Immigrant coalition pushes for more counties to commit pandemic relief funds to excluded workers

[Sherman A1]

After successfully persuading Johnson County officials to commit some of their pandemic relief funds for direct payments to workers excluded from federal direct payments due to immigration status, a coalition of immigrants and advocates is pushing other counties to do the same.

The Excluded Worker Fund coalition is a new regional organization called Escucha Mi Voz ("Listen to my voice&quot , a spin-off of the Iowa City Catholic Worker.

Last month, Johnson County devoted about $2 million to an excluded worker fund with American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. ARPA's direct payments to individuals was meant to "build a bridge to an equitable economic recovery" from the pandemic. Johnson County plans to begin its distribution to workers left out of those federal payments in early 2022.

The calls for economic relief have taken place over three months in cities ranging from Iowa City and West Liberty to Muscatine, Columbus Junction and Washington.

https://www.iowapublicradio.org/ipr-news/2021-12-10/immigrant-coalition-pushes-for-more-counties-to-commit-pandemic-relief-funds-to-excluded-workers