This fund will provide direct assistance to migrant workers who find themselves uniquely vulnerable in the face of the Coronavirus crisis.
A significant segment of migrant workers have worked in our country for decades, everyone has benefited and enjoyed the fruits of their labor, but yet, despite their years of contributions, their humanity has been denied. As a result, essential migrant workers do not have a basic safety net to survive. Their only safety net is their immediate family members, their worker centers, and their community-based organizations.
As a result, NDLON is building the Immigrant Worker Safety Net Fund specifically to help:
- Workers over 60 years old;
- Workers with disabilities and medical conditions that make them more vulnerable to the virus;
- Workers who fall ill with Coronavirus;
- Worker leaders, organizers and volunteers who fall ill while educating and serving others.
How will funds be distributed?
We are building and managing this fund at the same time. Initially, in order to move quickly and efficiently, we will make cash distribution to NDLON member organizations that subscribe to a set of principles (outlined below) for the fund. Assistance will be made available to be distributed directly to individuals in need through worker centers that are part of our Network. A National Committee will be established to ensure that the process is participatory, transparent and fair. NDLON members must participate to become recipients of the fund.
Principles
As we gather both resources and clear assessment of need, we will be flexible in the construction and execution of the fund, and we will subscribe to a set of principles that will guide us:
- We will distribute money and resources to those with the most immediate needs.
- We will distribute money and resources to those who are most excluded from government relief efforts.
- We will focus on those immigrant workers who are most despised marginalized, which includes day laborers, refugees, and incarcerated people.
Expectations of Recipient Organizations
Recipient organizations will contribute their efforts to the collective fund by:
- Contributing their efforts to support fundraising campaign.
- Local distribution should be documented (photos, videos, forms) to assist in aggregate fundraising.
- Participating in the National Committee calls and meetings..
Expectations of NDLON:
- All funds will be accounted for transparently.