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Group of People for MOIA Ukrainian Response Initiative

NYLAG is Among Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs’ $2 Million Initiative to Support Newly Arrived Ukrainian New Yorkers

NEW YORK— The Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs (MOIA) Commissioner Manuel Castro today launched New York City’s Ukrainian Response Initiative and announced the non-profit organizations that will be contracted to help currently residing and newly arrived Ukrainian New Yorkers access immigration legal assistance, translation services, social services, and other resources. 

“As a city of immigrants, New York City is home to the largest Ukrainian population in America, and that is why we stand ready, with open arms, to provide all the support we can to Ukrainian New Yorkers,” said New York City Mayor Eric Adams. “These non-profit organizations will ensure critical resources are available to both currently residing and newly arrived Ukrainians, and we are eager to help.”  

“As Ukraine experiences an ongoing war there is increasing urgency to provide support where possible to our growing New York City Ukrainian community,” said Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Anne Williams-Isom. “I am proud to stand with MOIA in their continued efforts to ensure services, including legal support, are available to those in need and welcome all new neighbors to our city with open arms.”    

“From accessing immigration legal services to connecting families to health services and school enrollment, we will continue to respond to the immediate needs of New York City’s Ukrainian community,” said Manuel Castro, Commissioner of the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs (MOIA). “As more Ukrainians continue to arrive, we look to achieve this critical work by working hand in hand with community groups that have a demonstrated ability to connect immigrants and refugees to legal resources and city services in a culturally and linguistically responsive way.” 

“I know firsthand the pain of having to leave your home as a refugee and I applaud Mayor Eric Adams’ commitment to supporting the Ukrainian community in New York City and those people who will arrive in our City due to the continued hardships they face as a result of this unjust war, said Edward Mermelstein, Commissioner, NYC Mayor’s Office for International Affairs. “My office ensures New Yorkers, including foreign-born nationals, have access to New York City services and resources through strong collaborations with sister agencies and Consulates. I look forward to working closely with members of the Adams Administration, including Commissioner Castro, the representatives of non-profit organizations, and other stakeholders to ensure these services and resources reach all the people that need them.”  

Initially announced in April 2022, the Ukrainian Response Initiative will include community outreach, immigration legal assistance, comprehensive case management, direct emergency cash assistance, language access, benefits navigation, and community-based organization capacity building.   

Legal services will include but are not limited to comprehensive immigration legal screenings, and application assistance for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and Employment Authorization Documents (EADs).  

Services provided directly or by referral will include but are not limited to health care, health insurance enrollment/NYC Care, mental health services, housing support, IDNYC, non-immigration legal services, school enrollment and education system navigation, English language education, workforce support services, and food security assistance.  

Information and services will be provided both in person and remotely through a variety of formats including resource fairs and legal clinics at trusted sites citywide, and individual consultations at community-based organizations. Information on how to access services provided through this initiative can be found on nyc.gov/ukraineresources or by calling NYC’s immigration hotline at 800-354-0365.  

The non-profits contracted to achieve this work represent a combination of citywide service providers and community-based organizations rooted in Ukrainian and immigrant neighborhoods:  

  • Razom will provide comprehensive case management support, outreach and public education, interpretation and translation services, and a variety of services both directly and through referral  
  • Shorefront YM-YWHA of Brighton-Manhattan Beach will provide comprehensive case management support and a variety of services both directly and through referral  
  • New York Legal Assistance Group (NYLAG) will provide immigration legal services including but not limited to comprehensive immigration legal screenings, and application assistance for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and Employment Authorization  
  • New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC) will coordinate coalition communications and activities, conduct outreach and awareness campaigns, plan and operate clinics, and develop a web-based tool to facilitate intra-group referrals  
  • Catholic Charities Community Services (CCCS) will help Ukrainian New Yorkers navigate federal, state, and other benefits available to them, distribute cash assistance, and provide community-based organizations with technical assistance and capacity building  
  • CAMBA will provide comprehensive case management support and a variety of services both directly and through referral  

MOIA in partnership with the Research Foundation of the City University of New York and the Department of Social Services will be actively involved in the initiative by listening and responding to the needs of Ukrainians resettling in New York City and the organizations supporting them.    

For more information, visit nyc.gov/ukraineresources or call NYC’s immigration hotline at 800-354-0365. 

[…]

“Like all immigrant communities, Ukrainian nationals in New York City are seeking safety for themselves and their families, and should be welcomed and supported with compassionate, culturally- and linguistically appropriate services to help them thrive. The Ukrainian Response Initiative will enable NYLAG and our fellow service providers to harness our deep connections to New York’s Ukrainian community to support those resettling in understanding their rights, navigating the immigration services available to them, obtaining employment and identity documents, and connecting with support services,” said Jodi Ziesemer, Director of the Immigrant Protection Unit at New York Legal Assistance Group (NYLAG). “We thank Commissioner Castro and the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs for strengthening New York City’s support for immigrants and for helping our city live up to its name as a place that welcomes and supports all.” 

Read the full release from the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs. 

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