Make the Road NY: 9 in 10 immigrants in New York left jobless due to pandemic

A new study shows nine out of 10 immigrant New Yorkers are out of a job because of the pandemic.

News 12 Staff

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May 13, 2020, 6:59 PM

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Updated 1,683 days ago

A new study found immigrant New Yorkers living in the epicenter of the outbreak feel they are being excluded from accessing financial and medical help.

Paying rent among the biggest concerns for immigrant and minorities living in the New York City- metropolitan region during the coronavirus pandemic, according to the study released by immigrant advocacy group Make the Road New York.

Here are some of the other findings study:

9 out of 10 immigrants are now jobless
Only 5% have received unemployment benefits
More than half of renters were unable to pay rent in April
Many believe they have had the virus but did not receive the medial attention they need.
One out of six has lost a family member to COVID-19

Betsy MacLean, with the nonprofit Hester Street, says the report shows how the COVID-19 crisis is disproportionately impacting communities of color and low income.

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"I think the data and the report makes very clear this is a crisis that has been long in the making," she says.

Make the Road New York is calling on the state to create a $3.5 billion emergency fund for excluded workers and for the federal government to amend the CARES Act and unemployment insurance to include workers regardless of their immigration status.

Last week Gov. Andrew Cuomo extended the state's moratorium on evictions through the end of August.

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