An integral part of New York: immigrants played an important role in city life during the COVID-19 pandemic

Immigrants have always been an integral part of New York City. Residents of five districts of the city speak more than 200 languages, and every third was born abroad. Immigrants strengthen the economy, make the city more welcoming and fair, and make communities more vibrant.

April in New York took place Immigrant Heritage Week... All of the city's immigrants paid tribute to history and culture, as well as the importance of the contribution of immigrants who have been so disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

As the past year has shown, many immigrants have also served as the critical workers on whom our city depended, and many more have volunteered to help meet the needs of their communities.

New York will also celebrate Immigrant Heritage Month in June. How did immigrants living in New York play an important role in the life of their communities during the pandemic.

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Carlos Espinoza has been running his own thriving bakery in Queens since 1973. During the pandemic, Carlos's bakery remained open, and he also provided food for free to members of the community in need. The City recognizes its important role in meeting the increased needs of New Yorkers, including food security.

As the city continues to face challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic, anyone in need of New York, regardless of their immigration status, can get food for free at pick-up points located in five boroughs and may even be eligible for food delivery. on house. You can find out more on the website nyc.gov/GetFood.

Claudia Verdiners during the pandemic, she also helped members of her community stay safe and updated. When she realized that the Creole-speaking members of her ward were not receiving news about pandemic-related measures and resources and that literacy levels needed to be raised, Claudia decided to disseminate advice and up-to-date information by recording voice messages on the widely used messaging platform WhatsApp. in immigrant communities.

Thanks to Claudia, many of her community in Brooklyn have been able to learn about resources and policies during the COVID-19 pandemic, including rental assistance and eviction prevention services.

However, this problem should not be solved by volunteers alone. This is why the municipality has made these resources and protections available to all New Yorkers, no matter what language you speak and regardless of your immigration status. New Yorkers who have questions about how to get housing assistance and access to other services offered by the municipality can seek help in their language by calling 311 and asking them to connect to the Tenant Helpline (Tenant Helpline) or by visiting the Tenant Resource Portal at nyc.gov/tenantresourceportal.

Immigrants living in New York, including Man Hong-Wanhave also made significant efforts to protect the health of their community. A New Yorker originally from Hong Kong, Man has been on the front lines since the start of the pandemic, working as a nurse for NYC Health + Hospitals in Chinatown, Manhattan.

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In the midst of the pandemic, Man was the only point of contact for many of his Cantonese-speaking patients. He made every effort to make sure, personally and by telephone, that they were receiving the necessary medical attention. Man understood very well how important it is for everyone to receive affordable and comprehensive health care, especially during a public health crisis.

Therefore, at NYC Health + Hospitals, all New Yorkers can get medical care, regardless of their immigration status, by calling 1-844-NYC-4NYC. In addition, New Yorkers who do not qualify for or cannot afford health insurance may be eligible for low-cost or free NYC Care services at NYC Health + Hospitals located in all five boroughs. ... To enroll in the program, call 1-646-NYC-CARE or visit the website nyccare.nyc.

These are just a few examples from the many stories of immigrants living in New York City helping the city's residents. They remind us that solidarity is the greatest strength. Therefore, all New Yorkers should be aware that the city offers access to a variety of resources and services that can be accessed at any time and in their own language.

Immigration status, ability to pay, presence and absence of work do not matter. If you have questions about accessing city services, please visit nyc.gov/immigrants, or call the MOIA hotline at 212-788-7654, Monday through Friday, 09:00 am to 17:00 pm, or email [email protected].

Despite the many challenges we still have to overcome, together we can ensure a level and fair recovery environment to make New York even stronger from the pandemic.