2021 UPDATE: LCA RE-OPENS EMERGENCY RELIEF FUND COVID-19 continues to deeply impact so many in our community.
We witness every day the hardships many Dane county Latinx community members face because of this pandemic. Individuals, families, and entire communities have shared with us their struggles with access to safe and affordable housing, food insecurity, concerns over health and safety at the job, limited access to testing, healthcare and mental health, concerns about their children’s education, and having information about the virus that can help guide their social distancing and personal care decisions.
Many of you have reached out to members of the Latinx Consortium for Action (LCA) to express genuine concern and with questions about what you can do to help those in need within the Latinx community. At this moment, the biggest needs for this community are resources so that they can meet their basic needs, especially with rental assistance.
We have now made the collective decision to again stand together.
Through the newly re-opened LCA COVID Relief and Recovery Fund, we will continue to act to ensure our community has the financial resources it deserves and continues to need for basic needs and rental assistance.
By giving to this fund, you will be donating to the collective efforts of these Latinx service and advocacy organizations - Centro Hispano of Dane County, UNIDOS, Latino Academy of Workforce Development, Latino Chamber of Commerce. For decades, these organizations have built trust with diverse local Latinx communities because of their work providing services and advocating alongside them on the ground.
The need is great and your contributions to the LCA Emergency Relief Fund will immediately support those most in need in our community.
Donations are tax-deductible and can be made online through this website, or by sending your check to Nina Gehan, Director of Advancement, Centro Hispano of Dane County, 810 West Badger Road, Madison WI 53713
ABOUT THE FUND:
Latinx are the largest non-white racial/ethnic group in Dane County, WI (~35,000), close to 70% live in Madison and Fitchburg. This community is uniquely vulnerable to the COVID-19 crisis: 70% are renters, 68% live in multi-unit dwellings, 34% fall below the poverty line, and almost two out of every five work in the service industry in Dane County. Moreover, nearly 50% of Latinx lack healthcare insurance coverage in Wisconsin
This is why we are coming forward now, together, as a consortium of Latinx serving organizations, to announce the creation of a Latinx Consortium for Action Relief Fund that specifically focuses on the needs of the Latinx community. The fund will prioritize funding emergency relief for our most vulnerable populations: undocumented Latinx workers and small immigrant-owned businesses.
We applaud the efforts of the Boys & Girls Club of Dane County & United Way of Dane County to provide both urgent and long-term support for affected families in light of COVID-19. We recognize their leadership and feel compelled to want to do our part to support their efforts.
The Latinx community in Dane County is marginalized due to the national anti-immigrant sentiments, the burden of public charge legislation poised to deny citizenship status to immigrants who use public benefits, and a lack of access to drivers’ licenses. This has resulted in less trust and engagement between the Latinx community and formal systems of support. With the creation of the Latinx Consortium for Action Relief Fund we stand together leveraging our collective trust, knowledge and understanding to help this community navigate the current crisis. The fund stands ready to complement and advance other fundraising efforts related to COVID-19.
*members of the LCA include: Centro Hispano of Dane County, the Latino Chamber of Commerce, Latino Academy of Workforce Development, Latino Health Council, Latino Education Council, Latino Children and Families Council, Latino Professionals Association, Latino Support Network, Common Wealth Development, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Dane County, Voces de la Frontera - Madison, UNIDOS Against Domestic Violence, and Orgullo Latinx LGBTQ+ .
