New York City discontinues food assistance program for immigrants.
New York City Ends Controversial Voucher Program for Migrants
City officials have announced the discontinuation of a controversial voucher program in New York City that allowed migrants to purchase food using debit cards. The program, which had been criticized by conservatives and pundits, provided prepaid debit cards for food and baby supplies to 2,600 migrants staying in city-funded hotels. New York City Mayor Eric Adams stated that the decision was made as part of a shift towards more competitive contracting for asylum seeker programs.
Details of the Program and its Conclusion
The voucher program, which began in late March, was operated by Mobility Capital Finance (MoCaFi) under a $400,000 emergency contract. Participants received debit cards totaling $3.2 million, which could only be used at specific locations such as convenience stores, bodegas, and supermarkets. The initiative replaced a previous food distribution system managed by DocGo, a private medical company that faced allegations prompting the city to phase out their contract.
Future Considerations and Response to Criticisms
Despite criticisms from conservatives about the potential for fraud, no instances of misuse with the debit cards have been reported. City Comptroller Brad Lander revoked the city’s ability to enter into emergency deals for migrant services, but Mayor Adams remains open to exploring similar programs in the future. With hundreds of new arrivals seeking asylum each week in New York City, the administration aims to continue implementing innovative pilot programs to support migrant populations.
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