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Q&A
Impact of shelter policies on immigrant families and schools
2:25:22
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104 sec
Council Member Shahana Hanif inquires about the impact of the partial rollback of the 60-day shelter cap on immigrant families and schools. DOE officials discuss the challenges in assessing the specific impacts due to multiple external factors affecting immigrant students and families.
- The partial rollback applies to families with children in grades K-6
- Officials note that there are fewer immigrant students and families in shelters than before
- Multiple factors, including shelter closures, make it difficult to attribute changes to specific policies
- The rollback is seen as positive in removing one reason for family displacement, but challenges remain
Shahana Hanif
2:25:22
We're going to continue to fight for two care, universal two care.
2:25:25
I have a question about our immigrant families.
2:25:30
The partial rollback to the sixty day shelter cap is a relief for the kids who are in grades k through six.
2:25:41
Could you provide an update on how this policy change has impacted immigrant families and the costs in particular for our schools and then managing immigrant families within shelters.
Emma Vadehra
2:25:57
So absolutely agree that the partial rollback was real progress and appreciate the advocacy from many of you as we look to try and make sure as many of our immigrant families and students could stay where they are and stay through the school year.
2:26:10
Obviously puts a strain, of course, on the kids and families as well as on our system.
2:26:15
The honest answer to your question is that there is there are so many different external factors impacting our immigrant students and families in our shelter system right now that it's very challenging to attribute you know we have many fewer immigrant students and families in our shelters than we used to.
2:26:35
I know we used to look at that closely tied to the sixty day rule and try and figure out what the impact of that was.
2:26:41
We obviously looked at it from our side given the far broader context around how our immigrant students and families are feeling in our country, it's really hard to attribute particular changes to that particular shift in policy.
2:26:56
That being said, sorry, as well as the shutting down of shelters.
2:27:01
That being said, it's obviously a good thing if we are removing one of the reasons that kids and families had to move.
Shahana Hanif
2:27:06
I mean, this is a disappointing response because the shelter evictions I mean, these are evictions made it impossible for these new families to ever be stable, ever get a job that was permanent to be able to get out of the shelter system.