In a concerted effort to assist newly arrived immigrants in New York City, the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs (MOIA) has spearheaded partnerships with local community-based organizations, legal service providers, and philanthropic partners.

This initiative aims to provide essential support to thousands of migrants and asylum seekers navigating their new lives in the city.

“Center for Family Life in Sunset Park is honored to join the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services and the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs to provide essential supports including job readiness, skills trainings including OSHA certification, legal support to apply for asylum and work authorization and case management supports, to more than thousands of our neighbors who are newly arrived to New York City,” said Julia Jean-Francois, Co-Executive Director of the Center for Family Life. “Providing these critical services is one way that we fulfill our mission to partner with our neighbors to together build strong and resilient communities.”

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Chris Hanway, Executive Director of Riis Neighborhood Settlement, expressed his gratitude for the partnership, stating, “Riis is proud and grateful to partner with MOIA and the Mayor’s Fund to provide critical support to the large number of migrants and asylum seekers living in the myriad homeless shelters in our area. For more than two years, our Immigrant Services team has worked tirelessly to meet families’ complex needs while operating with limited resources. This essential investment will increase our capacity, allowing us to offer additional ESOL classes and case management support, as well as host regular legal orientations and resource workshops for hundreds of families striving to acclimate to a new home and build safe and productive lives.”

The Cypress Hills Local Development Corporation is also enthusiastic about its role in this initiative. “Cypress Hills Local Development Corporation is excited to partner with the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs to welcome asylum seekers to East New York and support them in securing needed services and benefits, training for jobs in construction and gaining proficiency in the English language,” said Michelle Neugebauer, Executive Director of Cypress Hills Local Development Corporation, Inc.

“We look forward to educating asylum seekers about their rights, helping them connect with legal services providers and integrating our new neighbors into the community.”

Henry Street Settlement is another key player in this collaborative effort. “Henry Street Settlement is deeply grateful to the NYC Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs for supporting our work to expand critical services for newly arrived immigrants in New York City,” said David Garza, President & CEO of Henry Street Settlement.

“The needs of these newcomers are profound and, in many ways, greater than we have seen in previous waves of immigration, due to circumstances in their home countries that have caused many families to flee to the United States without support systems on arrival. Henry Street will use these funds to support tailored services for the individuals and families we are serving across our spectrum of programs, including access to food, education, hygiene supplies, and transportation; emergency case management and cash assistance; and legal assistance for work authorization and asylum as well as parenting support and needed children’s supplies.”

This collaborative initiative is bolstered by an investment from Casey Family Programs, the nation’s largest operating foundation focused on safely reducing the need for foster care across the United States. Their support will help ensure that the needs of immigrant children and their families are met, contributing to a welcoming and supportive environment for all newcomers to the city.