NYC ending migrant debit card program
A migrant family leaves the Row Hotel in Midtown Manhattan January 10, 2024. New York City is starting the process of evicting migrant families from city-run shelters if theyve been living there for more than 60 days. (Photo by TIMOTHY A. CLARY / AFP
New York City has announced that it will end its program that gave prepaid debit cards to migrant families.
"Through the immediate response cards pilot program, we were able to reduce food waste, redirect millions of dollars to our local economy, and provide more culturally relevant food to more than 2,600 migrant families in our care. As we move towards more competitive contracting for asylum seeker programs, we have chosen not to renew the emergency contract for this pilot program once the one-year term concludes," Mayor Eric Adams said in a statement.
NYC expands debit card program for migrant families to buy food, baby essentials
NYC is expanding a program providing migrant families with debit cards to buy food and baby essentials.
The program would provide migrant families up to $350 a week and began with 500 migrant families with children. New York City had said that program would save the city $600,000 a month, and $7.2M annually.
In July, the program had been expanded to include 7,300 families.