QUESTION
Why was funding for asylum seekers' legal services not included in FY 25, and how will the state's commitment address the need?
1:35:54
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108 sec
The state has committed funds for asylum seekers' legal services, and efforts are underway to expand these services.
- The state has committed some money for legal services for asylum seekers.
- Over 37,000 applications for work authorization and potentially citizenship have been filed.
- The Mayor's Office of Asylum Seeker Operations (OASO) is working with the state to utilize the funds and continue service expansion.
- Updates regarding the funding and services will be included in the executive budget.
Shekar Krishnan
1:35:54
My last question sorry, just in the is about the reduction in asylum seekers legal services.
1:36:01
The asylum seekers population continues to arrive in our city, has a great need for legal services, and providing these services could enable many asylum seekers to not only exit the shelter system, but fine stable housing, which, of course, on one sense, reduces the cost of the city, but another sense too, will allow them to secure jobs and increase both economically and otherwise, their contributions to the city too.
1:36:25
So all in all, from whatever perspective you want, supporting asylum seekers by them legal services actually supports our city.
1:36:31
But the preliminary plan did not include any funding in FY 25 for asylum and work authorization applications and other legal services.
1:36:39
Compared to 4,400,000 that was included in FY 24.
1:36:43
As a former legal services lawyer, I know how important legal services are.
1:36:47
A front line of defense for so many individuals in need of help.
1:36:50
Why was this funding included in FY 24 only?
1:36:53
And why does the city not allocate a portion of the asylum seeker funding to cover the growing need for legal services.
Molly Schaeffer
1:37:04
So the state has committed some money for legal services, and we're working with them to actualize that and continue expanding our legal versus.
1:37:12
So we have, at this point, as I mentioned before, filed more than 37,000 applications to at least get people on the pathway, on their pathway for both work authorization and also potentially citizenship.
1:37:26
And so we're continuing to work with the state on that money and we're continuing to see where that goes.
1:37:32
And any updates will be reflected in the executive budget.
Shekar Krishnan
1:37:37
The lack of fun is what's most concerning because it's going to inevitably have an impact on your ability to do that work.