San Francisco unveils $10M funding for services to immigrants

San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee announced new funding for immigrant services.

SAN FRANCISCO – City Hall on May 6 announced the allocation of $10 million over two years tor assistance to the city’s immigrant community, including additional legal services, financial education, a new labor center for immigrants and other support services.

The funding is aimed at strengthening citywide efforts including San Francisco Pathways to Citizenship Initiative, the DreamSF Initiative and the implementation of President Barack Obama’s Administrative Relief to help undocumented immigrants come out of the shadows.

San Francisco is a long-time leader in immigrant rights, with substantial investments promoting citizenship, providing access to City services for speakers of other languages and providing leadership on issues such as Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and Unaccompanied Immigrant Children.

“As the son of immigrant parents, I understand this issue deeply and personally,” said Mayor Lee. “In San Francisco, we applauded the President’s bold action on immigration, and we are taking the next step by funding the very programs our immigrant families need to set themselves up for success.”

To administer the President Obama’s Administrative Relief, the City will provide in-language outreach and education to make sure people understand the process and know their rights. The City has already developed ties with immigrant legal, social and community service providers, philanthropy and a vast network of partners.

The San Francisco Pathways to Citizenship Initiative helps San Francisco immigrants apply for citizenship. It aims to lower poverty rates, increase economic mobility and access to higher education, ensure access to affordable health care, enhance civic participation, and create stability and cohesion for immigrant families.

The DreamSF Initiative provides annual grants to support outreach, education, legal services and application assistance to eligible youth for the DACA program. The expanded DreamSF program includes leadership development, skills building and employment.

Lee talso announced the launch of We Rise SF Labor Center for Immigrant Justice to provide wraparound social services for immigrant union workers and their families. A partnership with the San Francisco Labor Council and SEIU Local 87, the center helps immigrant union families gain access to a range of legal services and a pathway to both understand and gain improved immigration status in the current landscape of immigration reform and the Presidential Executive Order on immigration.

“This center will be focused on providing direction, assistance and a stronger voice for immigrant union workers and their families who are navigating the country’s currently fractured immigration system,” said Janitors Union – SEIU Local 87 President Olga Miranda.

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