Q&A
Mail delivery issues for asylum seekers in shelters
2:09:07
·
102 sec
Council Member Rita C. Joseph raises concerns about mail delivery for asylum seekers as they move between shelters. Molly Schaeffer from the Mayor's Office of Asylum Seeker Operations outlines recent improvements and future plans for addressing mail-related issues.
- Improvements include keeping important mail indefinitely at shelter sites
- Case managers assist with mail issues, and staff are trained to identify important mail
- A centralized mail room for non-DHS mail is planned to open in the coming weeks
- The administration does not forward mail due to the high turnover in the shelter system
- A pilot program for notifying individuals about received mail is in progress, with technological improvements planned
Rita C. Joseph
2:09:07
Education and immigration.
2:09:08
And as you're moving folks along, how are they getting their mail?
2:09:11
Someone said they missed a finger point appointment, fingerprinting appointment because their mail was sent to them delayed.
2:09:18
As we delayed, those folks get put on lists to be removed.
Molly Schaeffer
2:09:22
Yeah.
2:09:22
And I think what we we I talked about a little bit is we've done a, we've done a lot of improvements in mail over the last year.
2:09:30
We've really focused on it.
2:09:32
So one of the big changes that we made a couple of months ago is that we made all sites take, keep important mail indefinitely so that if as things come, if people leave the shelter, they can come back and request that mail.
2:09:48
We've also done a lot of work with case managers to make sure that they're helping with any mail issues.
2:09:53
We've also made sure that all of the sites are focusing on mail and know what type of mail to look out for.
2:09:59
And then most recently, yesterday, we announced that in a couple of weeks, we're gonna be doing a centralized mail room for non DHS mail.
2:10:06
So all of this has been a work in progress, but we continue to,
Rita C. Joseph
2:10:09
As they move around, are you forwarding mail since you already know in the system as to where they're being placed, are you forwarding the mail to their next address or no?
Molly Schaeffer
2:10:17
No.
2:10:17
Because 70% of the system has already left.
2:10:20
So, as people move on, we are just keeping their important mail in the place that they put as their address so that it's easier for them to get to.
Rita C. Joseph
2:10:30
And do they get a phone call to know that they how do you notify them that the mail is there?
Molly Schaeffer
2:10:34
So we started a pilot on that, and we're making tech changes to make that easier, because part of the issue was a tech issue.
2:10:41
But at this point we'll be able to do that through our centralized mail system.
Rita C. Joseph
2:10:46
Wow.
2:10:47
Thank you, chair.
UNKNOWN
2:10:48
Thank you.
