The City of Santa Barbara and The Fund for Santa Barbara awarded six immigration advocacy nonprofit organizations grants of $333,000 and $130,000 toward the Immigrant Legal Defense Center.
The grant funding comes from the city’s Immigrant Relief Fund Grant Program. Funding was approved by the City Council in an August meeting. The Fund for Santa Barbara was awarded $370,000 to disperse.
The decision to allocate the funding to nonprofit organizations serving the immigrant community came after federal immigrant enforcement activity across Santa Barbara County. The money will support immigrant communities in Santa Barbara, according to the city’s press release.
“This significant level of support reflects the city’s continued commitment to equity, safety and dignity for all residents — regardless of immigration status,” City Administrator Kelly McAdoo said.
The Fund for Santa Barbara managed the grant applications and reviewed submissions. At the end, only six applicants were chosen based on their proven impact, community trust and capacity to deliver culturally responsive services, according to the press release.
805UndocuFund, known for its Rapid Response Network and financial relief to undocumented people, received one of the highest amounts of funding. The grassroots organization was awarded $100,000. The money will go toward supporting emergency financial assistance to undocumented families who are on a wait list for support.
IMPORTA Santa Barbara, a nonprofit organization authorized by the U.S. Department of Justice to provide legal services, received the second-highest amount of funding. Its funding of $100,000 will cover immigration applications and medical exam fees for low-income undocumented people and mixed-status residents. The organization is the county’s largest provider of immigration legal services, according to its website.
The Legal Aid Foundation of Santa Barbara County, a nonprofit civil law firm aimed at serving the low-income and “other vulnerable residents,” received $58,000. Its funding will go to support immigration legal services for survivors of intimate partner violence and other vulnerable residents.
Future Leaders of America is a nonprofit organization focused on empowering Latino youth in the county. Its award of $25,000 will go toward emergency preparedness, legal referrals and community outreach to immigrant families.
Executive Director Gloria Soto said she hopes they will be able to reach 400 to 600 people or families with the funding.
“We feel really fortunate to be able to continue to expand services to our immigrant community during such a challenging time,” she said.
Immigrant Hope Santa Barbara, an organization that trains local churches to support immigrant neighbors, received $25,000. The funding will go toward subsidizing legal service fees and providing transportation and training for immigration support.
Mixteco Indigena Community Organizing Project, a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering the indigenous migrant community along the Central Coast, received $25,000. The funding will expand legal assistance for Indigenous migrant communities through its MILA program.