Mocobizscene- According to a report, New York City is set to implement a pilot program worth $53 million. The program aims to distribute prepaid credit cards to migrant families currently accommodated in hotels. According to city records, the Roosevelt Hotel will be providing 500 migrant families with pre-paid cards to assist them in purchasing food. This initiative aims to replace the existing food service offered at the hotel.
According to a statement from a spokesperson for New York City Mayor Eric Adams, the pilot program will not only allow families to buy fresh food that aligns with their cultural diets and choose their preferred baby supplies, but it is also projected to save the city over $600,000 per month or more than $7.2 million annually.
The request for comment was not immediately responded to by City Hall. An illegal migrant was caught on camera flipping the middle fingers after being charged with attacking NYPD officers in Times Square.
NYC Mayor Eric Adams’ administration has announced the launch of a new pilot program aimed at assisting migrants who are currently residing in city hotels. The program, which has a budget of $53 million, will provide these individuals with pre-paid credit cards specifically designated for purchasing food. This initiative seeks to address the immediate needs of migrants and ensure that they have access to essential resources during their stay in the city.
The pre-paid cards can only be utilized at bodegas, grocery stores, supermarkets, and convenience stores. Migrants who qualify for the program must sign an affidavit affirming that they will exclusively use the funds for purchasing food and baby supplies; otherwise, they risk losing access to the funds, as per the report.
According to the contract reviewed by the Post, the allocation for each migrant family is determined based on their size and income. For instance, a family of four may receive approximately $1,000 per month, which amounts to $35 per day for food. These debit cards are reloaded every 28 days.
Mobility Capital Finance, a New Jersey company, has teamed up with the city to oversee the program. New York Republican urges Hochul and Adams to condemn Biden’s border policy amidst migrant crisis in the Big Apple.
Asylum seekers form a queue outside the iconic Roosevelt Hotel, which has been transformed into a shelter managed by the city for recently arrived migrant families in New York City, United States on September 27, 2023. (Selcuk Acar/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
“Partnering with New York City, MoCaFi is excited to facilitate the distribution of funds to asylum seekers for the purpose of purchasing fresh, hot food,” expressed Wole Coaxum, CEO and founder of MoCaFi, to the Post. He further added, “MoCaFi aims to enhance financial accessibility for individuals who are excluded from traditional banking services, like asylum seekers, all while contributing to the growth of the local economy.”
City officials have announced that if the pilot program proves successful with the initial 500 migrant families, it will be expanded to include all 15,000 migrant families currently accommodated in hotels.
Over the past year, an astonishing number of over 150,000 migrants have made their way to New York City, putting immense strain on the city’s already limited resources. City officials have been grappling with the challenge of finding suitable housing for these individuals. To help alleviate the situation and draw attention to the ongoing crisis faced by border communities, Texas Governor Greg Abbott has taken the initiative to transport asylum-seekers to New York and other cities. This move not only aims to provide assistance to those seeking refuge but also serves as a means to shed light on the difficulties faced by these communities on a daily basis.
The New York City Police Department (NYPD) has confiscated a total of 80 unlicensed migrant mopeds that were parked outside the Roosevelt and Watson Hotel shelters. The authorities took action after receiving numerous complaints from residents about the misuse of these vehicles, which were causing noise pollution and safety hazards in the area. The NYPD impounded the mopeds and is currently working on identifying the owners and enforcing the appropriate penalties for operating unlicensed vehicles. This initiative aims to ensure the safety and well-being of the community and maintain order in the vicinity of the shelters.
Migrants waiting in line outside The Roosevelt Hotel, which is currently serving as temporary housing, in New York City. (AP Photo/John Minchillo, File) Mayor Adams expressed his concerns about the influx of migrants, emphasizing the urgent need to address this as a humanitarian crisis. He stated that the city would bear a substantial financial burden, estimating that providing food and housing for the migrants would amount to approximately $12 billion over a three-year period.
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