Immigrant Resources

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Resources are available to assist the immigrant community living in Sonoma County.

Disaster Guide for Farmworkers »
Tips on COVID-19 and disaster preparedness (PDF)

Disaster Readiness Card » (PDF)

COVID-19 Guidance for Immigrant Californians » (PDF)

Local Resources

• California Rural Legal Assistance, Inc (CRLA) provides free, confidential legal consultations for low-wage workers in rural areas and small cities of California. CRLA’s Workers’ Rights Helpline (1-800-357-9513) is available Monday-Friday: 9am-5pm. CRLA Resources include:
  • COVID-19 Replacement Income and Job-Protected Leave Programs for Workers: Many workers may be entitled to some time off for coronavirus related absences, and/or eligible for some form of wage replacement while they are not working.
    This guide provides an overview of the replacement income and job-protected leave programs available to California’s workers, and can help orient workers to the programs that may be right for them.
  • Rights as an agricultural worker during the COVID-19 public health crisis (PDF)
  • Public Charge rights for public benefits or services(PDF)
  • Education & COVID-19 (PDF)
  • COVID-19 Workplace Health & Safety for California Agriculture Workers
    
• Disaster Relief Assistance for Immigrants: California Human Development (CHD) was selected as the nonprofit to distribute Northern California’s $5 million allocation across 24 counties.
  Applicants in Sonoma County may seek application assistance with CHD by calling (707) 228-1338 to apply for a one-time $500 or $1,000 debit card on a first-come, first-serve basis.
• Sonoma County COVID-19 Eviction Defense Ordinance: This ordinance creates a legal defense for tenants who are being evicted due to non-payment of rent and who can demonstrate financial losses due to lost work or medical expenses resulting from the coronavirus pandemic.
  For tenant support and questions about how the eviction ordinance passed by the Board of Supervisors may apply to you, contact Legal Aid Sonoma County at (707) 542-1290 or California Rural Legal Assistance at (707) 528-9941.

  Additional local housing and renter support information can be found on our Housing and Assistance page.

• Sonoma County Secure Families Collaborative: The Secure Families Collaborative is committed to continuing to provide services to clients during this difficult time, especially in recognition that our served community is among the most vulnerable and socioeconomically impacted due to shelter-in-place and other COVID-19-mitigating policies. All Collaborative service providers are still available through tele-consultation for all legal, social and mental health services. However, in-person consultations are suspended until further notice, unless absolutely necessary, to curb the spread of COVID-19. Call (707) 819-2272 for any general Secure Families Collaborative information.
• Additional Nonprofit resources:  Available during emergencies.
• Non-congregate and alternative care sites have been established in Sonoma County for those who are at high risk of complications if COVID-19 is contracted as well as those who need a safe shelter that have tested positive for COVID-19 and have mild to moderate symptoms.

