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Q&A
Rapid Response Legal Collaborative funding and program statistics
2:04:23
·
108 sec
Council Member Avilés inquires about the funding and sufficiency of the Rapid Response Legal Collaborative program. Commissioner Castro acknowledges the significant needs in supporting immigrant communities at heightened risk, while Deputy Commissioner Lucero provides statistics on individuals served.
- The preliminary plan includes $500,000 for fiscal 2026, unchanged from fiscal 2025
- The Council added $1.2 million for this program in fiscal 2025
- Commissioner Castro indirectly indicates that the current funding level is not sufficient
- In fiscal year 2025 so far, 78 people have received assistance
- In fiscal year 2024, a total of 178 people received assistance
Alexa Avilés
2:04:23
All right.
2:04:23
So we'll continue the conversation.
2:04:25
But we would love to see how close we've gotten to addressing some very significant concerns that were laid out for Moya.
2:04:35
In terms of the rapid response legal collaborative, came up earlier, the preliminary plan includes $500,000 for 2026 and remains unchanged compared to adoption.
2:04:48
In fiscal twenty five, the council added 1,200,000.0 for this program, again under the guise of the increasing demand for legal services.
2:04:58
Do you believe that this funding level is sufficient, the $500,000?
Manuel Castro
2:05:05
Yeah.
2:05:05
I want to again recognize that the tremendous needs in supporting immigrant communities at heightened risk.
2:05:13
The conversation with OMB is ongoing, and we'll be working closely with them to determine this.
Alexa Avilés
2:05:23
So sufficient or not sufficient?
Manuel Castro
2:05:27
Well, as I shared earlier, there are between 900,000 undocumented and New Yorkers who are all at heightened risk of detention and deportation.
2:05:40
And, the resources will be significant in order to support these communities.
Alexa Avilés
2:05:45
So it is not sufficient.
2:05:48
So in how many individuals has the program served in fiscal twenty twenty five and how does it compare to the current fiscal year?
Lorena Lucero
2:05:58
In fiscal year FY '25 so far 78 people have received assistance.
2:06:05
In all of FY '24, '1 hundred and '70 '8 people in total have received assistance.