06
IMMIGRANT ELIGIBILITY FOR DISASTER ASSISTANCE
ARE IMMIGRANTS ELIGIBLE FOR DISASTER ASSISTANCE? • Some disaster help is usually available to all disaster survivors. Your immigration status does not matter. If you are undocumented, you can get certain kinds of disaster help. • If the government declares your city a “disaster area,” FEMA provides non-cash emergency help, such as: • Finding lost people • Transportation • Emergency medical care and medicine
• Crisis counseling • Emergency shelter
• Emergency food and water • Some disaster legal services
• The American Red Cross provides emergency shelter, food, water and first aid. Many nonprofit community groups may offer similar disaster services, along with clothing and maybe a small bit of cash for immediate expenses. CASH HELP AND LONG-TERM DISASTER SERVICES FROM THE GOVERNMENT ARE AVAILABLE ONLY TO U.S. CITIZENS AND QUALIFIED ALIENS. • This type of help may include: • Temporary rental housing • Repair and replacement of destroyed housing • Replacement of lost possessions • Payment of medical and funeral costs • Small Business Administration loans • You have to provide a Social Security number to get this kind of disaster help. • You may also have to sign papers stating you are a U.S. citizen, qualified alien, or non-citizen national. • Qualified aliens include: • Lawful permanent residents (people who have green cards) • Refugees, asylees or persons granted “withholding of removal/deportation” • Persons paroled into the U.S. for at least one year • Cuban or Haitian entrants • Certain victims of domestic violence • Trafficking victims can get disaster services like refugees.
12
Powered by FlippingBook