State and Federal Resources

• California Farmworkers Initiative
• The State of California Guide for Immigrant Californians has information on how to protect yourself, and your family during this time.
• Additional Help for Immigrants in California, including information on the Disaster Relief Fund to support undocumented Californians impacted by COVID-19 who are ineligible for unemployment insurance benefits and disaster relief, including the CARES Act, due to immigration status.
• Disaster Relief Benefits: California is providing one-time state-funded disaster relief assistance to undocumented adults who are ineligible for other forms of assistance, including assistance under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act and pandemic unemployment benefits, because of immigration status. An undocumented adult who qualifies can receive $500 in direct assistance, with a maximum of $1000 in assistance per household.
  Eligible individuals must be able to provide information that they (1) are an undocumented adult (person over the age of 18); (2) are not eligible for federal COVID-19 related assistance, like the CARES Act tax stimulus payments or pandemic unemployment benefits; and, (3) have experienced a hardship as a result of COVID-19. Eligible individuals must provide information and documents to verify your identity, home or mailing address, and to show you have been impacted by COVID-19.
  The California Department of Social Services has selected California Human Development as an immigrant-serving nonprofit organization for the Northern California region. If you are an undocumented resident call (707) 228-1338 for application assistance.
• Economic Assistance Programs Accessible Online: Access Medi-Cal, Covered California, and CalFresh during this emergency, by applying online.
• Help with your mortgage: For mortgage relief contact your mortgage servicer. Visit the Fannie Mae website for more information on mortgage relief for loans owned by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac. Additional information is posted on the Federal Housing Finance Agency’s page.
• Unemployment Insurance: Unemployment Insurance (UI) is an employer-paid program that provides partial income replacement when you become unemployed or have your hours reduced and meet all eligibility requirements. File a Claim with the Employment Development Department.
• Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA): As part of the federal CARES Act, the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program helps unemployed Californians who are business owners, self-employed, independent contractors, have limited work history, and others not usually eligible for regular state UI benefits who are out of business or services are significantly reduced as a direct result of the pandemic. File a claim with the Employment Development Department.
• For information about job protection and employment discrimination, visit the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing website.
• COVID-19 Infection Prevention for Agricultural Employers and Employees
• IRS Economic Impact Payments: There is no action needed by most people at this time.
• Free or low-cost Medi-Cal health insurance: Who might be eligible:
  • Low-income people under age 26, regardless of immigration status
  • Low-income adults over 26 with Social Security numbers
  • Those on SSI or SSD
  • See if you qualify: https://www.mybenefitscalwin.org/
• Secure County Secure Families Collaborative
• Legal Aid of Sonoma County
• California Legal Rural Assistance

Undocumented Californians

• Public Charge:
• The FEDERAL GOVERNMENT has said that using health care services for COVID-19 prevention, testing or treatment alone does not make you a public charge. Medi-Cal care for COVID-19 related testing or treatment does NOT count under the public charge rule because it is the treatment of an emergency medical condition. 
  • NOT all immigrants are subject to a public charge determination.
  • Public benefits accepted by family members are generally NOT considered under the public charge rule
  • The new rule does NOT change eligibility rules for public benefits programs.
  • Only some benefits are considered public benefits for purposes of public charge. 

  Please don’t let fear stop you from getting the necessary treatment, as the effects of avoiding health care services may be very serious. This will help keep you, your family, and your community healthy.

  Public Benefits Not Considered CONSIDERED FOR PUBLIC CHARGE

  • Medi-Cal benefits received for the treatment of an emergency medical condition.
  • School-based services or benefits.
  • Medi-Cal benefits received by a noncitizen under 21 years of age
  • Medi-Cal benefits received by a woman during pregnancy and during the 60-day period beginning on the last day of the pregnancy.
  • Public health assistance for immunizations with respect to immunizable diseases, and for testing and treatment of symptoms of communicable diseases whether or not such symptoms are caused by a communicable disease; and many more.
  As of November 2, 2020 the expanded public charge rule is no longer in effect until the end of COVID-19.
  Learn more: https://www.uscis.gov/green-card/green-card-processes-and-procedures/public-charge

  Know your rights: https://protectingimmigrantfamilies.org/know-your-rights/

• California Immigrant Youth Justice Alliance: Additional Resources for Undocumented People.
• UndocuFund: Economic emergency and disaster relief.
• Legal Aid at Work Relief Funds for Undocumented workers.
• Coronavirus and Immigration: ILRC’s Resources and Responses

Mexican Consulate in San Francisco

• Website: :https://consulmex.sre.gob.mx/sanfrancisco/
• “Coronavirus COVID-19MX” microsite: https://coronavirus.gob.mx/
• CIAM (Centro de información y asistencia a mexicanos): (520) 623-7874
• Urgent help line: (415) 354-1727

Price Gouging

• District Attorney Jill Ravitch issued a consumer alert warning that price gouging on consumer goods or medical supplies is prohibited under Penal Code Section 396 while under a State of Emergency due to the novel Coronavirus. Learn more: http://sonomacounty.ca.gov/DA/Press-Releases/Ravitch-Warns-Against-Price-Gouging-Coronavirus/

Food Assistance