Groundswell: Lifesaving Aid for Refugees, the Homeless, and the Hungry

While COVID-19 cases appear to have peaked in New York, numbers are continuing to climb in the rest of the country. Meanwhile, the economic shocks of the pandemic are reverberating throughout communities, and people, organizations, local governments, and businesses are doing their best to support residents in need. This week’s Groundswell highlights some of those efforts.

Mohammad, a Syrian refugee in Chicago, hasn’t worked at his job as an Uber driver in over a month, and his wife isn’t working either. They’re afraid they won’t be able to feed their family, and their limited English makes it that much more difficult to find help. Fortunately, the Syrian Community Network has implemented a remote case management system to provide support to refugees and their families. They’ve helped people access emergency food assistance, pay their bills, and apply for government benefits. The nonprofit also offers online tutoring for school-aged children—an especially crucial form of support for children whose parents aren’t able to help with remote learning, and who may have already fallen behind academically while living in refugee camps.

In the Phoenix area, COVID-19 is especially deadly for the growing homeless population. Unable to wash their hands or shelter in place, the community’s nearly 4,000 unhoused members face a crisis. A group of organizations and local governments providing services to the homeless convened rapidly on March 19—two days after all bars and restaurants closed in Phoenix—to coordinate a response. All agencies reported a need for water, protective equipment, sanitation supplies, hand sanitizers, gloves, facemasks, and additional shelter beds. In response, the Maricopa County Association of Governments launched a region-wide effort to support those experiencing homelessness: Over the past several weeks, they’ve secured 200 new beds for vulnerable individuals, provided COVID-19 testing, and moved individuals into leased facilities. They’ve also opened vacant county lots with handwashing stations, toilets, and security to individuals living in tent encampments so that people can voluntarily spread out, reducing the risk of transmission.

Indianapolis nonprofits are also aiding their most vulnerable residents. The organization Back on My Feet—which combats homelessness through the power of running, as well as by providing job skills and financial literacy training—is helping program alumni stay on track even without its morning runs. Volunteers are checking in on Facebook, hosting Zoom calls, texting, and online messaging; they’re also helping members and clients find short-term work in this difficult employment environment. Meanwhile, Coburn Place, which works with survivors of interpersonal abuse, is continuing to provide transitional housing and voluntary services to people fleeing domestic partner violence: The organization moved six families into its facility during the crisis while providing counsel to clients across the city and to organizations inexperienced in addressing housing shortfalls. Finally, the city of Indianapolis and community partners have launched “Community Compass” resource to connect residents with food and food assistance across the city, continually updating the app to reflect the many services—food pantries, hot meal sites, and other food-related events—currently ramping up to address COVID-19 need.

And across the country, celebrity chef Jose Andres’s non-profit, World Central Kitchen (WCK), is providing millions of meals to some of the country’s most vulnerable residents. In California, WCK partnered with the United Farm Workers Foundation to offer meals to farmworkers in the Central Valley. In Delano, the partnership has set up drive-through sites where workers can pick up meals after their shifts while still complying with physical distancing restrictions. Meanwhile, in Los Angeles, WCK began distributing meals as early as March 23 in partnership with the Red Cross and the LA School District; they’ve provided thousands of pre-packaged, grab-and-go meals to families in need. Beyond California, WCK is working with partners in the Bronx, Baltimore, New Orleans, Virginia Beach, Chicago, Detroit, Las Vegas, and Washington, D.C.—and it’s continuing to seek other partnerships to help expand services.

We’d love to learn more about how governments, organizations, and individuals are helping your community’s most vulnerable residents. If you have stories to share, please email passen@newamerica.org—we’ll feature them in a future installment of Groundswell.