NEW YORK (WCBS 880) -- New York will be allocating $2 million more to help those who evacuated Afghanistan and are starting a new life in New York.
Gov. Kathy Hochul announced the new funds Tuesday, bringing the state’s total commitment to Afghan refugees who fled the Taliban to $5 million.
"For generations, immigrants have come to New York and the U.S. seeking freedom and opportunity—their contributions defining and strengthening the fabric of our state and nation," said Hochul. "With Afghan evacuees fleeing widespread instability in their own country, New York State is proud to take a leading role in the massive resettlement effort.”
State officials said the funds will be administered via the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance’s NYS Enhanced Services to Refugees Program, with award letters going out in the coming days.
The funds will go to several nonprofits statewide who are assisting to 1,790 Afghan evacuees who have and will continue to arrive in the state.
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The latest millions were secured “sports existing services can be supplemented and allow for more intensive acceleration services for an extended period of time to address the immediate and long-term needs of person arriving from Afghanistan.”
Those services include orientations so refugees can acclimate to life in New York, mental health support, English language services, job training, case management to make sure kids enroll in school, aid benefit for things like driver licenses and more.
The most refugees are coming to the Buffalo area (495), followed by Syracuse (420), Rochester (275), Albany (250), the New York City area (190) Niagara Falls (50), Utica (50), Yonkers (50) and Rockville Centre (10).
Other state efforts to aid Afghan refugees have included SUNY providing housing, educational services, tech and career support. SUNY announced in October it would open its education opportunity centers to refugees, waiving a one-year residency requirement for admission.
“In New York, and across the country, Americans are coming together to embrace people who put themselves in harm's way to support peace, security, and justice in Afghanistan alongside our mission there,” said White House ‘Operation Allies Welcome’ Coordinator Jack Markell said. “The efforts I've seen in New York to help our allies rebuild their lives here truly reflect the best of America."
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