8:34 p.m. UPDATE: Due to unforeseen circumstances, we had to delay the application opening to 9:00 p.m. Apologies for the inconvenience. We are working hard to solve the issues. (We are SO close!)
8:34 p.m. UPDATE: Due to unforeseen circumstances, we had to delay the application opening to 9:00 p.m. Apologies for the inconvenience. We are working hard to solve the issues. (We are SO close!)
We are thrilled to announce the official launch of the Seattle COVID-19 Disaster Relief Fund for Immigrants today at 9:00 p.m.
This program offers a one-time payment of $1,000 to each immigrant adult applicant and up to $3,000 for families with children. Applicants must live in or attend school in or work within the Seattle city boundaries. And you must also be low-income and have been ineligible for federal CARES Act Economic Impact Payments (also known as a “coronavirus stimulus check”) due to immigration status.
The review process is NOT first-come, first-served. To support those with the most need, the program is prioritizing applicants based on a set of vulnerability criteria. However, we encourage you to apply as soon as possible. The application period is open for three weeks, from Thursday, October 15, 2020, 9:00 p.m. to Thursday, November 5, 2020, 11:59 p.m.
Individuals and families can learn more and apply here: seattlecovidfund.org. You can also find information translated into these seven languages: Amharic, Chinese (Simplified), Korean, Somali, Spanish, Tagalog/Filipino, and Vietnamese.
If you need assistance applying, 20 organizations are available to help applicants over the phone in 41 languages! You can find their contact information here.
The nonprofit organization Scholarship Junkies (SJ) will be administering the online application process. They already have deep experience from helping manage the logistics for the grassroots COVID-19 Relief Fund for Undocumented Individuals in Washington State in partnership with the undocumented youth-led Washington Dream Coalition.
This funding is a part of a joint $45 million COVID-19 relief package announced by Mayor Jenny A. Durkan, Council President M. Lorena González, Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda, and Councilmember Tammy Morales in August of this year. Of this package, Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs (OIRA) received $9 million in new funding from the City’s general fund. Researchers estimate Seattle’s impacted immigrant population at around 150,000 people, including children.
For more information about the Seattle COVID-19 Disaster Relief Fund for Immigrants, please visit: seattle.gov/oira/seattlecovidfund.
Please help us inform community members about the Seattle COVID-19 Disaster Relief Fund for Immigrants!
If you are an ally who wants to help ensure that qualified immigrants are able to access this program, please help us share our translated social media images to community members. You can find outreach materials below. They include social media images with translated content and suggested posts.
Suggested social media messaging
