Solidarity Fund for Local Immigrant Families

Troy Sanctuary Campaign and ICE-Free Capital District are raising emergency funds for local immigrant families who have been hit especially hard by this pandemic. Our initial goal is to reach $10,890 by July 15 to keep these families housed and fed. For their safety from ICE, we cannot share their names, but here are some of their stories: 

Family A currently has two adults and seven kids living in a 1-bedroom apartment, and they urgently need to find a larger space. Both parents have been taking part-time work where they can find it during COVID, but they just can't afford to move without some help. If we can raise $2,000, that will cover the first month's rent and deposit on a four-bedroom apartment. 

Family B's dad was recently deported to his birth country in Africa, where he hasn't lived since infancy, doesn't speak the language, has no support network, and is struggling to find steady work. His lawyer has filed to reopen his case, and his family has hope that he'll be able to rejoin them in the U.S.; but in the meantime, they're already struggling to meet their own expenses, and need help getting him on his feet in his unfamiliar new surroundings. If we can raise $1,800, that will cover his rent and living expenses for the next three months. 

Families C, D, and E are all single parents who lost their jobs to the pandemic and are ineligible for unemployment income due to their immigration status. If we can raise $2,500 for Family C, that will cover current and back rent, keep their electricity connected, and cover travel costs for an upcoming asylum hearing in Buffalo next month. Our goal for Family D is $1,500 to cover rent and utilities through August. Family E isn't facing housing insecurity, thankfully, but needs $1,000 to cover utilities and food expenses for the summer. 

Family F needs our help to keep their phones and internet connected so that their child can continue with remote English lessons during COVID. They've also got dental costs and asylum hearing travel upcoming, so if we can raise $1,000 for them, it will keep them connected and cared for through the summer. 

It's not all desperate news: two of the families who benefited from our last appeal in the spring have been able to get back on their feet, despite the pandemic, thanks to their determination and the generosity of this community. Thank you all for making that possible. The new calls for help keep coming in, though; so we're allocating 10% of all funds raised from this GoFundMe (and 100% raised above the initial goal of $10,890) for the Immigrant Solidarity Fund to respond to new requests for aid in the coming weeks. We'll also adjust the goal and post updates to reflect known needs as they arise.  

When we last reached out a few months ago, there was so much fear and uncertainty hanging over all of us, and it's been a difficult season. But we've pulled together, despite many challenges, to protect our most vulnerable neighbors - in more ways than one. From social distancing to mutual aid projects to Black Lives Matter, our communities are moving forward with revolutionary love to prioritize the needs of the most marginalized. Thank you for being a part of that. 

With love and solidarity, on behalf of Troy Sanctuary Campaign's Fundraising and Direct Aid Work Group and ICE-Free Capital District: 

Siobhan Burke 
Brandon Costelloe-Kuehn  
Amy Gray 
Aileen Javier 
Caroline Nagy
Rebecca Rector
Rich Ring 
Raquel Velho