La Colaborativa, the Massachusetts Law Reform Institute and the Feeding Our Neighbors Coalition praise food assistance for families at a time of need

BOSTON, MA: Members of the Feeding Our Neighbors Coalition, formed in January 2023 to address the basic unmet needs of legally present low income immigrant families in Massachusetts, lauded the General Court and Governor for passing a Supplemental Budget on December 4th that provides $6 million in state funding to restore basic benefits to legal immigrants ineligible for federal benefits.

These benefits will now be available to low-income immigrants with legal status, including victims of violence, special immigrant juveniles, “Dreamers,” immigrants with pending asylum claims and immigrants granted Temporary Protected Status. Five states in the nation currently provide state-funded benefits to eligible immigrants, including California, Maine, Minnesota, Illinois, and Washington State. Massachusetts becomes the sixth state to do so.

Twenty-two years ago, the Commonwealth provided state-funded food and cash benefits from 1997 to 2002 following the federal restrictions for legally present immigrants included in the 1996 Welfare Reform Law. As the nation and state witnessed first-hand, the Covid pandemic disproportionately impacted Black and Brown communities, including immigrant families residing in Gateway Cities as well as rural and suburban cities and towns. 

While many immigrants with work authorization are working, they often have low paying jobs that do not put food on the table for a full month while trying to meet their basic shelter costs. The four Massachusetts food banks serving hundreds of pantries across the state are seeing increased demand for emergency food, especially among immigrant communities. 

“This state funding is essential in meeting the basic needs of our immigrant neighbors,” said Georgia Katsoulomitis, executive director of Mass Law Reform Institute. “We appreciate that this is temporary funding for the current fiscal year, and we urge the Healey Administration and Legislature to continue funding in the upcoming year as our immigrant families – the backbone of the Commonwealth’s labor force and diversity – get back on their feet.”

Gladys Vega, Executive Director of La Colaborativa said the funding will make a difference in the lives of families.

“La Colaborativa is extremely happy with the funding appropriated to food sustainability through our Feeding Our Neighbors Bill,” she said. “This means food for families that were fainting in our food lines, this means food for families we see waiting for their immigration case to be processed while USCIS has more than two million cases pending in U.S immigration courts. The impact is tremendous, we celebrate this victory and look forward to continuing the fight for food equity.”

La Colaborativa and MLRI leaders said leadership in House and Senate took a stand for families who are working hard, but still fall short of funds to keep food on the table.

Katsoulomitis continued: “Chairman Antonio Cabral and Senator Sal DiDomenico have been instrumental in fighting our most vulnerable residents. The Coalition thanks them, and also  Speaker Ron Mariano, Senate President Karen Spilka, House Ways and Means Chair Aaron Michlewitz, Senate Chair Michael Rodrigues, House Leader Alice Peisch, House Leader Michael Moran and Rep Jessica Giannino and Rep Judith Garcia for helping these families in need.”

Coupled with the rising cost of food, Massachusetts food banks and food pantries are struggling to meet the skyrocketing demands of low-income families. The food pantry under the Logan Bridge, run by La Colaborativa, struggles to serve over 5,000 households per week from across Massachusetts.

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