The San Mateo County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday unanimously approved providing $2 million to a fund supporting immigrants who are economically impacted by COVID-19 and who are not eligible for state or federal assistance due to their immigration status.
The San Mateo County Immigrant Relief Fund also includes $5 million in seed funding provided by local developer and philanthropist John A. Sobrato, and $1.7 million from additional private donors, the county said.
The county will partner with nonprofits Legal Aid Society of San Mateo County and the Mission Asset Fund to coordinate and administer the fund.
“These individuals often work in low-wage jobs in the restaurant, hospitality, home-care and other service industries in an area with some of the highest rents and property values in the country,” county officials stated.
The $2 million provided by the county comes from Measure K, the voter-approved, countywide half-cent sales tax extension. The Board of Supervisors will receive a status report about the fund in about a month and will consider adding funds to the effort, according to the county.
Learn more about the fund and apply here.
