Reaffirming Alameda County as a Welcoming County

With nearly 1 in 3 foreign-born residents – or over 526,000 individuals – Alameda County is home to a diverse immigrant and refugee community. Alameda County reaffirms its commitment to serving our immigrant communities. This edition of my weekly bulletin focuses on public and nonprofit resources available to our immigrants and refugees, regardless of immigration status or income. 

While Alameda County’s immigrant population has historically had high employment rates, our immigrant labor force is more likely to work in low-wage jobs, less likely to have employer-sponsored health insurance, and more likely to face barriers accessing health and social services. Language barriers and immigration status have prevented individuals from receiving social safety net benefits, and the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated these disparities.  

Undocumented workers are ineligible for many public benefits, such as unemployment insurance and benefits outlined in the federal government’s Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, exacerbating COVID-19 related hardships in the community. In an effort to address these gaps in the social safety net, organizations such as the Alameda Health Care Services Agency (HCSA), Centro Legal de la Raza, and the Alameda County Community Food Bank (ACCFB) are working to ensure our immigrant and refugee communities are able to protect themselves from financial burdens, and protect their health and safety during the COVID-19 crisis.  

As we continue to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, we must do so with an equity lens and ensure that all of our neighbors receive the supports they need.  

Census 2020 is happening now until August 14th. Due to language barriers and concerns with privacy, our immigrant and refugee communities are among our hardest to count populations. Our immigrant and refugee communities deserve to be counted.   

While we all do our part to flatten the COVID-19 curve by staying home, it is imperative that we continue to encourage our immigrant and refugee neighbors to fill out the Census questionnaire. The Census is confidential and available in multiple languages: 

• The Census will not ask you to share any sensitive information, like your social security number or immigration status.  
• The information that you supply for the Census is completely confidential and cannot be shared with law enforcement agency.  
• It is illegal for the Census bureau to release your information. 
• The Census can be completed online at my2020census.gov using the code mailed to you in March. If you did not receive a code, you can still complete the questionnaire online. 
• The Census can also be completed over the telephone. For a list of phone numbers and available languages, visit the Census Bureau’s “Responding by Phone” page. 

The Alameda County Complete Count Committee has informational resources in multiple languages available to assist in Census outreach. The folder is available on Google Drive (no account necessary).  

Financial Support for 
Undocumented Workers  

Centro Legal de la Raza, along with a number of community partners, has established the Oakland Undocumented Relief (OUR) Fund to provide support to immigrant Oaklanders who have lost income due to COVID-19. To apply for or donate to OUR Fund, visit Centro Legal’s website.  

In addition to the Oakland Undocumented Relief Fund, Legal Aid at Work (Ayuda Legal Laboral) has compiled a list of financial services available to undocumented workers in California who have been impacted by COVID-19. This resource guide is updated on a weekly basis and is available in English, Spanish, and Chinese. 

In future weekly updates, these financial support resources will be available in the
"Community Resources" section below.

Food Security for ALL

During the COVID-19 pandemic, our food bank and school district partners have been working tirelessly to ensure anyone who needs food – regardless of immigration status – can get food. 

Alameda County Community Food Bank (ACCFB) 
ACCFB’s helpline can help connect you to a source for groceries or a hot meal today. Call the helpline at 1-800-870-FOOD (3663) or 1-510-635-3663. The helpline is available in multiple languages and operates Monday-Friday, 9 AM-4 PM. You can also visit FoodNow.net for an online directory of food distribution sites near you. 

School Meals 
The Alameda County Office of Education (ACOE) maintains a list of school districts in Alameda County that offer free meals to families who have children enrolled in the district’s schools. Visit ACOE’s “Meal Service by District” page for more information on your child’s school district.  

In future weekly updates, these food resources will be available in the "Community Resources" section below.

California Immigrant Policy Center’s (CPIC) COVID-19 Resource Guide 
CPIC has published a resource guide on accessing health care, obtaining information on COVID-19 in multiple languages, economic resources, and information on immigration rights.  

In future weekly updates, these resource guides will be available in the "Community Resources" section below.

• Governor Gavin Newsom’s Daily Briefing  

Governor Gavin Newsom's Daily Updates
Gov. Newsom provides daily briefings at 12 PM on the Governor’s official Facebook and Twitter pages. You do not need an account to view the briefings on either platform.  

The clerk will call you when the Board is ready for comment on the item. Please be ready to answer the clerk's phone call.

PLEASE NOTE:

• If your email is sent after the Board takes action on the item, you will not be called to participate.
• If you do not answer the phone when the clerk calls, the clerk will not call again.