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Q&A
Challenges in the process of claiming state funds for asylum seeker response
1:14:29
·
105 sec
Director Jiha elaborates on the challenges in the process of claiming state funds for asylum seeker response, explaining why there's a delay in receiving the full allocated amount. Council Member Ayala seeks clarification on these issues.
- The delay is attributed to a cumbersome process and strict requirements set by the state
- The process was so problematic that the state changed it in the second year, starting to give advances
- Jiha argues that the state's reasoning for potentially cutting funding doesn't make sense, given the increased number of asylum seekers
- Ayala points out that the city seems to be penalized for issues outside its control in the reimbursement process
Diana I. Ayala
1:14:29
the delay has been is is due to a cumbersome process?
Jacques Jiha
1:14:32
Cumbersome process, you know, requirements that they have.
1:14:37
And it was so bad that they even changed that process the second time around they really appropriate money for us the following year.
Diana I. Ayala
1:14:47
So are we on track to receive the remaining portion?
Jacques Jiha
1:14:50
We're getting all the claims in.
Diana I. Ayala
1:14:53
It's coming in.
Jacques Jiha
1:14:54
It's coming in.
1:14:54
They're getting all the claims.
1:14:55
Because, again, as I said, we have to get invoice first, pay those invoices, and then submit those invoices.
1:14:59
It takes time.
1:15:01
So it's just an issue because our budget is based on our core basis, so we don't have to get the cash to recognize them right away in our books.
1:15:11
So it is just, as I said, you know, if they wanted to cut it, they cut it, and they're looking for ways to explain that, hey, you're not claiming as much as you should, so therefore we're going to stop it.
1:15:24
Listen, the state gave us a billion dollars when we had 20,000 people in our care.
1:15:28
Yes.
1:15:29
We have 40 close to 40,000.
1:15:31
Does it make any sense to say you're gonna cut funding at this point in time?
Diana I. Ayala
1:15:35
But it's also
Jacques Jiha
1:15:35
pretty unusual that At 20, you gave us a billion dollars.
1:15:37
At 40, you're saying you don't need it anymore?
1:15:40
It makes no sense.
Diana I. Ayala
1:15:42
No, I understand what you're saying.
1:15:43
I just I find it unusual that the state is citing that their reduction in budget lines for you know, for the cost of asylum seekers due to the fact that we have all of this extra money knowing that the reason that the money hasn't come in is because of the way that the process was laid out was made it more complicated to do that.
1:16:06
So it almost feels like you're being penalized for Exactly.
1:16:10
Something that was out of your control.
1:16:14
Okay.