NLIHC recently released new resources on coronavirus, housing and homelessness, including an FAQ on immigrants’ eligibility for assistance in the CARES Act, guidance for helping people experiencing homelessness access Economic Income Payments, and an FAQ on COVID-19 and racial equity.
NLIHC compiled guidance on how to ensure people experiencing homelessness can access Economic Impact Payments (EIPs), one-time direct payments from the federal government authorized in the CARES Act. Individuals with a valid social security number and an adjusted gross income of less than $75,000 may be eligible for a one-time payment of up to $1,200 plus $500 per eligible dependent child under the age of 17. Those who had no income and those whose sole source of income is Supplemental Security Income (SSI) are also eligible. People experiencing homelessness and unbanked individuals face multiple barriers to accessing payments. NLIHC’s guidance provides resources and best practices from groups working on the ground. Additional information about EIP, eligibility standards, and application process is outlined in this FAQ.
NLIHC, the National Housing Law Project, and the National Immigration Law Center released a new FAQ regarding eligibility based on immigration status for CARES Act assistance. Some programs restrict eligibility based on immigration status and may have implications under the Department of Homeland Security’s new public charge rule, which determines if noncitizens seeking admission to the U.S. or applying for lawful permanent resident status (i.e., “green card”) are likely to become “primarily dependent on the government.” The FAQ provides information regarding immigrants’ eligibility for these programs and implications for public charge determinations.
NLIHC also released an FAQ about how the coronavirus is impacting communities of color. Emerging data indicate that the coronavirus is infecting and killing people of color at a disproportionately high rate. While COVID-19 can infect anyone, historically marginalized populations are more likely to experience acute and structural risk factors that increase the likelihood of contracting and experiencing severe cases of the disease. People of color are also more likely than white people to experience evictions and homelessness resulting from centuries of institutional racism and economic inequity. This FAQ explores the disproportionate impact of the pandemic on communities of color and provides policy recommendations to ensure an equitable response.
View Guidance for Helping People Experiencing Homelessness Access their Economic Impact Payments at: https://bit.ly/2yrbbgB
View FAQ on COVID-19 and Racial Equity at: https://bit.ly/2YPgt0d
View FAQ on Eligibility for Assistance Based on Immigration Status at: https://bit.ly/2SLPyyf