With the loss of income due to the pandemic as well as the looming end of the eviction moratorium, many of our neighbors in SB County are living on the brink. To date, more than 6,000 requests for rental assistance have been submitted to the United Way of Santa Barbara, with more anticipated.
One concrete way to love our neighbors is by empowering them to earn income for their households. To do this, the Interfaith Sanctuary Alliance is collecting DACA application/renewal fees in May/June in partnership with Immigrant Hope Santa Barbara and IMPORTA SB.
DACA, the Defered Actions for Childhood Arrivals program, provides a renewable temporary protected status to undocumented youth (often referred to as DREAMers) who came to the US before their 16th birthday. If the applicant qualifies, they may then apply for a work permit to legally work in the US. DACA application/renewal fees are $495 per applicant. Due to the pandemic, many applicants are unable to pay the fee themselves. You can sponsor an applicant as a faith community/community organization, or by yourself as an individual. This donation is tax-deductible.
To donate or learn more, please visit www.sbact.org/daca. Please give generously so that we can support our neighbors during this difficult time!
