
